RUŌOD Lab

Methyl Eugenol

Aroma chemical · Spicy / Floral

clove, carnation, spicy, herbal — heart note.

Aroma illustration for Methyl Eugenol: cloves, a ruffled pink carnation and a sprig of herbs, for its clove, carnation and herbal notes. It illustrates smell associations, not the material or its source.Skeletal formula of Methyl Eugenol (Eugenol methyl ether), C11H14O2, drawn from PubChem's 2D record. Stereochemistry is not shown.
Aroma View: an illustration of what Methyl Eugenol smells like (clove, carnation, herbal), drawn by RUŌOD Lab — not its appearance or its source.Skeletal formula drawn by RUŌOD Lab from PubChem's 2D record (CID 7127). Stereochemistry is not shown; the coloured background is decoration.
Images

By the RUŌOD Lab TeamRevision 1Updated

In short

Methyl eugenol is eugenol's methyl ether, found in rose, basil, bay and other oils. JECFA describes a clove-carnation aroma.

What Methyl Eugenol smells like

JECFA, as published by PubChem, describes methyl eugenol as a colourless to pale yellow liquid with a clove-carnation aroma. HSDB describes a mild-spicy, slightly herbal odour and a clove, carnation odour; the NTP record a spicy, earthy odour. PubChem links it to several natural-product databases.

Leading note
Clove carnation
Clear facets
Spicy
Supporting facets
Herbal
Faint facets
Earthy
Character
Mild
  • clove
  • carnation
  • spicy
  • herbal

What makes Methyl Eugenol distinctive

Eugenol's clove without the phenolic bite, softer and more carnation-like.

How Methyl Eugenol is used

Historically used in carnation, rose and spicy accords; its use is now restricted.

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

How Methyl Eugenol differs from similar materials

Methyl Isoeugenol
Methyl isoeugenol is the softer, floral-spicy carnation ether; methyl eugenol is the allyl isomer, clove-carnation and mildly herbal.

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

Restricted: methyl eugenol is a regulated constituent in fragrance and in many natural oils that contain it. Check the current IFRA Standard and cosmetics regulation before any use.

Identity and classification

Type
Aroma chemical
Origin
Occurs in nature
Odour family
Spicy / Floral
Note position
Heart note
Physical form at room temperature
Liquid
Also known as
Eugenol methyl ether, 4-Allyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene
CAS number
93-15-2
Molecular formula
C11H14O2
Molecular weight
178.23 g/mol
IUPAC name
1,2-dimethoxy-4-prop-2-enylbenzene

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 7127, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 24 October 2026.

Safety and compliance

The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Methyl Eugenol:

  • "Methyl eugenol" — Restriction, 51st Amendment, published 2023-06

Limits differ by product category and are set out in the Standard itself; this page does not reproduce them. The list above reflects the library as read on 19 October 2026.

Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (1,814 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (93.9% of reports); H351 suspected of causing cancer (93.6% of reports); H341 suspected of causing genetic defects (91.4% of reports); H317 may cause an allergic skin reaction (70.9% of reports). 110 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. A skin sensitiser classification concerns handling the neat material and the dose in a finished product; the IFRA Standards, where they apply, set the limits. 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

  • Eugenol

    Aroma chemical · Spicy / Floral — clove, spicy, warm

  • Isoeugenol

    Aroma chemical · Spicy / Floral — carnation, spicy, floral, sweet

  • Methyl Isoeugenol

    Aroma chemical · Spicy / Floral — clove, carnation, sweet, mild

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 1 published formula

Methyl Eugenol is an ingredient in 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.

Further reading

Questions about Methyl Eugenol

Is Methyl Eugenol natural or synthetic?

The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Methyl Eugenol 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 Methyl Eugenol?

93-15-2. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.

Which published formulas use Methyl Eugenol?

Methyl Eugenol is used in 1 published formula in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Cannabis Base. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.

Is Methyl Eugenol covered by an IFRA Standard?

Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "Methyl eugenol" — Restriction, 51st Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.

Sources

  • PubChem — compound 7127, checked 24 October 2026.
  • PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
  • IFRA — Standards Library, read 19 October 2026.
  • PubChem — Methyleugenol (CID 7127): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
  • 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.

Your own records, next to the reference

Keep your own record of Methyl Eugenol — supplier, cost, stock, dilutions and where it is used — in RUŌOD Lab's material library.

The material library All materials