In short
Geranyl acetone is an unsaturated ketone found in tomatoes, tea and some flowers. It has a fresh floral-green odour with a magnolia-like softness.
What Geranyl Acetone smells like
Geranyl acetone is green and rosy-floral: a supplier specification gives fresh rose leaf and floral with green, magnolia, aldehydic and fruity facets; a chemical database fresh-floral, light but rather penetrating, sweet-rosy, slightly green and magnolia-like; another reference fresh, green, slightly penetrating and rose-like. Firmenich describes strong fruity, rosy, aldehydic and leafy notes. No source describes it as waxy — that belongs to geranyl acetate.
- Leading note
- Green rose-leaf floral
- Supporting facets
- Magnolia, fruity
- Faint facets
- Aldehydic
- Character
- Fresh, light, penetrating
What makes Geranyl Acetone distinctive
Rose leaf and magnolia: a fresh green floral ketone, light but penetrating.
How Geranyl Acetone is used
Used in rose, magnolia and green-floral compositions and in fruity accords.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Geranyl Acetone differs from similar materials
- Geranyl Acetate
- Geranyl acetate is rosier and fruitier, with a waxy, herbal note; geranyl acetone is greener, with magnolia.
- Magnolan
- Magnolan is magnolia-led, with grapefruit, peony and an indolic nuance; geranyl acetone is a greener rose-leaf floral.
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
- Floral / Green
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Geranylacetone, 6,10-Dimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-one
- CAS number
- 3796-70-1
- Molecular formula
- C13H22O
- Molecular weight
- 194.31 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (5E)-6,10-dimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-one
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 1549778, 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 (415 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (100% of reports); H411 toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (89.2% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (10.8% of reports); H335 may cause respiratory irritation (10.8% 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
-
Magnolan
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — floral, magnolia, fresh
-
beta-Ionone
Aroma chemical · Powdery / Woody — violet, woody, fruity, raspberry
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
-
Hedione
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — jasmine, transparent, citrus, airy
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 2 published formulas
Geranyl Acetone is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Geranyl Acetone
Is Geranyl Acetone natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Geranyl Acetone 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 Geranyl Acetone?
3796-70-1. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Geranyl Acetone?
Geranyl Acetone is used in 2 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Magnolia Cartography and Mate Field. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 1549778, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- ChemicalBook — geranyl acetone (CAS 689-67-8) — odour database.
- Parchem — geranyl acetone specification — distributor's description.
- dsm-firmenich — Geranyl acetone — manufacturer'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.