Rum Acetal (Givaudan) | Perfumery Raw Material

Rum Acetal – Givaudan

Rum Acetal does not bring sweet caramel into the formula but the actual sparkling, ethereal edge of rum – volatile, green, almost a little foody. It is precisely this volatility that makes it a rare tool: most materials in our range lack it entirely.

Odour Profile

• Foody, ethereal, light, green (official sensory profile)
• Sparkling, fresh top-note effect
• Considerably more volatile than most base-note materials
• Colourless to pale yellow liquid

Role in the Formula

Rum Acetal (chemically 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane) does not build a rum accord on its own – it gives it its first breath. A second before oak, vanilla or damascones come in, this very molecule creates that deceptively recognisable, sparkling, volatile impulse – light, green, almost edible – that recalls the typical top note of rum. Gourmand perfumery with warm, spicy accents builds on exactly this principle: rum as a fragrance theme is not a single note but a choreographed sequence of impressions, and Rum Acetal is written for its opening bars.

A note on evaluation: A material written for the first few seconds is hard to judge on its own on a smelling strip. There it disappears after a short time – and that is exactly its job. Evaluate it in an accord, not on its own.

Use in Perfumery

Rum Acetal is suited to spicy gourmand compositions, tobacco-vanilla structures and top-note accents in men's fragrances. Givaudan does not publish an official dosage recommendation for this material – as with any new odorant molecule, it is advisable to start with very small amounts and increase step by step according to your own olfactory impression.

Practical Note: Dissolving, Storing, Combining

Dissolving: Practically insoluble in water, readily soluble in ethanol and common perfumery solvents.

Storing: Store at 10–30 °C in a dry, well-ventilated place, preferably in full and tightly closed containers, protected from light.

Combining: Proven in combination with vanillin, tonka bean notes, oak lactones and our Chocovan AB 7244C for complete gourmand accords.

Environmental Profile

According to the manufacturer, Rum Acetal is readily biodegradable: 78% degradation in 28 days, tested according to OECD Test Guideline 301 F under GLP. This is a figure published for very few odorants at all. The material contains no components classified as PBT or vPvB and no substances with endocrine-disrupting properties above 0.1%.

In Germany it is classified in water hazard class 2 (obviously hazardous to water, ID no. 6 111).

Safety Information

Under CLP, Rum Acetal is classified as an eye irritant (Eye Irrit. 2, H319 – causes serious eye irritation), signal word "Warning". There is no CLP classification as a skin sensitiser or as hazardous to the aquatic environment – compared with many other materials in our range, a remarkably unremarkable profile. Rum Acetal is also not dangerous goods and is not regulated for transport.

Toxicologically, the manufacturer states: acute oral toxicity LD50 rat > 4,000 mg/kg; sensitisation in the guinea pig maximisation test: not sensitising; phototoxicity: negative. Moderate eye irritation was observed in rabbits; vapours may irritate the eyes, respiratory tract and skin, and skin irritation may occur in sensitive individuals.

The flash point is 66 °C (Grabner Miniflash, closed cup). The usual precautions for handling concentrated odorants apply – wear eye protection when working with open containers.

Physico-Chemical Properties

FAQ

Is Rum Acetal the same as "Rum Ether"?
No. Classic "Rum Ether" (CAS 8030-89-5) is a complex mixture of 84 components obtained industrially by wood pyrolysis. Rum Acetal is chemically 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane – a single, clearly defined compound with its own odour profile and a transparent safety profile.

Why do I only smell it briefly on the smelling strip?
Because that is exactly what it is made for. With a vapour pressure of 6.51 hPa at 20 °C, Rum Acetal is one of the most volatile materials in our range – for comparison, Ambrofix is at 0.0002 hPa. A top-note material evaporates quickly; it shows its effect in the accord, not on its own.

What is Rum Acetal typically used for?
For spicy gourmand accords, tobacco-vanilla compositions and as a volatile top-note accent in men's fragrances.

What dosage should I use?
Givaudan does not publish an official dosage recommendation for Rum Acetal. As with any new material, it is advisable to start with very small amounts and increase step by step according to your own olfactory impression.

Hazard Statements (CLP Labelling)

Important Notice

This product is a perfumery raw material intended exclusively for fragrance development, creative experimentation, education, and the study of perfumery materials. It is not a finished cosmetic product. Please use responsibly.

Rum Acetal – chemistry, origin and application →