Organic raw material

Benzyl salicylate, as a substance that holds an important position in the field of chemistry and the fragrance industry, presents a colorless oily liquid state. Under its pure liquid appearance, there is also a faint amber tinge. This unique color endows it with a distinctive visual quality.

In terms of smell, it exudes a fresh and pleasant fruity aroma, as if placing one in a bountiful orchard, where one can experience the rich and fragrant blend of various fruits. At the same time, it also has an elegant floral fragrance. This fragrance is not that of a single flower species, but a carefully blended complex floral scent, giving people a wonderful feeling of being in a sea of flowers. In addition, it also has a unique spice aroma, which is rich and long-lasting, adding a mysterious and charming touch to it.

In terms of solubility, benzyl salicylate is almost insoluble in water, which is closely related to its molecular structure and chemical properties. Water, as a polar solvent, lacks sufficient interaction forces with the molecules of benzyl salicylate, making it difficult to dissolve in water. However, in organic solvents such as ethanol, benzyl salicylate has shown good solubility. This is because the molecular structure of organic solvents is more similar to that of benzyl salicylate, and the intermolecular forces are stronger, which enables it to dissolve smoothly in these organic solvents.

The physical properties of benzyl salicylate have a definite numerical range. Its freezing point is between 24 and 26℃, which means that when the ambient temperature drops to this range, benzyl salicylate will gradually change from liquid to solid. Its boiling point is relatively high, reaching 300℃, which indicates that it only undergoes boiling at higher temperatures. This also reflects its stability within a certain temperature range. Its relative density d2525 is 1.176 to 1.180. This value reflects the density difference between it and water. In practical applications, it has important reference value for calculating the mass, volume and other aspects of substances. Its refractive index n20D is 1.5790 to 1.5820. Refractive index is an optical property of a substance. This specific numerical range can help us accurately identify and analyze benzyl salicylate. In addition, its flash point is greater than 100℃, which means that benzyl salicylate can only release sufficient vapor to form a flammable mixture with air under temperature conditions above 100℃. This characteristic is of great significance for the safety assessment during its storage and use.

In nature, benzyl salicylate is widely present in various natural oils and fats. For instance, in ylang-ylang oil, as one of its components, it contributes to the unique aroma of ylang-ylang oil. Primrose oil also contains a considerable amount of this substance, which makes the aroma of primrose oil more rich and layered. Carnation oil and carnations oil also have their presence. They blend with other components, jointly forming the unique flavors and aromas of these natural oils.

At present, there have been various reports on the synthetic methods of benzyl salicylate. Among them, the acid-catalyzed synthesis method is a relatively common one. In this method, an acidic catalyst is introduced to promote a chemical reaction between the reactants, generating benzyl salicylate. However, this method often requires a relatively high reaction temperature and a long reaction time, and some by-products may be produced during the reaction process, causing relatively large pollution to the environment.

Transesterification reaction is also a way to synthesize benzyl salicylate. In this reaction, the synthesis of benzyl salicylate is achieved through the exchange reaction between different ester compounds. However, this method also has some limitations. For instance, the control of reaction conditions is highly demanding, requiring precise temperature, pressure, and reactant ratios, etc. Otherwise, it may affect the purity and yield of the product.

The phase transfer catalytic synthesis method overcomes some shortcomings of the traditional synthesis methods to a certain extent. It utilizes the function of phase transfer catalysts to enable effective transfer and reaction of reactants between the two phases, thereby enhancing the efficiency and selectivity of the reaction. However, this method still faces the problem of relatively harsh reaction conditions, such as high requirements for the selection and dosage of catalysts, as well as strict requirements for the stability of the reaction system.

In recent years, with the continuous development of science and technology, microwave synthesis methods have gradually been applied to the synthesis of benzyl salicylate. Microwave synthesis takes advantage of the thermal and non-thermal effects of microwaves to rapidly and uniformly heat the reactants, shorten the reaction time and enhance the reaction efficiency. However, this method is not perfect either. It has high requirements for the equipment and may cause some unnecessary side effects in some cases.

According to relevant reports, Dianthus caryophyllus L. Contains a small amount of benzyl salicylate, which works together with other components to add a delicate flavor to the unique aroma of Dianthus caryophyllus L. Primrose oil contains a relatively large amount of this substance, which makes the fragrance of primrose oil more intense and long-lasting. Not only that, benzyl salicylate is also found in American cranberries, clove sprouts, peppermint oil and buckwheat. In American cranberries, it may interact with other natural ingredients, endowing cranberries with a unique flavor and texture; In clove sprouts, it is one of the many aromatic components, adding rich layers to the fragrance of clove sprouts. In peppermint oil, it works in combination with components such as menthol to create a refreshing and pleasant scent. In buckwheat, it might also be subtly influencing the flavor and quality of buckwheat.

Benzyl salicylate is also a natural fragrance in carnations and primroses. In carnations, it, along with other aromatic substances, emits a rich floral fragrance, attracting bees and other insects to gather nectar, and at the same time, it brings people a wonderful olfactory enjoyment. Among primroses, it is an important component of the flower's fragrance and contributes its share to the unique aroma of primroses. Although it can be extracted from natural essential oils used in cosmetics (such as jasmine oil, neroli oil, and ylang-ylang oil), the sources of these natural essential oils are relatively limited, and the extraction process is rather complex and costly. Therefore, artificial synthesis methods emerged. Through chemical synthesis means, benzyl salicylate can be produced on a large scale to meet market demands.

In the cosmetics industry, benzyl salicylate is a commonly used compound. It has a variety of excellent properties, which have enabled it to be widely applied in this field. For instance, it can serve as a solvent for fragrances, especially for nitrosyl musk, artificial musk and floral fragrances, which have good solubility. It can evenly disperse these fragrances in the cosmetic system, enhancing the stability and durability of the fragrances. Meanwhile, it can also serve as a fixative, firmly combining various spice components together to prevent the volatilization and deterioration of spices during storage and use.

In addition, benzyl salicylate is also present in green tea essential oil. Green tea essential oil itself has multiple health benefits, and the presence of benzyl salicylate further adds antioxidant and antibacterial activities to it. This antioxidant activity can effectively eliminate free radicals in the body, slow down the rate of cell aging, and protect the skin from oxidative damage. Its antibacterial activity can inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria and prevent skin infections and other problems.

In the field of food, GB 2760-1996 permits the use of benzyl salicylate as an edible flavoring. It is usually used as a cosolvent and a good fixative for floral and non-floral fragrances. In the process of seasoning and flavoring food, it can be applied to the blending of various floral flavors such as carnations, ylang-ylang, jasmine, vanilla, lily of the valley, cloves, evening lilies, and lilies, adding rich and diverse floral aromas to the food. At the same time, it can also be used in trace amounts as edible flavorings, such as in fruit-flavored foods like apricots, peaches, plums, bananas and raw pears, to enhance the aroma and texture of the fruits and make the food more delicious.