In short
Benzyl propionate is an aromatic ester with a sweet, fruity-jasmine odour. It is a heavier, fruitier companion to benzyl acetate.
What Benzyl Propionate smells like
Benzyl propionate is a sweet, fruity-floral ester: fruity, sweet and floral with jasmine, banana and balsamic notes. One distributor describes a juicy banana-pineapple character with jasmine undertones and a soft balsamic sweetness; a perfumery supplier mentions jasmine, tuberose, melon and banana. Distributors place it as less sharp and fruitier than benzyl acetate, better where a pronounced tutti-frutti effect is wanted. On its own it can seem dull.
- Leading note
- Sweet fruity floral
- Clear facets
- Banana
- Supporting facets
- Jasmine, balsamic
- Faint facets
- Melon
- Character
- Sweet, fruity, soft, rounded
What makes Benzyl Propionate distinctive
Fruit over flower: the fruitier, softer cousin of benzyl acetate, more banana and tutti-frutti than jasmine.
How Benzyl Propionate is used
Used in jasmine and white florals and in fruity compositions for a soft, fruity sweetness.
Typical role: blender (smooths the joins between other materials).
How Benzyl Propionate differs from similar materials
- Benzyl Acetate
- Distributors describe benzyl acetate as sharper and more strongly jasmine; the propionate is fruitier and softer. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Benzyl Formate
- Benzyl formate, the formic ester, is described as an intense floral-fruity note.
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.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Floral / Fruity
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 122-63-4
- Molecular formula
- C10H12O2
- Molecular weight
- 164.2 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- benzyl propanoate
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 31219, 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 report it as not meeting the GHS hazard criteria (1,740 of 1,740 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
-
Hedione
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — jasmine, transparent, citrus, airy
-
Jasmine Absolute (Grandiflorum)
Absolute · Floral / Animalic — jasmine, floral, indolic, fruity
-
Hexyl Cinnamal
Aroma chemical · Floral / Powdery — jasmine, floral, waxy, herbal
Benzyl Propionate is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Benzyl Formate.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 5 published formulas
Benzyl Propionate is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula, 3 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Further reading
Questions about Benzyl Propionate
Is Benzyl Propionate natural or synthetic?
Benzyl Propionate is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Benzyl Propionate?
122-63-4. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Benzyl Propionate?
Benzyl Propionate is used in 5 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Açaí Accord, Banana Bread and Raspberry Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 31219, 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 propionate — odour database.
- Fraterworks — benzyl propionate — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Benzyl propionate — published perfumery reference.
- 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.