In short
Benzyl formate is the formic ester of benzyl alcohol. JECFA describes an intense, pleasant, floral-fruity odour.
What Benzyl Formate smells like
JECFA, as published by PubChem, describes benzyl formate as a colourless liquid with an intense, pleasant, floral-fruity odour. PubChem links it to natural-product databases. Fraterworks calls it a surprisingly fruity take on the jasmine theme: unlike its cousin benzyl acetate, it gives sweet raspberry and blackberry facets, with a distinctive black-tea quality.
- Leading note
- Floral fruity
- Character
- Intense
What makes Benzyl Formate distinctive
The lightest benzyl ester: an intense floral-fruity top.
How Benzyl Formate is used
Fraterworks uses it to add a fruity-floral lift to jasmine, rose and hyacinth accords and to enhance berry and stone-fruit compositions.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Benzyl Formate differs from similar materials
- Benzyl Propionate
- Benzyl propionate is the softer, fruitier jasmine ester; benzyl formate is described as intense and floral-fruity.
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.
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
- 104-57-4
- Molecular formula
- C8H8O2
- Molecular weight
- 136.15 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- benzyl formate
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 7708, 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 (0 of 1,737 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
-
Benzyl Acetate
Aroma chemical · Floral / Fruity — jasmine, fruity, pear, sweet
-
Benzyl Propionate
Aroma chemical · Floral / Fruity — fruity, jasmine, pear, sweet
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 1 published formula
Benzyl Formate is an ingredient in 1 accord in the Formula & Accord Library.
Further reading
Questions about Benzyl Formate
Is Benzyl Formate natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Benzyl Formate 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 Formate?
104-57-4. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Benzyl Formate?
Benzyl Formate is used in 1 published formula in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Blackberry Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 7708, checked 24 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- PubChem — Benzyl formate (CID 7708): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
- Fraterworks — Benzyl Formate — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.