gamma-Heptalactone

What gamma-Heptalactone smells like

JECFA, as published by PubChem, describes gamma-heptalactone as a colourless, slightly oily liquid with a coconut, sweet, malty, caramel odour. PubChem links it to natural-product databases. Fraterworks describes a sweet, creamy, coconut-like aroma with nutty, caramel, hay and coumarin-like undertones, without the suntan-lotion effect of other coconut materials.

Leading note

Coconut

Supporting facets

Malty, caramel

Character

Sweet

• coconut
• sweet
• malty
• caramel

What makes gamma-Heptalactone distinctive

A coconut lactone with a malty, caramel side.

How gamma-Heptalactone is used

Fraterworks uses it to add creaminess and texture to gourmand, floral and fruity compositions, especially vanilla and coconut accords, and at moderate levels for realistic coconut in tropical fragrances.

Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).

How gamma-Heptalactone differs from similar materials

gamma-Hexalactone

gamma-Hexalactone is herbaceous and sweet; gamma-heptalactone, one carbon longer, is coconut, malty and caramel.

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

Gourmand / Fruity

Note position

Heart note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

Heptalactone gamma, 5-Propyloxolan-2-one

CAS number

105-21-5

Molecular formula

C7H12O2

Molecular weight

128.17 g/mol

IUPAC name

5-propyloxolan-2-one

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 7742, 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 (1,578 of 1,664 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

• gamma-Octalactone

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — coconut, creamy, sweet, herbal

• gamma-Nonalactone (Aldehyde C-18)

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — coconut, creamy, sweet, fatty

• Maltol

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — caramel, sweet, bready, cooked fruit

gamma-Heptalactone is also suggested as a partner on the pages for gamma-Hexalactone.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 2 published formulas

gamma-Heptalactone is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula and 1 accord in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

• Chocolate Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “HEPTALACTONE GAMMA”

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

• Gardenia Milk

  RUŌOD House Original

Further reading

• Building a Gourmand Accord: Vanilla, Caramel and Beyond

  The materials of gourmand perfume — vanillin, ethyl maltol, coumarin, lactones, roasted notes — how to keep them wearable, and color and crystal problems.

Questions about gamma-Heptalactone

Sources

• PubChem — compound 7742, checked 24 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• PubChem — gamma-Heptalactone (CID 7742): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
• Fraterworks — gamma-Heptalactone — 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.