In short
Raspberry ketone is the character molecule of raspberries. It has a sweet, fruity raspberry note with good tenacity.
What Raspberry Ketone smells like
Raspberry ketone gives off a sweet, warm aroma that realistically evokes raspberry jam, with subtle powdery and light woody facets, in a supplier's description. Others list berry, sweet, woody and raspberry with a ripe, jammy, seedy character, and fruity, sweet and powdery. Its smell is not especially strong in dilution.
- Leading note
- Raspberry jam
- Supporting facets
- Woody
- Faint facets
- Powdery, seedy
- Character
- Sweet, jammy, warm, soft
What makes Raspberry Ketone distinctive
The raspberry itself, jam-like and seedy, with a woody softness — simpler than the floral, anisic raspberry of its methyl ether.
How Raspberry Ketone is used
Used in raspberry and red-berry accords and gourmand compositions, and in flavours.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Raspberry Ketone differs from similar materials
- Anisylacetone
- Anisylacetone, its methyl ether, is cherry-raspberry with floral and anise notes; raspberry ketone is plainer raspberry jam, woody and seedy.
- Dulcinyl
- Dulcinyl is raspberry jam with cotton candy and a powdery heliotrope finish; raspberry ketone is simpler, woodier raspberry.
- Berryflor
- Berryflor is a softer fruity-floral ester: raspberry with jasmine and an anisic lift rather than jam.
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
A solid; dissolve before use. Covered by an IFRA Standard.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Fruity / Gourmand
- Note position
- Heart to base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Solid
- Also known as
- Frambinone
- CAS number
- 5471-51-2
- Molecular formula
- C10H12O2
- Molecular weight
- 164.2 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 21648, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Raspberry Ketone:
- "4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one" — Restriction, 49th Amendment, published 2020-01
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 (2,011 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (30.6% of reports). 1,395 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
-
beta-Ionone
Aroma chemical · Powdery / Woody — violet, woody, fruity, raspberry
-
Furaneol
Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — strawberry, caramel, jammy, sweet
-
Ethyl Maltol
Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — candyfloss, caramel, sweet, jammy
Raspberry Ketone is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Allyl Ionone, Anisylacetone, Benzylacetone, Berryflor, Framboise and Isobutyl Isovalerate.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 18 published formulas
Raspberry Ketone is an ingredient in 7 perfume formulas, 10 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Raspberry Ketone
Is Raspberry Ketone natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Raspberry Ketone 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 Raspberry Ketone?
5471-51-2. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Raspberry Ketone?
Raspberry Ketone is used in 18 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Açaí Accord, Blackberry Accord and Blueberry Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Is Raspberry Ketone covered by an IFRA Standard?
Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one" — Restriction, 49th Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 21648, checked 19 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.
- Perflavory (The Good Scents Company) — raspberry ketone — odour database.
- De Hekserij — Raspberry ketone — distributor's description.
- Parchem — raspberry ketone — 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.