Odour strength
High
, recommend smelling in a 5.00 % solution or less
Listed qualitative strength
SALE
Maltol
Price range: £5.94 through £229.49
Odour description (decreasing) Caramel, Sweet, Cotton Candy, Jammy, Fruity, Baked
- Description
- Additional information
- Reviews (0)
- Safety Information
- Datasheets
- Supplementary Documentation
- Disclaimer
About this material
Maltol is a softly powerful gourmand material with the warmth of caramelised sugar, toasted biscuit and fruit preserve.
It sweetens a composition with more nuance than simple sugar, adding a faintly roasted edge that can make berries, vanilla and amber feel richer and more complete.
Its effect can be comforting or abstract.
In a gourmand it supports caramel, pastry and jam; in a floral or woody fragrance, a trace can round harsh angles and create a subtle halo of warmth without becoming an obvious dessert note.
Maltol creates the impression of sweetness touched by heat.
That toasted nuance can make an accord feel crafted rather than simply sugary, recalling the golden edge of pastry, the depth of preserve and the comforting warmth of caramelised fruit.
Odour profile
The odour is sweet and caramel-like, with cotton-candy warmth, jammy fruit, biscuit and lightly burnt-sugar nuances.
A creamy softness sits beneath the toasted edge, giving the material a familiar yet highly adaptable character.
The opening is immediately sweet, with caramel and spun-sugar associations softened by a warm, almost creamy body.
A faint toasted facet adds colour and keeps the material from reading as a completely clean sweetness.
In the heart, jammy fruit, biscuit and gently roasted nuances become more apparent.
The effect can move between nostalgic and sophisticated depending on its companions, making Maltol useful well beyond overt dessert-style fragrances.
Using Maltol in perfumery
Maltol can enrich vanilla, caramel, chocolate, berry, strawberry and baked-gourmand accords.
It is also useful for warming amber, tobacco and balsamic structures, or for smoothing fruity florals that need sweetness with depth.
In gourmand construction, it can connect vanilla, cocoa, coffee, fruit and pastry notes, filling the spaces between them with warm sweetness.
It is especially effective for giving berry and strawberry accords the richness of cooked fruit or preserve.
At lower levels, Maltol can smooth sharp floral, woody or ambery structures and add a subtle golden halo.
In tobacco and balsamic themes, its toasted character can enhance warmth while avoiding the flatness of an undifferentiated sweet base.
Creative pairings
Explore Maltol with vanillin, ethyl maltol, cocoa, coffee, berry materials, strawberry, pineapple, tonka, benzoin, labdanum, sandalwood and soft musks.
Small adjustments can change the effect from a quiet sweetener to a recognisable gourmand theme.
For a polished fruit gourmand, explore strawberry, raspberry, plum, vanilla and soft woods.
For a darker direction, combine it with cocoa, coffee, tobacco, tonka, benzoin and labdanum, using spice, cedar or patchouli to balance the sweetness.
Maltol Crystals FAQs: Dissolving & Using in Perfume
With its warm caramel, toasted sugar and comforting baked notes, maltol adds a delicious dimension to gourmand fragrances and fruity accords. Working with the pure crystals gives you control over your dilution and choice of solvent.
This listing is for pure, undiluted maltol crystals. No carrier solvent has been added. For easier measurement and incorporation into your fragrance, prepare a suitable stock solution before use. If you prefer a diluted material, see our Maltol Crystals 1D Maltol is a crystalline material with limited solubility. Both your choice of solvent and the concentration you attempt will affect how successfully it dissolves. There is a difference between slow dissolution and reaching the solvent’s limit. Mixing and patience can help crystals dissolve, but extra stirring cannot make a solvent hold more maltol than its solubility allows. For an alcohol-based perfume, high-strength perfumer’s ethanol is a sensible starting point for a dilute trial stock. Propylene glycol is another documented option. The Food Chemicals Codex reports that approximately 1g of maltol dissolves in 21ml of alcohol or 28ml of propylene glycol. These are solvent-volume ratios, not percentages by weight, and do not guarantee stability in every formulation. Propylene glycol (PG) and dipropylene glycol (DPG) are different solvents. Their solubility figures are not interchangeable. Reference: USP Food Chemicals Codex — Maltol. For a small trial, prepare 10g of solution at 1% by weight using: Use a balance capable of accurately weighing 0.1g. Mix thoroughly in a suitable container and allow time for the crystals to dissolve. Label the bottle with the material, solvent, concentration and preparation date. Check the solution after standing and under its expected storage conditions. This is a conservative trial concentration, not a guaranteed stability specification. Do not assume that a 10% maltol stock will remain dissolved. Maltol has limited solubility, and a concentration that works for another crystalline aroma material may not work for maltol. Start with a dilute stock and assess its stability before trying higher concentrations. Any stronger preparation needs checking after cooling, standing and incorporation into the finished fragrance. Gentle warming may help dissolution, but it does not guarantee that the solution will remain clear after cooling. Follow the handling instructions for your chosen solvent. Never use direct heat or an open flame with ethanol. Allow any warmed preparation to return to room temperature and check for crystals before using it. A warm solution may hold more maltol than it can retain when cool. Crystals can therefore return as the temperature falls, particularly if the solution is close to its solubility limit. Changing the solvent balance by adding the stock to a fragrance can also cause crystallisation. A clear stock solution does not guarantee that the finished perfume will remain clear. Check both the stock and the finished fragrance after standing and at their expected storage temperatures. Allow adequate mixing time first. If crystals persist, reduce the concentration by adding more of the same suitable solvent, recording the amount added so you can calculate the revised concentration. Recheck the solution after standing. Repeated warming alone will not resolve a concentration that is too high for normal storage conditions. Avoid dosing liquid from above settled crystals: its maltol concentration may differ from the intended stock strength. Calculate the amount of actual maltol, as well as the solvent you are adding. For example, 1g of a 1% maltol stock contains 0.01g of maltol and 0.99g of solvent. If included in a final batch weighing 10g, that contributes 0.1% maltol by weight. A stock concentration is a handling choice, not a recommended finished-product usage level. No. Maltol and ethyl maltol are different aroma materials. Their odour profiles and solubility differ, so dilution instructions should not be transferred automatically between them. This listing is for Maltol, CAS 118-71-8. For the other material, see our Ethyl Maltol product page. A blend of triethyl citrate (TEC) and 1,3-butylene glycol is an option worth investigating. In a published patent experiment, 1% maltol was soluble in blends of 1,3-butylene glycol:TEC at both 1:3 and 3:1 by weight, after heating and cooling to room temperature. Under the same test conditions, neither solvent alone fully dissolved maltol at 1%. This demonstrates that a mixed solvent can perform differently from either of its individual components. These findings do not establish long-term stability or support assuming that higher concentrations will dissolve. They apply specifically to 1,3-butylene glycol and TEC; substituting another glycol may give different results. Reference: Published experimental results — Example 1(g). Polarity alone does not reliably predict how well a solvent will dissolve maltol. The interactions between maltol and the solvents, as well as between the solvents themselves, influence the result. The TEC and 1,3-butylene glycol experiment illustrates this: the mixtures dissolved 1% maltol under conditions where the individual solvents did not. This makes small comparative trials useful when choosing a solvent system for your particular fragrance. Begin with small batches at 1% maltol by weight. If these remain clear, you can investigate 3% and 5% as further screening concentrations. These are test concentrations, not promised solubilities. For each trial, record the solvent or solvent blend, ingredient weights and preparation conditions. Check for crystals, haze or separation: These checks provide an initial screen rather than proof of long-term stability. Test the finished perfume as well: adding a clear stock to an IPM-rich or otherwise different base can cause crystals to return. DPG offers a convenient way to handle maltol, but concentration, temperature and the finished formula determine whether it stays dissolved.
Is this maltol supplied pure or diluted?
Why are maltol crystals difficult to dissolve?
Which solvent should I use?
How do I make a 1% maltol stock solution?
Can I prepare a stronger solution, such as 10%?
Can I warm the mixture to help the crystals dissolve?
Why do crystals return after my solution has cleared?
What should I do if crystals remain or return?
How do I account for a dilution in my perfume formula?
Is maltol the same as ethyl maltol?
Can I dissolve maltol in a blend of TEC and 1,3-butylene glycol?
Why can a solvent blend work better than a single solvent?
How should I compare solvents and check stability?
Scent character
Highlights from the material’s listed odour profile.
CaramelListed odour facet
SweetSoft, rounded sweetness
Cotton CandyListed odour facet
Note position
Heart note
TopOpening impression
HeartMain fragrance character
BaseLasting foundation
Material character
A closer lookTenacity / substantivity
372 hour(s)
at 20.00 %
Listed reference conditions
Fragrance development
TopHeartBase
Heart note
Illustrative note development · no measured evaporation data
Recorded identity reference
Molecular referenceMolecular identity
C6H6O3
- Molecular weight
- 126.11 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3-hydroxy-2-methylpyran-4-one
More compound properties
Computed and structural reference properties for the named compound. These are not measured supplier specifications or properties of a complete dilution, mixture or batch.
- XLogP (computed)
- 0.4
- Exact mass (Da)
- 126.031694049
- Monoisotopic mass (Da)
- 126.031694049
- Topological polar surface area (Ų)
- 46.5
- Complexity
- 200
- Formal charge
- 0
- Hydrogen bond donors
- 1
- Hydrogen bond acceptors
- 3
- Rotatable bonds
- 0
- Heavy atoms
- 9
- Isotope atoms
- 0
- Atom stereocentres
- 0
- Bond stereocentres
- 0
- Covalent units
- 1
- SMILES
- CC1=C(C(=O)C=CO1)O
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C6H6O3/c1-4-6(8)5(7)2-3-9-4/h2-3,8H,1H3
- InChIKey
- XPCTZQVDEJYUGT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Reference data checked 2026-10-27.
This molecular reference matches the catalogue’s recorded CAS and formula. It does not confirm the supplied grade, purity, stereochemistry, isomer proportions, composition, impurities or unlisted constituents.
Fragrance allergen reference
Generic regulatory reference only. This is not a supplier allergen declaration, measured composition, allergen-free claim or finished-product labelling assessment.
Raw-material reference based on recorded CAS numbers. A CAS match identifies a reference entry; it does not verify the supplied grade, composition, purity or finished-product compliance. Naturals, bases and mixtures require composition review.
European Union / Northern Ireland
No direct listed-entry CAS match in this jurisdiction’s held reference set. This does not mean the material is allergen-free. Constituents, grouped entries and natural-material composition may require further review.
Finished-cosmetic declaration thresholds: greater than 0.001% leave-on; greater than 0.01% rinse-off. Apply the current target-market rules to the actual complete formulation; no concentration is inferred here.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 · Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 with 11 November 2025 corrigendum; checked 2026-10-26.
Held EU transition dates: placing noncompliant products on the market until 2026-07-31; making them available until 2028-07-31. Check applicability and current law for the intended market. 2025 corrigendum.
Great Britain
No direct listed-entry CAS match in this jurisdiction’s held reference set. This does not mean the material is allergen-free. Constituents, grouped entries and natural-material composition may require further review.
Finished-cosmetic declaration thresholds: greater than 0.001% leave-on; greater than 0.01% rinse-off. Apply the current target-market rules to the actual complete formulation; no concentration is inferred here.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III (Great Britain) · legislation.gov.uk current text checked 2026-10-26.
Current supplier composition or allergen declarations are required to assess naturals, bases, mixtures and actual concentrations. Reference data checked 2026-10-26; bundle 2026-10-27. Supplementary private documents remain separate.
Product specification
Physical stateSolidWhite to beige, crystalline powder
| CAS number | 118-71-8 |
|---|---|
| Odour description (decreasing) | Caramel, Sweet, Cotton Candy, Jammy, Fruity, Baked |
| Odour strength | High, recommend smelling in a 5.00 % solution or less |
| Perfumery use | Caramel and spun-sugar effects, jammy fruit accords and warm baked gourmand textures.Listed perfumery guidance; this is not an IFRA limit. |
| Typical use percentage | 0.1% - 10% |
| Substantivity | 372 hour(s) at 20.00 % |
| Solvent | None |
| Flash point | 110 °C |
| Physical state | Solid |
| Physical form | White to beige, crystalline powder |
| Synonyms | Maltol; 3-Hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one |
| Molecular formula | C₆H₆O₃ |
| Molecular weight | 126.11 g/mol |
Safety & handling
Listed handling information
Not Hazardous According To EC 1272/2008
Important: For professional formulation use. Review the Safety Data Sheet before handling, storage or use.
Datasheets & customer documents
Available documents are attached to eligible completed orders in your account.
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Supplementary documents are supplied only where explicitly listed and available. Check documentation information
Purchased as a guest? Follow the SDS request guidance in our Documentation Supply Policy and provide proof of purchase.
Documentation Supply PolicyIFRA formulation guide
Generic reference only — not an IFRA certificate, compliance decision or use recommendation. The Responsible Person and qualified safety assessor must assess the actual finished formula using current applicable IFRA Standards, supplementary documentation where available and the CPSR.
Raw-material reference based on recorded CAS numbers. A CAS match identifies a reference entry; it does not verify the supplied grade, composition, purity or finished-product compliance. Naturals, bases and mixtures require composition review.
Source: 51st Amendment overview, held source checked 2026-10-21. Bundle 2026-10-27. Individual Standards prevail over the overview.
No direct IFRA overview entry matched the recorded CAS in this held dataset. This does not mean unrestricted use, absence of relevant Standards or compliance. Constituent restrictions may still apply.
IFRA source overview · Individual IFRA Standards and supplementary documentation
Supplier certificates and private documents are separate evidence. Their availability does not determine whether this generic guide is shown. This is a dated local reference, not a live regulatory feed.
Creative ideas to explore
Creative directions, not tested formulas.
Sweetness and grain
With sandalwood and dry wood notesExplore a gourmand sketch framed by wood rather than more sweetness. Compare a creamy wood direction with a drier one, deciding whether the material works best as the centre of the idea or as a softer background.
Citrus confection
With bergamot and a peel directionTry a contrast between the gourmand character and a citrus opening. Compare a peel-led version with a sweeter reference, looking for a balance that evokes your intended confection without turning every part of the composition sweet.
Petal cream
With rose and a soft floral accordSet the gourmand material beside a familiar flower for a petal-and-cream concept. Evaluate the floral reference and the sweeter variation together, then choose whether the result should remain recognisably floral or move towards a dessert impression.
| Volume | 1g, 5g, 10g, 30g, 100g, 250g, 500g, 1kg |
|---|
Dilution Information
MaterialFragrance ingredient
Carrier / solventAs specified for the product
Supplied dilutionCheck the ratio and carrier
Concept illustration only; no dilution ratio or carrier is implied for this material. Refer to the product specification and label.
The suffix D forms part of the product name and indicates that the material is supplied as a dilution rather than at full strength.
POD = Precious Oil Dilution, typically intended for aromatherapy applications.
AOD = Absolute Oil Dilution, indicating that the product is supplied as a diluted absolute.
The dilution ratio and carrier/solvent are stated within the product specification and will also be shown on the product label.
IMPORTANT: Customers should always rely on the product specification when confirming the concentration and carrier/solvent supplied.
While we endeavour to ensure that product names and suffixes accurately reflect the material supplied, the product specification (including the stated dilution ratio and carrier/solvent) shall take precedence in the event of any omission, abbreviation, naming variation, or delayed update to a product title.
Please ensure you have selected the correct material, concentration, dilution ratio and carrier/solvent before completing your purchase.
Handling precautions
For professional perfumery use only. Not for direct application to skin or ingestion. Keep out of reach of children.
Handle using the precautions specified for the material. Wear suitable protective gloves and eye protection where required.
Keep away from sources of ignition where applicable and avoid release to the environment.
Keep containers securely closed and store under the conditions specified on the product label and SDS. Keep liquid containers upright.
If swallowed or otherwise exposed, follow the SDS first-aid instructions and seek medical advice as appropriate. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by a medical professional.
Product-specific warnings, handling precautions and storage requirements take precedence over this general information.
Read the applicable SDS
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is available to logged in users who have purchased this item, where applicable.
Documents are not supplied before purchase.
Read the applicable SDS before handling or using the material. Follow its instructions for hazards, protective equipment, first aid, handling, storage and disposal.
An SDS provides information about the material supplied; it does not replace an assessment of the safety or compliance of a finished formulation.
Please note that supplementary documentation—including, but not limited to, IFRA Certificates, Certificates of Analysis (CoA), Allergen Declarations, and other regulatory or compositional data—may not be available for all products. Refer to the "Supplementary Documentation" tab to check current availability. If the tab is not present, no supplementary documents are available for the material.
Customers intending to use materials in cosmetic applications, including for the preparation of a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) under UK and EU Cosmetics Regulations, must contact us prior to purchase to confirm the availability and suitability of any required documentation where it is not explicitly stated. Orders must not be placed in reliance on the assumption that such documentation will be provided where it is not explicitly stated on the relevant product page at the time of purchase.
By proceeding with a purchase without prior written confirmation, you acknowledge and accept that documentation beyond the legally required SDS may not be supplied, and you agree that Perfume Extract shall not be held liable for the absence of such documentation or for any inability to complete regulatory requirements, including CPSR or product compliance obligations.
Products are supplied in accordance with our Documentation Supply Policy
The following supplementary documentation is available as a download to logged in users who have purchased this item:
- IFRA
- ALLERGEN
Document scope and limitations
The supplementary documents currently available for this material are identified in this tab. Availability varies between materials.
Batch-specific certificates, analytical results and additional technical data are not guaranteed. They are supplied only where their availability is expressly confirmed in this tab or separately confirmed by us in writing.
Where provided, supplier IFRA documentation does not replace a comprehensive safety assessment or constitute approval of a finished formulation. Customers must consider their complete formulation and intended application.
Any linked IFRA standard is provided for reference and is not a batch-specific specification or analytical certificate for the material supplied.
Do not assume that documentation confirms a particular batch, residual constituent level, manufacturing process or analytical result unless it expressly states this.
The same limitations apply to allergen declarations, Certificates of Analysis (CoAs), technical data sheets, specifications, and other regulatory, analytical or compositional documents. These documents provide information only within their stated scope; they do not replace a comprehensive safety assessment or constitute approval of a finished formulation, nor do they guarantee suitability for a particular application. Customers must assess their complete formulation and intended use.
Customer responsibility
These limitations apply to reliance on all documentation supplied, including IFRA information, allergen declarations, Certificates of Analysis (CoAs), technical data sheets, specifications and other supporting documents.
Perfume Extract is solely a reseller of this product and is not an agent, official distributor, or affiliated in any way with the manufacturer.
Customers are responsible for determining whether the material and available documentation meet their requirements before purchase, and for assessing the safety and compliance of their finished products.
We do not provide formulation instructions, formulation consultancy or confirmation of suitability at a particular concentration or for a particular application.
Producer identity, detailed sourcing and processing information are not disclosed beyond the information published in the product listing.
Please read our Documentation Supply Policy alongside the product specification and available documentation.
Synonyms, alternative names, CAS/EC references, botanical names, manufacturer references and external links may describe a substance or material family generally. They should not, on their own, be taken as confirmation of the supplied material’s producer, geographical origin, manufacturing process, grade, purity, constituent levels or batch characteristics.
In particular, a synonym or reference must not be used to infer that a material is free from a particular constituent, meets a numerical specification, or is suitable for a particular application or concentration.
IFRA information, allergen declarations, Certificates of Analysis (CoAs), technical data sheets and other supporting documents apply only within their expressly stated scope. A general specification or reference document is not a batch-specific analytical result unless it expressly identifies the relevant batch.
If information appears inconsistent, or a particular characteristic is essential to your purchase, contact us for written clarification before ordering. Do not resolve discrepancies by assuming that a synonym, external reference or document for another grade applies to the material supplied.
We do not confirm characteristics beyond those expressly supported by the applicable product specification or our written confirmation. Customers remain responsible for assessing their complete formulation and intended application.
Nothing in this information excludes or restricts liability or statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.
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