In short
cis-3-Hexenol, or leaf alcohol, is the molecule behind the smell of freshly cut grass and green leaves.
What cis-3-Hexenol smells like
Cis-3-hexenol, leaf alcohol, is the classic smell of freshly cut grass and torn leaves: intensely green, fresh and grassy, with little sweetness. It is produced in small amounts by most plants when their leaves are damaged, which is why it reads so literally as vegetation. It is powerful, but its odour threshold, at roughly 70 parts per billion, is much higher than that of the green aldehydes formed alongside it, so it is the softer, more natural of the C6 greens.
- Leading note
- Freshly cut grass
- Clear facets
- Crushed leaves
- Supporting facets
- Fresh, watery green
- Character
- Green, fresh, natural, sharp
What makes cis-3-Hexenol distinctive
It is the literal cut-grass note. The aldehyde trans-2-hexenal is sharper and more apple-like, the trans alcohol sweeter and fruitier, and the acetate fruitier still; cis-3-hexenol is the plainest and most grassy of the family.
How cis-3-Hexenol is used
Used in traces to give natural greenness to florals, citrus, fruits and fresh accords, and very widely in flavours. Its esters, starting with the acetate, extend the same green in fruitier directions.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend); lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top).
How cis-3-Hexenol differs from similar materials
- trans-2-Hexenal
- Trans-2-hexenal is the sharper, more pungent leaf aldehyde, with a green-apple note; cis-3-hexenol is the plainer cut grass, with a far higher odour threshold.
- trans-2-Hexenol
- One reference describes trans-2-hexenol as sweeter than cis-3-hexenol; it leans fruity and wine-like, where leaf alcohol stays grassy. (compared directly by a cited source)
- cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate
- The acetate keeps the green but adds sweet banana and pear fruit; cis-3-hexenol is pure grass and leaf.
- Liffarome
- Liffarome is presented as a softer member of the leaf-alcohol family, with pear and violet-leaf nuances; cis-3-hexenol is the sharper, more literal grass. (compared directly by a cited source)
- 1-Hexanol
- 1-Hexanol, without the double bond, is milder: sweet and green rather than sharp cut grass.
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
Powerful and volatile; dose from dilution.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Green / Fruity
- Note position
- Top note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Leaf alcohol
- CAS number
- 928-96-1
- Molecular formula
- C6H12O
- Molecular weight
- 100.16 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 5281167, 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 (2,076 reports): H226 flammable liquid and vapor (99.2% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (83.6% of reports). 6 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
-
cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate
Aroma chemical · Green / Fruity — green, fruity, unripe banana, fresh
-
cis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate
Aroma chemical · Green / Floral — green, leafy, balsamic, floral
-
Violet Leaf Absolute
Absolute · Green / Aquatic — green, leafy, cucumber, watery
-
trans-2-Hexenal
Aroma chemical · Green / Fruity — green, leafy, apple, sharp
cis-3-Hexenol is also suggested as a partner on the pages for 1-Hexanol, 4,5-Dimethyl-2-isobutylthiazole, Acetaldehyde Ethyl Phenylethyl Acetal, Aldehyde C-7 (Heptanal), cis-3-Hexenyl Butyrate and cis-3-Hexenyl Tiglate.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 61 published formulas
cis-3-Hexenol is an ingredient in 31 perfume formulas, 28 accords and 2 bases in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about cis-3-Hexenol
Is cis-3-Hexenol natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial cis-3-Hexenol 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 cis-3-Hexenol?
928-96-1. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use cis-3-Hexenol?
cis-3-Hexenol is used in 61 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Açaí Accord, Asphalt Peony and Banana Bread. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 5281167, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Wikipedia — cis-3-Hexen-1-ol — published perfumery reference.
- University of Bristol — Molecule of the Month: Hexenal — published literature.
- Perfumer & Flavorist — Leaf alcohol preparation — published literature.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: several independent published descriptions, which agree. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.