4-Methylacetophenone

What 4-Methylacetophenone smells like

Methyl acetophenone (4'-methylacetophenone) has a floral, sweet odour that one reference describes as milder than acetophenone, with a fruity, strawberry-like taste; it is used for blossom notes in mimosa- and hawthorn-type perfumes, especially soaps. Database profiles list sweet, floral, cherry and hawthorn; a supplier describes a powdery, almond-floral character useful in spring-blossom and mimosa accords.

Leading note

Sweet hawthorn-mimosa

Supporting facets

Fruity, cherry, powdery almond

Faint facets

Hay-like

Character

Sweet, soft, powdery

• sweet
• floral
• hawthorn
• fruity

What makes 4-Methylacetophenone distinctive

A softer, fruitier acetophenone — the hawthorn-mimosa blossom without the pungency.

How 4-Methylacetophenone is used

Used for mimosa and hawthorn blossom notes, especially in soap.

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

How 4-Methylacetophenone differs from similar materials

Acetophenone*

One reference describes methyl acetophenone as milder than acetophenone; it is fruitier and softer, acetophenone sharper and more pungent. (compared directly by a cited source)

Acetanisole*

HSDB likens acetanisole (the methoxy analogue) to it, with a more powdery, vanillic heliotrope side. (compared directly by a cited source)

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.

Identity and classification

Type

Aroma chemical

Origin

Synthetic

Odour family

Floral / Fruity

Note position

Top to heart note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

p-Methylacetophenone, 1-(4-Methylphenyl)ethanone

CAS number

122-00-9

Molecular formula

C9H10O

Molecular weight

134.17 g/mol

IUPAC name

1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 8500, 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 (1,848 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (83.3% of reports). 1 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

• Acetophenone

  Aroma chemical · Floral / Fruity — sweet, almond, hawthorn, pungent

• Anisaldehyde

  Aroma chemical · Powdery / Floral — anisic, hawthorn, floral, sweet

• Mimosa Absolute

  Absolute · Floral / Powdery — powdery, honeyed, green, floral

• Heliotropin

  Aroma chemical · Powdery / Gourmand — powdery, almond, vanilla, floral

4-Methylacetophenone is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Acetanisole.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 2 published formulas

4-Methylacetophenone is an ingredient in 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

• Mimosa Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “Methyl acetophenone para (Symrise)”

• Raspberry Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “Methyl Acetophenone Para”

Further reading

• Powdery Notes in Perfumery: Iris, Orris and Ionones

  Orris and the ionones at the heart of powdery perfume, the rest of the powdery palette, how to build violet, iris and face-powder accords, and handling.

• Perfume Materials by Odor Family: A Formulator's Palette Map

  Which materials build each odor family — citrus, floral, woody, amber, musk and more — their usual roles, what to watch for, and links to each in depth.

Questions about 4-Methylacetophenone

Sources

• PubChem — compound 8500, checked 19 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• ChemicalBook — 4'-methylacetophenone (CAS 122-00-9) — odour database.
• Fraterworks — para methyl acetophenone — distributor's description.
• De Hekserij — Methyl Acetophenone — distributor's description.
• Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.