In short
Theaspirane is a spiro-ether found in tea, with a woody, camphoraceous and tea-like odour. It occurs as two isomers that smell different.
What Theaspirane smells like
Parchem's specification describes theaspirane as woody, cooling, minty and camphoraceous with a fresh green herbal nuance. A supplier profile gives black tea with fruity and woody facets; a perfumery retailer finds a herbal, woody smell with leather undertones and notes that it occurs naturally in tea. Its two isomers are reported to differ, one woody and camphoraceous, the other naphthalene-like.
- Leading note
- Woody camphor
- Clear facets
- Tea
- Supporting facets
- Minty, herbal
- Faint facets
- Leather
- Character
- Cooling, dry
What makes Theaspirane distinctive
The camphoraceous-woody side of tea leaves.
Where the descriptions disagree: Tea- and tobacco-oriented descriptions lead with green and herbal notes; specification sheets lead with camphor and mint.
How Theaspirane is used
Used in tea, woody and tobacco accords for a herbal, camphoraceous dryness.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Theaspirane differs from similar materials
- Mahagonate
- Mahagonate is a dry, clean hardwood sawdust; theaspirane is woody too, but camphoraceous, minty and tea-like.
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
- Woody / Aromatic
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 36431-72-8
- Molecular formula
- C13H22O
- Molecular weight
- 194.31 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 2,6,6,10-tetramethyl-1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec-9-ene
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 61953, 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 report it as not meeting the GHS hazard criteria (151 of 163 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
-
cis-Jasmone
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — green, jasmine, fruity, celery
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
-
beta-Ionone
Aroma chemical · Powdery / Woody — violet, woody, fruity, raspberry
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 13 published formulas
Theaspirane is an ingredient in 10 perfume formulas and 3 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Theaspirane
Is Theaspirane natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Theaspirane 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 Theaspirane?
36431-72-8. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Theaspirane?
Theaspirane is used in 13 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Agar Lantern, Apricot Dust and Champaca Tea Room. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 61953, checked 24 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Parchem — theaspirane — distributor's description.
- The Fragrance Foundry — Theaspirane — distributor's description.
- ChemicalBook — 36431-72-8 — 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.