Raspberry Ketone

✦ Intensely sweet, true-to-nature raspberry aroma with a jammy, slightly floral facet — powerful at very low doses
✦ CAS 5471-51-2 — synthetic aroma chemical identical to the key odor compound found in real Raspberries
✦ Extremely low odor threshold — effective at 0.01–0.1% in finished products, making it highly cost-efficient
✦ Versatile across fine fragrance, functional fragrance, candles, soaps, lotions, and hair care applications
✦ Heat-stable and alkali-tolerant at recommended usage levels — suitable for rinse-off and leave-on formulations
✦ Vegan and cruelty-free — synthetically produced, no animal-derived raw materials
✦ Key building block for fruity-floral, gourmand, and fresh-fruity accords in contemporary perfumery

Raspberry Ketone (4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone) is the primary odor-active compound responsible for the characteristic scent of fresh red raspberries. Identified in the mid-twentieth century, it occurs naturally in raspberries, cranberries, and blackberries, though in concentrations so minute that commercial extraction from fruit would be impractical at scale. The aroma chemical used in perfumery and cosmetics is therefore produced synthetically via the aldol condensation of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde with acetone, followed by hydrogenation, yielding a white crystalline solid of exceptional purity and consistent olfactory performance.

What distinguishes Raspberry Ketone from other fruity aroma chemicals is its specificity and power. Unlike broad-spectrum fruity esters, it delivers a precise, identifiable raspberry character — jammy, sweet, and lightly floral — that consumers immediately recognize. Its phenolic hydroxyl group contributes a faint warmth that lifts it above purely synthetic-smelling fruity materials, allowing it to bridge fruit and floral families naturally. In perfumery it is a precision tool: a trace addition sharpens a rose accord into a raspberry-rose, transforms a clean musk into a berry-tinged skin scent, or anchors the top of a gourmand composition with unmistakable fruitiness.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade Raspberry Ketone suitable for fine fragrance, personal care, home fragrance, and artisan cosmetic formulations.

SCENT DESCRIPTION : Raspberry Ketone opens with a vivid, concentrated burst of fresh red raspberry — sweet, jammy, and instantly recognizable. Beneath the fruit lies a gentle floral warmth, reminiscent of rose petals dusted with powdery sweetness. The dry-down softens to a clean, slightly woody-phenolic base that prevents it from smelling overtly synthetic. Even at trace concentrations it is expressive, lending a natural berry brightness to any accord it enters.

NOTE POSITION : Top-Mid
FRAGRANCE FAMILY : Fruity · Gourmand · Floral Fruity
FACETS : Sweet · Jammy · Raspberry · Floral · Softly Phenolic
TENACITY : Medium — 4 to 6 hours on skin; up to 8 hours on fabric strips
SILLAGE : Medium — projects confidently in the opening, settles to a pleasant close-skin fruit warmth

Chemical Name : 4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone
CAS Number : 5471-51-2
Synonyms : Frambinone · Rheosmin · Oxyphenylon · p-Hydroxybenzyl Acetone · Raspberry Ketone Natural Identical
Purity : ≥99% (GC)
Appearance : White to off-white crystalline powder or flakes; melts to a clear pale liquid above 82°C
Odor Threshold : Approximately 0.01 ppm (exceptionally potent — handle with care)
Solubility : Slightly soluble in water; freely soluble in ethanol, DPG, IPM, and most fragrance carriers; practically insoluble in mineral oil cold
Specific Gravity : 1.073–1.080 (at 20°C, as liquid)
Flash Point : Approximately 138°C (280°F)
Type : Synthetic (nature-identical)

Fine Fragrance : ★★★★★
Raspberry Ketone is a premier ingredient in feminine fruity-floral and gourmand fine fragrance. It performs brilliantly in EDPs and EDTs at 0.05–0.3%, where it anchors the fruity top note or supports a rose-raspberry mid accord. Its low odor threshold means a little goes an exceptionally long way in alcohol-based compositions.

Attar & Oriental Blending : ★★★☆☆
In attar and oriental formats it adds a surprising, modern fruity counterpoint to heavy rose, oud, and sandalwood bases. It works best used sparingly at under 0.1% in oil-based attars to add freshness without overpowering traditional character. Interesting in hybrid rose-oud-raspberry interpretations targeting contemporary tastes.

Functional Fragrance : ★★★★☆
Highly effective in body mists, hair mists, fabric softeners, and linen sprays where its clean raspberry brightness delivers immediate consumer appeal. It performs well across rinse-off and leave-on systems at 0.05–0.2%. Pairs naturally with fresh florals and light musks in personal care formats.

Cosmetics & Skincare : ★★★☆☆
Used at low levels in lip balms, flavored lip glosses, body butters, and shower gels to impart a fruit-forward scent that aligns with consumer preference for edible beauty. Stability in aqueous and emulsion systems is acceptable at pH 5–7 and usage rates below 0.5%. Verify compatibility with specific emulsion systems before full formulation.

Home Fragrance : ★★★★☆
Raspberry Ketone performs well in reed diffusers, room sprays, and wax melts where its potency makes it highly cost-effective. In candles it can be challenging due to its solid form — it should be pre-melted and dispersed in the fragrance oil blend before incorporation. Flash point above 138°C makes it safe for most candle wax systems.

Recommended Usage Rates by Application:

EDP (Eau de Parfum) : 0.05–0.30%
EDT (Eau de Toilette) : 0.03–0.20%
Body Lotion / Cream : 0.05–0.20%
Shampoo / Body Wash : 0.05–0.20%
Soy / Paraffin Candle : 0.20–0.80% (in total fragrance oil blend)
Reed Diffuser : 0.10–0.50% (in diffuser base)
Soap (Cold Process / HP) : 0.10–0.40%
Lip Products : 0.05–0.20% (flavour-grade use — verify food-grade status of batch)

Note: Raspberry Ketone is extremely potent. Always begin at the lower end of recommended ranges. Even 0.05% in a finished product is perceptible.

IFRA 51st Amendment Status:

Raspberry Ketone (CAS 5471-51-2) is not listed as a restricted or prohibited substance in the IFRA 51st Amendment standards. It may be used in cosmetic and fragrance applications subject to standard QRA and good manufacturing practice, with no IFRA-specific category limits at this time.

⚠️ Always conduct a full QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment) for leave-on applications.
⚠️ For lip-applicable products, confirm the batch is food-contact grade before use.
⚠️ Verify current IFRA status with supplier documentation prior to commercial product launch.

Method 1 — Precision Micro-dosing in Fine Fragrance
Prepare a 10% dilution of Raspberry Ketone in DPG or ethanol. Use this diluted solution rather than the raw material to allow accurate measurement and even dispersion. Add to your fragrance at 0.5–3% of your total accord weight, which equates to only 0.05–0.3% of Raspberry Ketone in the finished product. This prevents accidental overdosing, which can make a composition smell artificially sweet and one-dimensional.

Method 2 — Pre-Melt Integration for Wax Systems
Raspberry Ketone is a crystalline solid at room temperature. For candles and wax melts, gently warm the required quantity to 85–90°C until fully melted, then blend into your liquid fragrance oil before adding to wax. Do not add crystalline Raspberry Ketone directly to wax — it will not fully disperse. This ensures uniform scent throw and prevents speckling on the wax surface.

Method 3 — Rose-Raspberry Accord Construction
Combine Raspberry Ketone (0.1%), Rose Oxide (0.01%), Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol (10%), Geraniol (3%), Citronellol (4%), and a light musk such as Habanolide (5%) in a base of DPG. This builds a modern rose-raspberry accord that reads as fresh and feminine. Raspberry Ketone bridges the green facets of rose oxide and the soft sweetness of PEA beautifully.

BEST PAIRINGS:

Rose Oxide → Sharpens raspberry into a dewy, green-fruity rose
Phenyl Ethyl Alcohol → Classic rose-raspberry pairing; adds depth and naturalness
Citronellol → Lifts the floral facet, makes raspberry feel sun-ripened
Ethyl Maltol → Pushes into gourmand territory; candied berry effect
Linalool → Softens the fruit, adds a lavender-berry nuance
Hedione → Adds floral diffusiveness; allows Raspberry Ketone to bloom
Habanolide / Galaxolide → Anchors the accord with clean skin warmth
Iso E Super → Adds woody depth; interesting raspberry-woody masculine twist
Citrus Terpenes → Creates a sparkling berry-citrus top note effect
Vanilla / Ethyl Vanillin → Deepens into a sweet berry-vanilla gourmand

AVOID: Combining at high doses with other powerful fruity ketones such as Peach Aldehyde or Damascenones — the result can become aggressively synthetic and one-dimensional. Avoid direct contact with strong acids or bases in formulation without prior stability testing.

Working with Raspberry Ketone is one of the more instructive exercises in understanding the relationship between odor threshold and formulation discipline. Of all the fruity aroma chemicals I use regularly, this is the one that humbles even experienced formulators who underestimate just how far its presence extends at trace concentrations. A single drop too many and an otherwise sophisticated rose accord collapses into something that smells like a child's candy — not unpleasant, but no longer what you intended. The magic of this material lies entirely in restraint. Used at 0.05–0.1% in a finished composition, it performs a quiet transformation: a floral becomes warmer, a musk becomes edible, a citrus becomes juicy. It does not announce itself — it simply makes everything around it feel riper.

ADVANCED TIP: Raspberry Ketone exhibits a fascinating synergistic effect with Rose Oxide (CAS 16409-43-1). At a ratio of approximately 50:1 (Raspberry Ketone to Rose Oxide, both as raw materials), the combination produces a note that smells more natural and dimensional than either compound alone — the oxide contributes a dewy, green-metallic facet that makes the ketone's sweetness feel like a freshly crushed berry rather than a synthetic flavor. Prepare a small pre-blend at 1% Raspberry Ketone and 0.02% Rose Oxide in DPG and use this as a single-drop fruity modifier in rose, fruity-floral, or fresh accords. The effect is disproportionate to the quantity added.

Physical State : White crystalline powder / flakes; melts above 82°C
Skin Safety : Generally considered safe at recommended usage rates; conduct patch test for sensitive skin formulations; avoid undiluted prolonged skin contact
Eye Contact : Irritant; avoid contact with eyes; rinse immediately with water for 15 minutes if contact occurs
Ingestion : Not for internal use in fragrance/cosmetic-grade material; keep out of reach of children
Ventilation : Work in well-ventilated area when handling bulk quantities; odor is extremely intense at powder stage
Storage : Cool, dry, dark place; 15–25°C; away from heat sources, oxidizing agents, and strong acids or bases
Shelf Life : 24–36 months when stored correctly in sealed container; may clump or cake over time without affecting quality
Container : Store in original airtight container; HDPE or glass preferred; avoid prolonged exposure to air to prevent oxidation
Flammability : Flash point approximately 138°C; not classified as flammable under standard storage conditions; low fire risk

Q: What is Raspberry Ketone used for in perfumery?
A: It is used to create or enhance fruity-raspberry notes in fine fragrance, body care, and home fragrance. It is a core material in fruity-floral, gourmand, and contemporary feminine accords.

Q: How much Raspberry Ketone should I use in a perfume?
A: Start at 0.05–0.1% in the finished fragrance. Because its odor threshold is exceptionally low, this tiny amount is fully perceptible. Always prepare a 10% dilution in DPG before measuring.

Q: Is Raspberry Ketone the same ingredient sold as a weight loss supplement?
A: Yes, the molecule is identical, but fragrance and cosmetic-grade Raspberry Ketone is not produced or tested for internal consumption. Never ingest fragrance-grade material — always use only certified food-grade product for edible applications.

Q: Can I use Raspberry Ketone in cold process soap?
A: Yes, at 0.1–0.4% in the total batch weight. It is reasonably stable in high-pH soap environments, though slight scent fading may occur over cure time. It performs better in melt-and-pour or syndet bar formulations.

Q: How does synthetic Raspberry Ketone compare to natural raspberry extract or essential oil?
A: There is no commercial raspberry essential oil — raspberries do not yield a true distilled oil. Raspberry Ketone is effectively the closest thing to a concentrated raspberry aroma ingredient available, and it outperforms broad-spectrum raspberry flavor compounds in terms of authenticity and tenacity. Natural raspberry absolutes exist but are extremely expensive, inconsistent, and difficult to source; synthetic Raspberry Ketone is the practical industry standard for the true berry note.

Professional formulation workflow

Raspberry Ketone 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.