Allyl Ionone

What Allyl Ionone smells like

JECFA, as published by PubChem, describes allyl alpha-ionone as a colourless to yellow liquid with a fruity, woody odour. IFF, which sells it as Hexalon, describes an ionone product with an exceptional rich pineapple quality and natural, oily-waxy undertones; Hekserij calls it spicy and tropical-fruit-like and recommends it with other ionones.

Leading note

Fruity woody

Clear facets

Pineapple

Supporting facets

Waxy

• fruity
• woody
• pineapple
• waxy

What makes Allyl Ionone distinctive

An ionone pushed towards fruit and wood.

How Allyl Ionone is used

Used in fruit accords, especially pineapple, and with other ionones such as methyl ionone.

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

How Allyl Ionone differs from similar materials

alpha-Ionone

alpha-Ionone is powdery violet with a fruity side; allyl ionone is described as fruity and woody.

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

A synthetic ionone derivative; check the IFRA Standards that cover allyl esters and ionones before use.

Identity and classification

Type

Aroma chemical

Origin

Synthetic

Odour family

Fruity / Woody

Note position

Heart to base note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

Allyl alpha-ionone, Hexalon

CAS number

79-78-7

Molecular formula

C16H24O

Molecular weight

232.36 g/mol

IUPAC name

(1E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)hepta-1,6-dien-3-one

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 5365976, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 24 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 report it as not meeting the GHS hazard criteria (1,545 of 1,634 reports). 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

• alpha-Ionone

  Aroma chemical · Powdery / Fruity — violet, powdery, fruity, sweet

• beta-Ionone

  Aroma chemical · Powdery / Woody — violet, woody, fruity, raspberry

• Raspberry Ketone

  Aroma chemical · Fruity / Gourmand — raspberry, fruity, sweet, jammy

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 3 published formulas

Allyl Ionone is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

• Mezcal Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “Hexalon”

• Plumeria Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “Hexalon”

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

• Champaca Tea Room

  RUŌOD House Original

Further reading

• Fruity Notes in Perfumery: Esters, Lactones and Ketones

  How fruit is built in perfumery from esters, lactones, ketones and sulfur materials, why 'C-14' is a lactone, dosage, stability and restrictions.

Questions about Allyl Ionone

Sources

• PubChem — compound 5365976, checked 24 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• PubChem — Allyl-alpha-ionone (CID 5365976): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
• IFF Ingredients Compendium — Hexalon — manufacturer's description.
• Hekserij — Hexalon (IFF) — 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 2. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.