Methyl Anthranilate

✦ Delivers an unmistakable Concord grape and orange blossom character — one of the most iconic fruity floral aroma chemicals in perfumery
✦ Occurs naturally in grapes, neroli, jasmine, and tuberose — the synthetic form offers batch-consistent, high-purity performance
✦ Essential building block for grape accords, neroli reconstructions, muguet blends, and tropical fruity floral compositions
✦ Widely used in fine fragrance, functional fragrance, candles, reed diffusers, and rinse-off personal care products
✦ IFRA-referenced with phototoxicity restrictions in leave-on categories — always apply current IFRA 51st Amendment limits for compliant formulation
✦ Excellent radiance and lift in top-to-mid note transitions — compatible with citrus, white florals, musks, and green materials
✦ Vegan and cruelty-free — synthetically produced with no animal-derived inputs

Methyl Anthranilate is an aromatic ester belonging to the anthranilic acid family, first isolated from neroli oil in the late nineteenth century. The compound is found naturally in an impressive range of botanicals — Concord grapes, orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, and ylang ylang all contain it in varying concentrations. Its history in perfumery stretches back well over a century, making it one of the earliest aroma chemicals identified from natural sources and subsequently produced synthetically for commercial use. The synthetic form, now the industry standard, has GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) designation in flavour applications and is a staple across both perfumery and flavour creation.

What makes methyl anthranilate remarkable is its dual personality. At high concentrations it reads as an intensely fruity, artificial grape — the classic Concord grape of confectionery and soft drinks. Dialled down to lower doses, it transforms into a soft, radiant, orange-blossom-meets-jasmine floral that adds lift and naturalness to white floral, citrus, and fougère compositions. This dynamic behaviour across dilution levels gives the perfumer exceptional creative control. Its ability to bridge fruity and floral olfactory families in a single molecule has made it indispensable in modern accord construction. The phototoxicity profile requires attention in leave-on formulations, but in rinse-off and non-skin-contact applications it presents minimal restriction.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade methyl anthranilate suitable for DIY perfumers, soap makers, candle crafters, home fragrance formulators, and professional fragrance blenders seeking authentic grape and orange blossom character.

SCENT DESCRIPTION : Methyl Anthranilate opens with a bright, instantly recognisable Concord grape burst that is simultaneously fruity and floral. As it develops, the grape facet softens and a warm orange blossom quality emerges — luminous, slightly honeyed, and faintly powdery at the edges. At lower dilutions the character shifts closer to neroli and jasmine, with a clean, radiant sweetness that recalls fresh white flowers on a warm afternoon. The drydown is light and lingering, leaving a soft floral-fruity trail that blends seamlessly with musks and ambers.

NOTE POSITION : Top to Mid

FRAGRANCE FAMILY : Fruity Floral · Citrus · White Floral

FACETS : Grape · Orange Blossom · Jasmine · Neroli · Honeyed

TENACITY : Medium — 4 to 6 hours on skin, stronger in wax and diffuser media

SILLAGE : Medium — projects well in the opening, settles to a close, radiant skin scent

Chemical Name : Methyl 2-aminobenzoate
CAS Number : 134-20-3
Synonyms : Methyl Anthranilate · Neroli Oil Artificial · 2-Aminobenzoic Acid Methyl Ester · Methyl o-Aminobenzoate
Purity : 99% minimum
Appearance : Colourless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Threshold : Approximately 0.05 to 0.1 ppm (very low — use with care at high concentrations)
Solubility : Practically insoluble in water · Freely soluble in ethanol, DPG, IPM, and most carrier oils
Specific Gravity : 1.162 – 1.168 at 20°C
Flash Point : Approximately 99°C (210°F)
Type : Synthetic (naturally occurring in neroli, grape, jasmine — synthetically produced for commercial use)

Fine Fragrance : ★★★★★
Methyl Anthranilate is a cornerstone ingredient in fruity floral EDPs and EDTs. It contributes grape radiance in top notes and orange blossom warmth in the heart. Use at 0.5 to 3% in finished fragrance for balance — higher concentrations can dominate the composition.

Attar & Oriental Blending : ★★★★☆
The orange blossom and jasmine facets of methyl anthranilate harmonise beautifully with traditional attar bases — oud, sandalwood, rose, and amber all pair well. It adds a modern, luminous lift to otherwise heavy oriental bases and suits ittar-style neroli reconstructions at 0.5 to 2%.

Functional Fragrance : ★★★★☆
Performs well in rinse-off products including shampoos, body washes, and soaps where its fruity floral note adds perceived freshness. Leave-on applications require strict adherence to IFRA phototoxicity limits. Suitable for fabric care at controlled rates.

Candles & Home Fragrance : ★★★★★
Excellent performance in soy, paraffin, and blended wax candles. The grape-floral character throws well both cold and hot. Reed diffusers benefit from its radiant top note quality. Use at 2 to 8% in fragrance oil for home fragrance applications.

Cosmetics : ★★★☆☆
Usable in rinse-off cosmetic products such as shampoo and shower gel. In leave-on products — body lotion, facial cream, lip products — phototoxicity restrictions apply and usage must conform to current IFRA and EU Cosmetics Regulation limits. Not recommended in lipstick or high-exposure leave-on formats without verified compliance.

RECOMMENDED USAGE RATES

EDP (Eau de Parfum) : 0.5 – 3.0%
EDT (Eau de Toilette) : 0.3 – 2.0%
Body Lotion (leave-on) : 0.1 – 0.5% (phototoxicity limit applies — verify IFRA Cat 5A)
Shampoo / Body Wash : 0.5 – 1.5%
Candle (in fragrance oil) : 3.0 – 8.0%
Reed Diffuser : 3.0 – 6.0%
Soap (bar / cold process) : 0.5 – 2.0%

IFRA 51ST AMENDMENT COMPLIANCE

⚠️ Methyl Anthranilate is subject to IFRA restrictions primarily due to phototoxicity. Restrictions are most significant in leave-on skin products. The following limits are provided as guidance — always verify against the current IFRA 51st Amendment standard for your specific application category.

IFRA Category 1 (lip products) : 0.06% in finished product
IFRA Category 2 (deodorant / antiperspirant) : 0.5% in finished product
IFRA Category 4 (fine fragrance, spray) : Approximately 5.5% — verify with IFRA 51st Amendment
IFRA Category 5A (body lotion, leave-on) : Approximately 0.5% — verify with IFRA 51st Amendment
IFRA Category 5B (face cream, leave-on) : Phototoxicity concern — verify with IFRA 51st Amendment
IFRA Category 9 (rinse-off body / hair) : Higher limit applies — verify with IFRA 51st Amendment
IFRA Category 11 (non-skin contact / candle / diffuser) : No restriction under phototoxicity basis

⚠️ For any leave-on skin-contact product, always perform a full QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment) and consult the current IFRA 51st Amendment limits before finalising your formula.

⚠️ EU Cosmetics Regulation: Methyl Anthranilate is not listed as a prohibited substance but its phototoxicity profile means it is subject to assessment under EU Regulation 1223/2009 in leave-on cosmetics. Verify with your regulatory assessor for EU-market products.

METHOD 1 — Grape Accord Construction
To build a full Concord grape accord, combine methyl anthranilate (30 to 40% of accord) with ethyl maltol for sweetness, furaneol or fructone for fresh fruity lift, and a touch of violet leaf absolute or para-cresyl phenyl acetate for depth. This forms the backbone of grape soliflore or fruit basket compositions. Total methyl anthranilate in finished fragrance: 0.5 to 1.5%.

METHOD 2 — Neroli and Orange Blossom Enhancement
At lower doses (0.1 to 0.5% in finished fragrance), methyl anthranilate acts as a neroli enhancer rather than a grape note. Combine with linalool, linalyl acetate, hedione, and a citrus top of bergamot and petitgrain for a convincing orange blossom or neroli accord that works equally well in fine fragrance and attar bases.

METHOD 3 — Fruity Floral Heart Note
Use methyl anthranilate as a transparent fruity floral lifter in white floral hearts. At 0.2 to 0.8%, it adds radiance and sweetness without dominating. Pairs particularly well with indolic jasmines, muguet bases, and ylang ylang, where it enhances the natural facets already present in those materials.

BEST PAIRINGS

Hedione / Dihydrojasmone → Amplifies orange blossom and jasmine facets, adds diffusiveness
Linalool → Smooths and naturalises, supports neroli character
Bergamot / Petitgrain → Bright citrus lift, creates classic neroli-type accord
Ethyl Maltol → Sweetens grape character, builds confectionery fruit accords
Violet Leaf / Galbanum → Adds green sharpness, grounds and balances fruity top
Indole (trace) → Pushes toward natural jasmine territory, adds animalic depth
Galaxolide / Habanolide → Musk foundation that carries the floral-fruity dry-down
Oud / Sandalwood base → Oriental anchor for attar-style neroli and jasmine blends

AVOID
Avoid combining at high doses with other strongly synthetic fruity materials (ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate) as the composition can read as artificial and flavour-like rather than perfumery. In leave-on skin products, avoid pairing with other known phototoxic materials (bergapten-rich bergamot, lime cold-pressed) without careful QRA review, as phototoxicity risk compounds.

Methyl Anthranilate is one of those aroma chemicals that behaves like two entirely different ingredients depending on how you use it. At full concentration it announces itself boldly — that unmistakable Concord grape sweetness that reads instantly as fruit. But the real artistry comes from restraint. Pull it back to a fraction of a percent and it disappears as a grape note entirely, leaving behind a soft, radiant warmth that smells like neroli seen through gauze — ethereal, luminous, and deeply natural. I use it almost every time I build a neroli or orange blossom accord, not because I want anyone to notice it, but because without it the accord feels flat and still. It is one of those invisible ingredients that creates presence rather than character.

ADVANCED TIP
Try a micro-dose of methyl anthranilate — 0.05 to 0.1% in a finished EDP — in your white musk or clean floral formulas where you want to add perceived naturalness without a detectable fruity note. At this level it will not read as grape or even as orange blossom. Instead it acts as a radiance amplifier, giving the impression that the formula contains more natural materials than it does. This technique is especially effective when combined with hedione and a trace of indole in a modern transparent muguet or skin-scent accord. Test on a mouillette first at 24 and 48 hours — the effect is subtle at application but blooms remarkably in the drydown.

Physical State : Liquid at room temperature
Skin Safety : Phototoxic potential in leave-on applications — restrict usage to IFRA-compliant levels. Patch test advised. Avoid undiluted skin contact.
Eye Contact : Irritant. Avoid contact. If contact occurs, flush immediately with clean water for 15 minutes and seek medical advice.
Ingestion : Not for consumption. If ingested, seek medical advice immediately. GRAS status applies only to food-grade contexts — not to cosmetic-grade material.
Ventilation : Work in a well-ventilated area. Avoid prolonged inhalation of vapour at high concentrations.
Storage : Store in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Keep container tightly sealed.
Shelf Life : 24 to 36 months from date of manufacture when stored correctly
Container : Amber glass or HDPE preferred. Avoid reactive metals.
Flammability : Flash point approximately 99°C — combustible but not highly flammable under normal storage conditions. Keep away from open flames and ignition sources.

Q: What does Methyl Anthranilate smell like?
A: It has a strong Concord grape character at full concentration. At lower doses it shifts toward orange blossom, neroli, and jasmine — soft, floral, and radiant.

Q: Is Methyl Anthranilate safe to use in body lotion or skin cream?
A: It is phototoxic in leave-on skin products, meaning it can cause skin reactions when exposed to sunlight. Use is restricted in leave-on categories under IFRA 51st Amendment guidelines. Always check current limits and perform a QRA before using in any leave-on formula.

Q: Can I use Methyl Anthranilate in candles and reed diffusers?
A: Yes, it performs very well in candles and reed diffusers. Phototoxicity restrictions do not apply to non-skin-contact applications. Use at 3 to 8% in your fragrance oil for good scent throw.

Q: What IFRA category covers fine fragrance for Methyl Anthranilate?
A: Fine fragrance (spray EDP/EDT) falls under IFRA Category 4. The limit is approximately 5.5% in the finished product under the 51st Amendment — verify with the current IFRA standard before finalising your formula.

Q: How does Methyl Anthranilate compare to natural neroli essential oil?
A: Methyl Anthranilate captures the grape-floral and orange blossom facets found in neroli but does not replicate the full complexity of the essential oil, which also contains linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, and other components. For a neroli reconstruction, methyl anthranilate is used as one ingredient among several rather than as a standalone substitute. It is significantly more affordable and consistent than natural neroli and is a core component in most commercial neroli accord formulas.

Professional formulation workflow

Methyl Anthranilate should be evaluated in a controlled small batch before production. Confirm the supplied grade, active concentration and recommended application range from the current supplier documentation. Weigh accurately instead of measuring by drops, record every adjustment, and compare the modified trial against an unchanged control.

Compatibility and quality checks

Test the ingredient in the actual alcohol, oil, surfactant, emulsion or wax base intended for sale. Observe clarity, separation, color, odor and performance immediately after mixing and again after a suitable resting period. A material that looks stable in a concentrate can behave differently in the finished formulation.

Scale-up and safety

Convert percentages into exact batch weights and verify the final consumer-product concentration before scaling. Follow the latest applicable IFRA, cosmetic, chemical and supplier safety documentation for the intended category. Use appropriate protective equipment, ventilation and clearly labeled containers, and retain a sample from every approved batch for quality comparison.