In short
p-Cresyl acetate is an ester with a strong animalic, narcissus-like floral note.
What p-Cresyl Acetate smells like
p-Cresyl acetate is a powerful narcissus-type floral with distinct phenolic, medicinal and animalic undertones reminiscent of horse stables when concentrated, in Fraterworks' description. De Hekserij calls it animalic and somewhat chemical, with a resinous, tarry smell, a heart-to-top note. Suppliers consider it essential for narcissus, ylang-ylang and tuberose reconstructions. It occurs in nature only in small quantities.
- Leading note
- Animalic narcissus
- Clear facets
- Phenolic, medicinal
- Supporting facets
- Horse stable
- Faint facets
- Tarry
- Character
- Sharp, powerful, animalic
What makes p-Cresyl Acetate distinctive
The stable inside the narcissus: a sharp, phenolic animal note that only reads as floral in small amounts.
Concentration and dilution
Horse-stable animalic when concentrated; narcissus floral in small amounts.
How p-Cresyl Acetate is used
Used in small amounts in narcissus, ylang-ylang, tuberose and other white-floral reconstructions.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How p-Cresyl Acetate differs from similar materials
- p-Cresyl Phenylacetate
- The phenylacetate is honeyed and softer; Poucher found it a better narcissus base for lacking the acetate's horse-urine note. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Narcissus Absolute
- The absolute is green, honeyed and hay-like; p-cresyl acetate supplies only the sharp, phenolic animal edge.
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.
Formulation considerations
Very strong; dose from dilution.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Animalic / Floral
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 140-39-6
- Molecular formula
- C9H10O2
- Molecular weight
- 150.17 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (4-methylphenyl) acetate
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 8797, 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 (1,855 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (100% 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
-
p-Cresyl Methyl Ether
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — narcotic, floral, animalic, sharp
-
Skatole
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Leather — animalic, faecal, indolic
-
Indole
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, indolic, floral, narcotic
p-Cresyl Acetate is also suggested as a partner on the pages for p-Cresyl Phenylacetate.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 2 published formulas
p-Cresyl Acetate is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about p-Cresyl Acetate
Is p-Cresyl Acetate natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial p-Cresyl Acetate 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 p-Cresyl Acetate?
140-39-6. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use p-Cresyl Acetate?
p-Cresyl Acetate is used in 2 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Narcissus Hay Loft and Orange Blossom Den. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 8797, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Fraterworks — para cresyl acetate — distributor's description.
- De Hekserij — para cresyl acetate — distributor's description.
- The Good Scents Company — animal odour category — odour database.
- 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.