Para-Cresyl Phenyl Acetate PCPA | Animalic Floral Note

Product Name

Para-Cresyl Phenyl Acetate (PCPA)

CAS No.: 101-94-0

🟢 Difficulty: Advanced

⏳ Lasting: High

🌸 Note: Heart / Base

Description

Para-Cresyl Phenyl Acetate, commonly abbreviated as PCPA, is a powerful and distinctive aroma chemical with a rich animalic, honeyed and floral character. Its odor combines phenolic warmth with sweet, narcotic and slightly medicinal nuances. At higher concentrations, it can appear quite intense and animalic, while very small amounts can add remarkable depth and realism to floral compositions.

In perfumery, PCPA is primarily valued as a specialty floral modifier. It is particularly useful in narcotic floral accords, especially those inspired by jasmine, ylang-ylang, hyacinth and other intensely scented flowers. Its warm, animalic character can make floral compositions feel more natural, sensual and complex.

PCPA is a classic example of a material where dosage has a major influence on perception. Used carefully, it can provide a subtle honeyed-animalic background; pushed too far, its phenolic and animalic aspects can dominate the composition. It is therefore most useful to experienced perfumers working with concentrated floral accords.

Odor Profile

• Animalic

• Floral

• Honey-like

• Phenolic

• Narcotic

• Warm

• Slightly medicinal

• Sweet

Recommended Formulation Level (Educational guideline only)

• Trace: 0.001–0.01%

• General use: 0.01–0.05%

• High-impact accords: 0.05–0.20%

These are formulation guidelines for perfumers and are not IFRA limits.

Works Well With

• Jasmine materials

• Ylang-Ylang

• Indole

• Methyl Anthranilate

• Para-Cresyl Methyl Ether

• Phenethyl Alcohol

• Benzyl Acetate

• Benzyl Salicylate

• Honey materials

• Civet-type materials

• Indolic floral materials

• Tuberose materials

Common Applications

• Fine Fragrance

• Attars

• Jasmine Accords

• Animalic Accords

• Narcotic Floral Accords

• Honey Accords

• Tuberose Accords

• Ylang-Ylang Accords

• Oriental Fragrances

• Classic Perfumery

Perfumers' Tip

PCPA is best used in trace quantities to add a subtle animalic and honeyed depth to powerful floral accords. Try it with jasmine and indolic materials for a more natural, sensual effect, or combine it with ylang-ylang and honey notes for a richer floral character. Always evaluate it at high dilution before adding it to a concentrate, as very small dosage changes can noticeably alter the accord.