2-Acetylpyrazine

In short

2-Acetylpyrazine is a pyrazine formed when food is roasted. It smells of popcorn, toasted bread and roasted nuts and is used in traces.

What 2-Acetylpyrazine smells like

2-Acetylpyrazine is a popcorn note. The Good Scents Company files it under popcorn; Parchem lists musty, roasted, corn chip, popcorn, nutty and potato-like, with a roasted, nutty, bready, yeasty taste; a supplier cites Arctander's strong popcorn and roasted-nut odour. Like other pyrazines it belongs to the roasted notes formed when food is heated.

Leading note: Popcorn
Clear facets: Roasted nut
Supporting facets: Corn chip, bready
Faint facets: Musty, potato
Character: Roasted, warm, dry

What makes 2-Acetylpyrazine distinctive

Popcorn and corn chips: the roasted-cereal pyrazine, lighter and more grain-like than the cocoa pyrazines.

How 2-Acetylpyrazine is used

Used in traces for roasted, popcorn, nutty and bakery effects in gourmand compositions, and in flavours.

Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).

How 2-Acetylpyrazine differs from similar materials

2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine: Trimethylpyrazine is earthier, roasted nut, cocoa and baked potato; acetylpyrazine is popcorn and corn chip.
5-Methyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopentapyrazine: Nutty pyrazine, a cyclopentapyrazine, is described as peanut rather than popcorn.

Each difference compares the published descriptions of the two materials. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.

Formulation considerations

Potent and food-like; work from dilution.

Identity and classification

Type: Aroma chemical
Origin: Occurs in nature
Odour family: Gourmand
Note position: Heart note
Physical form at room temperature: Solid
Also known as: Acetylpyrazine
CAS number: 22047-25-2
Molecular formula: C6H6N2O
Molecular weight: 122.12 g/mol
IUPAC name: 1-pyrazin-2-ylethanone

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 30914, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.

Safety and compliance

Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (284 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (45.8% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (45.8% of reports); H335 may cause respiratory irritation (45.4% of reports). 154 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. Unless it is harmonised, this is the notifiers' own classification, not a binding one.

This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.

Materials it works with

2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine
Aroma chemical · Gourmand — roasted, nutty, cocoa, earthy
Furaneol
Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — strawberry, caramel, jammy, sweet
Vanillin
Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Amber — vanilla, sweet, creamy
Coffee Absolute
Absolute · Gourmand — roasted, coffee, smoky, bitter

2-Acetylpyrazine is also suggested as a partner on the pages for 2-Acetylpyridine, 2-Ethylpyrazine, 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-one, 2-Propionyl-2-thiazoline, 5-Methyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopentapyrazine and Sulfurol.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 10 published formulas

2-Acetylpyrazine is an ingredient in 7 perfume formulas and 3 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

Chocolate Accord
Community Formula · Accord · listed as “2-ACETYL PYRAZINE”
Jasmine Rice Accord
Community Formula · Accord · listed as “2-ACETYL PYRAZINE”
Roasted Chestnut Accord
Community Formula · Accord · listed as “2-ACETYL PYRAZINE (22047-25-2)”

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

Champagne Static
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG
Fig Jam Brioche
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG
Ginger Biscuit Tin
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG
Popcorn Sky
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG
Rice Powder Theory
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG
Sandal Milk Script
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG
Smoke & Milk
RUŌOD House Original · listed as “2-Acetylpyrazine 1% DPG”, at 1% in DPG

Questions about 2-Acetylpyrazine

Is 2-Acetylpyrazine natural or synthetic?

The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial 2-Acetylpyrazine may be made by synthesis or obtained from natural sources, so check the supplier's specification if the distinction matters to you.

What is the CAS number of 2-Acetylpyrazine?

22047-25-2. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.

Which published formulas use 2-Acetylpyrazine?

2-Acetylpyrazine is used in 10 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Champagne Static, Chocolate Accord and Fig Jam Brioche. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.

Sources

PubChem — compound 30914, checked 19 October 2026.
PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
Parchem — 2-acetyl pyrazine — distributor's description.
The Good Scents Company — popcorn odour group — odour database.
Scent.vn — 2-acetyl pyrazine (citing Arctander) — distributor's description.
Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.