alpha-Damascone on your skin: a safety profile

What is alpha-damascone?

The IUPAC name is 1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)but-3-en-1-one.

Also known as: 1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)but-3-en-1-one, RefChem:555689, 2-Buten-1-one, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-, FEMA No. 3659.

IUPAC name

1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)but-3-en-1-one

CAS number

43052-87-5

Molecular formula

C13H20O

Molecular weight

192.30 g/mol

SMILES

CC1=CCCC(C1C(=O)CC=C)(C)C

PubChem CID

520506

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified alpha-Damascone. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter alpha-damascone

• Personal Care — perfume, cosmetics
• Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
  Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to alpha-Damascone:

• beta-Damascone (lower sensitization)
  Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Damascenone
  Trade-offs: Alternative fragrance ingredient; individual safety profile should be assessed per IFRA standards; sensitization potential varies by compound; patch testing recommended for sensitive individuals.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions