In short
Cedryl acetate is the acetate of cedrol, made from cedarwood oil. It gives a soft, dry, woody note and is used as an inexpensive fixative.
What Cedryl Acetate smells like
Cedryl acetate is made by acetylating cedrol. IFF describes it as light cedar with a vetiver-like quality, sweet, woody and long-lasting; other suppliers lean drier — dry cedarwood, earthy, soft balsamic, woody-musky, or sharp dry woody cedar. Its initial diffusion is gentle but its staying power strong, and it is used as a base note and fixative, often with vetiver.
- Leading note
- Light sweet cedar
- Supporting facets
- Vetiver-like
- Faint facets
- Earthy, musky, balsamic
- Character
- Soft, dry, tenacious
What makes Cedryl Acetate distinctive
Cedar polished smooth: lighter and sweeter than the oil, with a hint of vetiver.
How Cedryl Acetate is used
Used as a woody base note and fixative in woody, vetiver, masculine and functional compositions.
Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Cedryl Acetate differs from similar materials
- Cedrol
- Cedrol, from which it is made, is fainter and plainer; cedryl acetate is a clearer, sweeter cedar with vetiver. (compared directly by a cited source)
- alpha-Cedrene
- Cedrene is sharper and rawer, pencil shavings; cedryl acetate is smoother and sweeter. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Vertofix
- Vertofix is a stronger, drier wood with musk, leather and amber; cedryl acetate is lighter and sweeter.
- Vetiveryl Acetate
- Vetiveryl acetate is the vetiver itself, rounder and rootier; cedryl acetate is a light, sweet cedar with a vetiver-like 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.
Formulation considerations
A solid; dissolve before use.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Semi-synthetic
- Odour family
- Woody / Leather
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Solid
- CAS number
- 77-54-3
- Molecular formula
- C17H28O2
- Molecular weight
- 264.4 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- [(1S,2R,5S,7R,8R)-2,6,6,8-tetramethyl-8-tricyclo[5.3.1.01,5]undecanyl] acetate
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 13918856, 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 (1,772 reports): H411 toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (93.1% of 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
-
Cedrol
Natural isolate · Woody / Musky — woody, cedar, faint, dry
-
Cedarwood Oil (Virginia)
Essential oil · Woody / Aromatic — woody, dry, pencil shavings, clean
-
Vertofix
Aroma chemical · Woody / Leather — woody, vetiver, leathery, warm
Cedryl Acetate is also suggested as a partner on the pages for alpha-Cedrene.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 41 published formulas
Cedryl Acetate is an ingredient in 35 perfume formulas, 4 accords and 2 bases in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Cedryl Acetate
Is Cedryl Acetate natural or synthetic?
Cedryl Acetate is semi-synthetic: it is made by chemically modifying a natural raw material.
What is the CAS number of Cedryl Acetate?
77-54-3. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Cedryl Acetate?
Cedryl Acetate is used in 41 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Anise Ink, Bell Glass and Birch Ghost. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 13918856, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- IFF — Cedryl acetate — manufacturer's description.
- ChemicalBook — cedryl acetate (CAS 77-54-3) — odour database.
- Scent.vn — Cedryl acetate — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.