In short
Rosaphen is a trade name for 2-methyl-5-phenylpentan-1-ol, an aromatic alcohol with a mild, fresh rose odour. It is an isomer of Phenoxanol.
What Rosaphen smells like
Rosaphen (Symrise) is a soft, waxy rose. Symrise describes a floral, rose-like odour, slightly waxy, with shades of geraniol but much better tenacity; Moellhausen gives slightly waxy, rose and geranium-like. A distributor describes a subtle, elegant rose in the direction of delicate petals mixed with sweet Turkish delight. Its strength is moderate, and it is stable, including in soap.
- Leading note
- Soft rose
- Clear facets
- Waxy
- Supporting facets
- Geranium-like
- Faint facets
- Turkish-delight sweetness
- Character
- Soft, elegant, waxy, lasting
What makes Rosaphen distinctive
A geraniol-type rose that lasts — softer and waxier, with a Turkish-delight sweetness, and far more tenacious than geraniol.
How Rosaphen is used
Used in rose accords and as a sweet-floral blender in the heart, including in soap.
Typical role: blender (smooths the joins between other materials).
How Rosaphen differs from similar materials
- Geraniol
- Symrise describes Rosaphen as having shades of geraniol but much better tenacity; geraniol is sweeter and fruitier, Rosaphen waxier and softer. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Rose Acetate
- Rose acetate is a weak, very natural, lasting rose with geranium, metallic neat; Rosaphen is a waxy rose with geraniol shades.
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
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- 2-Methyl-5-phenylpentan-1-ol
- CAS number
- 25634-93-9
- Molecular formula
- C12H18O
- Molecular weight
- 178.27 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 2-methyl-5-phenylpentan-1-ol
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 5463791, 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. It has a harmonised EU classification (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Annex VI): H315 causes skin irritation; H319 causes serious eye irritation. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (1,586 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (99.3% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (99.3% of reports). 11 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
-
Phenoxanol
Aroma chemical · Floral — rose, fresh, clean, soft
-
Phenylethyl Alcohol
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — rose, honeyed, soft, floral
-
Citronellol
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — rosy, fresh, citrus, waxy
-
Geraniol
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — rosy, sweet, citrus, fresh
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 20 published formulas
Rosaphen is an ingredient in 19 perfume formulas and 1 accord in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Rosaphen
Is Rosaphen natural or synthetic?
Rosaphen is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Rosaphen?
25634-93-9. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Rosaphen?
Rosaphen is used in 20 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Ambrette Halo, Asphalt Peony and Bitter Bridle. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 5463791, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Symrise — Rosaphen, via SpecialChem — manufacturer's description.
- The Good Scents Company — Rosaphen — odour database.
- De Hekserij — Rosaphen (Symrise) — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.