What Linalool Actually Is

Linalool is one of those molecules almost everyone has met without knowing its name. It is a naturally occurring monoterpene alcohol - a clear, colorless to pale yellow oily liquid - and it is consistently ranked among the most used fragrance and flavor ingredients in the world. If a product smells of fresh flowers, clean soap, or light citrus, there is a fair chance linalool is doing some of the work. The full specification is on our linalool product page (CAS 78-70-6), but the short version is worth reading before you buy.

Chemically it is C10H18O, molecular weight 154.25, EINECS 201-134-4. It presents as a colorless, transparent, oily liquid with a fresh, light "lily of the valley" (muguet) floral character, slightly woody and clean. Density sits around 0.87 g/mL at 25 C, it is soluble in ethanol (our page notes 1 mL dissolves clear in 4 mL of 60% ethanol) but practically insoluble in water, and most suppliers recommend storage at 2-8 C in tightly closed containers away from heat and light. Those three facts - solubility, density, and storage - decide how you handle it on the bench.

Where It Turns Up

Linalool's reach is unusually broad for a single aroma chemical:

• Fine fragrance and perfumery - it is a staple heart and top-to-middle note, used to build floral accords (rose, jasmine, lavender, muguet) and to add a clean, diffusive lift to almost any composition.
• Personal care and cosmetics - shampoos, body washes, lotions, and creams use it for the fresh scent, and it also appears as a minor functional component in some skincare systems.
• Household and functional products - detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, and air care rely on linalool for the "clean" signal that consumers read as hygienic.
• Flavor - at FEMA 2635, small doses contribute a light floral, citrus, and spicy note to beverages and confections.

That spread is exactly why formulators keep a drum on the shelf: it blends with almost everything and rarely fights the rest of a formula.

Natural, Synthetic, and the Two Hands

Linalool exists as two enantiomers. The (+)-form is found in coriander and sweet orange oils; the (-)-form turns up in rosewood (ho wood) and lavandin. Natural isolates from those botanicals are valued in "natural"-positioned products, but most industrial volume is synthetic racemic linalool, which contains both enantiomers and costs far less. The odor profile is close enough for the bulk of applications, and the synthetic route gives the batch-to-batch consistency that large-scale manufacturing demands. When a buyer specifies "natural linalool," that almost always means an enantiomerically defined isolate - and the price reflects it. For everyday fine fragrance and home care, the synthetic grade is the workhorse.

For builders working a similar fresh-citrus direction, citral (CAS 5392-40-5) supplies the lemon note, while linalyl acetate (CAS 115-95-7) and geranyl-linalool (CAS 1113-21-9) extend the same lavender-bergamot family with softer, rounder facets.

Spec Snapshot

Handling, Stability, and the IFRA Question

Linalool is stable under normal conditions but, like many terpene alcohols, it oxidizes slowly on exposure to air and light, which is why refrigeration and full containers matter. Oxidation can generate peroxides and skin-sensitizing compounds, so good housekeeping protects both the material and the end product. It is also a known contact allergen; under IFRA standards its use in consumer products is restricted based on product type and concentration. Any serious fragrance or cosmetic formula needs to run the IFRA limit check before scaling - this is not optional for compliant finished goods.

Dosing is formulation-specific. In fine fragrance, linalool can sit at several percent of the concentrate; in leave-on cosmetics and detergents it is usually far lower, set by the IFRA constraint and the target scent strength. Because it is highly volatile and diffusive, it is often balanced with heavier, lower-volatility materials so the top note does not disappear in the first hour. A base note such as ambroxane (CAS 6790-58-5) is a common partner for exactly this reason - it holds the drydown while linalool does the bright opening work.

What to Check on the COA

When you buy linalool, the certificate of analysis should confirm assay (typically 95% or higher for fragrance grade, with a tight specification for the synthetic material), color, refractive index, and density, plus residual solvent and peroxide levels if you are using it in a sensitive system. Enantiomeric composition matters only if you have specified a natural grade. For food and flavor use, confirm FEMA/flavor-grade status and any heavy-metal and microbial limits. A supplier that hands over a consistent, readable COA batch after batch is worth more than a one-time discount.

For skin-care systems that pair fragrance with active ingredients, it is worth sourcing the actives on the same line. Materials like kojic acid (CAS 501-30-4), alpha-arbutin (CAS 84380-01-8), and citric acid anhydrous (CAS 77-92-9) are frequent companions in brightening and pH-adjusted formulations, and consolidating suppliers keeps documentation tidy.

Sourcing Notes

Packaging for bulk linalool is typically 25 kg or 180 kg drums with appropriate liners, stored cool and protected from light; under those conditions shelf life is comfortably long. Because linalool is a high-turnover, mature raw material, the real differentiators between suppliers are assay consistency, documentation, and lead time rather than novelty. If your team is building a fine-fragrance, personal-care, or home-care line, having linalool and its usual companions - citral, linalyl acetate, geranyl-linalool, and a fixing base like ambroxane - on one reliable supply line removes a recurring sourcing headache and keeps pilot-to-production scaling predictable.

And for the carrier side of a formula, a stable emollient such as squalane (CAS 111-01-3) or a sweetness booster like ethyl maltol (CAS 4940-11-8) often travels in the same bill of materials, so sourcing them together is usually the efficient move.