In short
2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine is a roasted-food pyrazine found in cocoa, coffee and roasted nuts. It has a nutty, cocoa-like odour.
What 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine smells like
2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine has a roasted-nut, baked-potato odour, in Wikipedia's description; supplier listings add cocoa, hazelnut, musty, coffee and earthy, and one database ranks nutty, roasted and cocoa as its strongest descriptors. It occurs in baked foods, fried barley, potatoes and peanuts, and is used in cocoa, coffee, chocolate, potato and cereal flavours.
- Leading note
- Roasted nut
- Clear facets
- Cocoa
- Supporting facets
- Baked potato
- Faint facets
- Coffee, earthy, musty
- Character
- Roasted, earthy, dry
What makes 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine distinctive
The roasted-nut pyrazine: cocoa and hazelnut with an earthy, baked-potato skin.
How 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine is used
Used in traces for roasted, nutty and cocoa effects in gourmand compositions, and in flavours.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine differs from similar materials
- 2-Acetylpyrazine
- Acetylpyrazine is popcorn and corn chip; trimethylpyrazine is earthier — roasted nut, cocoa and baked potato.
- Cacao Absolute
- Cacao absolute is the whole roasted bean — bitter, powdery and milky; trimethylpyrazine is one of the roasted, nutty notes in it.
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
Potent; work from dilution.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Gourmand
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Trimethylpyrazine
- CAS number
- 14667-55-1
- Molecular formula
- C7H10N2
- Molecular weight
- 122.17 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 26808, 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 (1,880 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (100% of reports); H226 flammable liquid and vapor (99.7% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (10.4% of 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
-
2-Acetylpyrazine
Aroma chemical · Gourmand — popcorn, roasted, nutty, bready
-
Cacao Absolute
Absolute · Gourmand — chocolate, cocoa, roasted, bitter
-
Coffee Absolute
Absolute · Gourmand — roasted, coffee, smoky, bitter
-
Vanillin
Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Amber — vanilla, sweet, creamy
2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine is also suggested as a partner on the pages for 2-Ethyl-3,5(6)-dimethylpyrazine, 2-Ethyl-4-methylthiazole, 2-Ethylpyrazine, 2-Methylbutanal, 2-Propionyl-2-thiazoline and 4-Methyl-5-vinylthiazole.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 3 published formulas
2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine
Is 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine 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 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine?
14667-55-1. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine?
2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine is used in 3 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Patchouli Cold Brew, Pumpkin Accord and Roasted Chestnut Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 26808, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Wikipedia — 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine — published perfumery reference.
- ChemicalBook — 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine (CAS 14667-55-1) — odour database.
- Sigma-Aldrich — 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine — manufacturer'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.