In short
Diphenyl oxide, diphenyl ether, is an aromatic ether with a geranium-leaf odour. It is very stable and has long been used in rose and geranium accords for soap.
What Diphenyl Oxide smells like
Diphenyl oxide has a geranium-like odour with green, leafy and metallic facets and nuances of rose and powder. A fuller profile adds a slightly harsh-phenolic and camphoraceous side; another source describes a clean, warm, slightly metallic floral. It is used widely as a cheap, very stable geranium-rose note.
- Leading note
- Geranium leaf
- Supporting facets
- Rose, metallic
- Faint facets
- Phenolic, camphoraceous, powdery
- Character
- Warm, green, harsh, stable
What makes Diphenyl Oxide distinctive
A geranium note with a warm, phenolic undertone — less hard and metallic than rose oxide, and exceptionally stable.
How Diphenyl Oxide is used
Used for geranium and rose effects in soap, detergent and household fragrance, where its stability is valuable.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Diphenyl Oxide differs from similar materials
- Rose Oxide
- Rose oxide is harder, greener and more metallic; diphenyl oxide is warmer and slightly phenolic, with rose and powder.
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.
Formulation considerations
Melts at about room temperature; warm gently before weighing.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Floral / Green
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Solid. Colourless crystals that melt at about 27 °C (82 °F) to a colourless oily liquid (PubChem: NIOSH, ICSC).
- Also known as
- Diphenyl ether
- CAS number
- 101-84-8
- Molecular formula
- C12H10O
- Molecular weight
- 170.21 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- phenoxybenzene
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 7583, 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 (2,199 reports): H319 causes serious eye irritation (84.8% of reports); H411 toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (78.8% of reports); H400 very toxic to aquatic life (16.1% of reports); H410 very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (10.3% of reports). 12 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
-
Geranium Oil
Essential oil · Floral / Green — rosy, green, minty, fresh
-
Phenylethyl Alcohol
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — rose, honeyed, soft, floral
-
Rose Oxide
Aroma chemical · Floral / Metallic — metallic, green, geranium, rosy
-
Benzophenone
Aroma chemical · Floral / Resinous — sweet, rosy, geranium, balsamic
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 6 published formulas
Diphenyl Oxide is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas and 4 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Diphenyl Oxide
Is Diphenyl Oxide natural or synthetic?
Diphenyl Oxide is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Diphenyl Oxide?
101-84-8. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Diphenyl Oxide?
Diphenyl Oxide is used in 6 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Blood Accord, Glass Rose Accord and Ivy Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 7583, 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 — diphenyl oxide — odour database.
- Fraterworks — diphenyl oxide — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Diphenyl oxide — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 20 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.