In short
Styrallyl alcohol, or 1-phenylethanol, is a mild floral alcohol. Published descriptions give a mild floral, hyacinth-gardenia odour.
What Styrallyl Alcohol smells like
JECFA describes styrallyl alcohol as a colourless to pale yellow liquid or white solid with a mild floral odour. The Hazardous Substances Data Bank records a mild floral, hyacinth-gardenia odour, and also a weak, bitter, almond-like one.
- Leading note
- Mild floral
- Supporting facets
- Hyacinth, gardenia
- Faint facets
- Bitter almond
- Character
- Mild, soft
What makes Styrallyl Alcohol distinctive
A soft, mild floral alcohol, quieter than the green-gardenia brightness of its acetate.
Where the descriptions disagree: HSDB lists both a mild hyacinth-gardenia floral odour and a weak, bitter, almond-like one; JECFA gives only a mild floral odour.
How Styrallyl Alcohol is used
Used in hyacinth, gardenia and white-floral accords, often beside styrallyl acetate.
Typical role: blender (smooths the joins between other materials); modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Styrallyl Alcohol differs from similar materials
- Anther
- Anther is the greener, fresher, more metallic hyacinth note; styrallyl alcohol is milder and softer, nearer gardenia than leaf.
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.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Floral / Green
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- 1-Phenylethanol, alpha-Methylbenzyl alcohol, Methyl phenyl carbinol
- CAS number
- 98-85-1
- Molecular formula
- C8H10O
- Molecular weight
- 122.16 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1-phenylethanol
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 7409, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 24 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 (1,934 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (98.1% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (77.2% of reports). 37 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
-
Styrallyl Acetate
Aroma chemical · Green / Fruity — green, gardenia, fruity, rhubarb
-
Phenylacetaldehyde
Aroma chemical · Green / Floral — green, honeyed, hyacinth, floral
-
Phenylethyl Alcohol
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — rose, honeyed, soft, floral
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 4 published formulas
Styrallyl Alcohol is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Styrallyl Alcohol
Is Styrallyl Alcohol natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Styrallyl Alcohol 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 Styrallyl Alcohol?
98-85-1. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Styrallyl Alcohol?
Styrallyl Alcohol is used in 4 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Cut Stem Atelier, Gardenia Accord and Gardenia Milk. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 7409, checked 24 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- PubChem — Styrallyl Alcohol (CID 7409): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
- PubChem — Styrallyl Alcohol: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) odour entry — odour database.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.