In short
Benzyl acetate is a major constituent of jasmine absolute and a fruity, sweet floral ester. It is the starting point of almost every jasmine accord.
What Benzyl Acetate smells like
Benzyl acetate is a sweet, fruity-floral ester with ripe pear and a hint of banana, read in context as jasmine. Symrise describes it as sweet, flowery, fresh and slightly fruity, reminiscent of jasmine, with low tenacity; Sigma-Aldrich adds apple, apricot and cherry. It is the single largest component of jasmine grandiflorum absolute, and Arctander, quoted by Pell Wall Perfumes, notes it is almost always the largest component of jasmine and gardenia fragrances. One source points out that alone it smells little like jasmine; its jasmine character appears with indole, cis-jasmone and linalool.
- Leading note
- Sweet pear-like floral
- Clear facets
- Jasmine
- Supporting facets
- Banana
- Faint facets
- Apple, apricot
- Character
- Sweet, fresh, fruity, volatile
What makes Benzyl Acetate distinctive
It is the bulk of jasmine rather than its soul: sweet, fruity and fleeting, the material jasmine accords are built on before the green and indolic notes make them real.
Where the descriptions disagree: Whether it smells of jasmine on its own is disputed.
How Benzyl Acetate is used
Used as the largest component of jasmine and gardenia compositions and in many other florals; its poor tenacity is usually supported with higher benzyl esters and fixatives.
Typical role: backbone (used in large proportions as a structural material of an accord).
How Benzyl Acetate differs from similar materials
- Benzyl Propionate
- A distributor describes the propionate as less sharp and fruitier than benzyl acetate, which is more strongly jasmine. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Jasmine Absolute (Grandiflorum)
- Benzyl acetate is the absolute's largest component; the absolute adds the indole, cis-jasmone and honey that make it jasmine rather than pear. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Benzylacetone
- A perfumery text describes benzylacetone as floral-green, fresher and longer-lasting than benzyl acetate; benzyl acetate is sweeter and fruitier. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Benzyl Alcohol
- Benzyl alcohol is far fainter, a soft floral solvent; benzyl acetate is the diffusive fruity-floral jasmine ester.
- Styrallyl Acetate
- Styrallyl acetate is greener and tarter, with rhubarb and a gardenia-like floral; benzyl acetate is the fruity-floral jasmine ester.
An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Very volatile for a floral material; it needs heavier floral and musk notes to hold it.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Floral / Fruity
- Note position
- Top to heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 140-11-4
- Molecular formula
- C9H10O2
- Molecular weight
- 150.17 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- benzyl acetate
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 8785, 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 (2,397 reports): H412 harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (62.6% of reports). 779 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
-
Hedione
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — jasmine, transparent, citrus, airy
-
Jasmine Absolute (Grandiflorum)
Absolute · Floral / Animalic — jasmine, floral, indolic, fruity
-
Indole
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, indolic, floral, narcotic
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
-
Benzyl Salicylate
Aroma chemical · Floral / Powdery — balsamic, floral, faint, sweet
Benzyl Acetate is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Formate, Benzyl Isobutyrate, Benzylacetone, Dihydrojasmone and Kharismal.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 36 published formulas
Benzyl Acetate is an ingredient in 11 perfume formulas, 22 accords and 3 bases in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Benzyl Acetate
Is Benzyl Acetate natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Benzyl Acetate 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 Benzyl Acetate?
140-11-4. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Benzyl Acetate?
Benzyl Acetate is used in 36 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Banana Bread, Bell Glass and Blackberry Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 8785, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- The Good Scents Company — benzyl acetate (with Symrise's description and Arctander quoted by Pell Wall) — odour database.
- Scentspiracy — Benzyl Acetate — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Benzyl acetate — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: several independent published descriptions, which agree. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.