In short
p-Cresyl methyl ether is a powerful aromatic ether found in ylang ylang. It gives the narcotic, slightly animalic note of narcissus and ylang.
What p-Cresyl Methyl Ether smells like
p-Cresyl methyl ether is a pungent, phenolic material with an unmistakable ylang-ylang character. Atul's specification gives sweet, floral, cedar and camphor-like; Tilley a pungent, ylang-ylang odour; a technical listing naphthyl, phenolic and camphoraceous. One distributor describes an immediate phenolic punch that unfurls into ylang, with powdery, nutty facets, and says a trace lifts narcissus, jasmine and ylang accords. It is a key constituent of ylang extra.
- Leading note
- Pungent ylang
- Clear facets
- Phenolic
- Supporting facets
- Camphoraceous
- Faint facets
- Narcissus, powdery, nutty
- Character
- Pungent, sharp, powerful, diffusive
What makes p-Cresyl Methyl Ether distinctive
It is ylang-ylang's sharp, phenolic heart isolated — pungent where the oil is creamy.
Concentration and dilution
Pungent and phenolic neat; used in traces, where it reads as ylang and narcissus.
Where the descriptions disagree: Only one vendor describes an animalic undertone; specification sheets do not.
How p-Cresyl Methyl Ether is used
Used in traces to lift ylang, narcissus and jasmine accords.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How p-Cresyl Methyl Ether differs from similar materials
- Ylang Ylang Oil
- It is a key constituent of ylang extra; the oil adds creamy, banana and clove notes around its phenolic sharpness. (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.
Formulation considerations
Very strong; dose from dilution.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Animalic / Floral
- Note position
- Top to heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- 4-Methylanisole
- CAS number
- 104-93-8
- Molecular formula
- C8H10O
- Molecular weight
- 122.16 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1-methoxy-4-methylbenzene
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 7731, 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 (1,843 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (99.9% of reports); H315 causes skin irritation (99.7% of reports); H412 harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (95.2% of reports); H226 flammable liquid and vapor (86% of reports); H361 suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child (84% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (11.6% 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
-
Ylang Ylang Oil
Essential oil · Floral / Spicy — floral, creamy, sweet, banana
-
p-Cresyl Acetate
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, narcissus, floral
-
Indole
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, indolic, floral, narcotic
Used in formulas and accords
Not currently used in any published formula.
The Formula & Accord Library lists p-Cresyl Methyl Ether here as soon as a published formula, accord or base uses it.
Further reading
Questions about p-Cresyl Methyl Ether
Is p-Cresyl Methyl Ether natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial p-Cresyl Methyl Ether 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 Methyl Ether?
104-93-8. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 7731, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Atul Ltd — para-Cresyl methyl ether specification — manufacturer's description.
- Tilley Distribution — Cresyl methyl ether para — distributor's description.
- Fraterworks — para cresyl methyl ether — distributor's description.
- 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.