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What Makes Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 a Valuable Ingredient for Modern Flavor and Fragrance Formulation

2026-08-13 - Leave me a message

Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 is a versatile lactone flavor ingredient valued for its sweet, creamy, coconut-like, nutty, and caramel nuances. As an experienced China flavor and fragrance raw material supplier, Odowell has been working in the flavors and fragrances industry since 2012, supplying Gamma Heptalactone for food flavoring, fragrance, cosmetic, and related formulation applications.

Gamma Heptalactone is an important member of the lactone family of aroma chemicals. Identified by CAS No. 105-21-5, it is also known as 4-Heptanolide, γ-Heptalactone, and 5-Propyldihydro-2(3H)-furanone. Its characteristic sensory profile combines sweet, creamy, coconut, caramel, nutty, and slightly herbaceous impressions, making it useful when formulators need to build depth and warmth into flavor or fragrance compositions.

Gamma Heptalactone Cas 105-21-5

Table of Contents

  1. What Is Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5?
  2. What Are the Key Chemical Properties?
  3. What Does Gamma Heptalactone Smell and Taste Like?
  4. Where Is Gamma Heptalactone Used?
  5. Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 Specifications
  6. How Does Gamma Heptalactone Support Formulation?
  7. What Should Buyers Consider When Choosing a Supplier?
  8. Safety, Handling, and Storage Considerations
  9. Frequently Asked Questions
  10. Conclusion

What Is Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5?

Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 is a cyclic ester, or lactone, used primarily for its distinctive sensory properties. Its molecular formula is C7H12O2, with a molecular weight of 128.17 g/mol. The compound is listed under several chemical names, including 4-Heptanolide and 5-Propyldihydro-2(3H)-furanone.

Lactones are widely appreciated by flavorists and perfumers because their structures can contribute creamy, fruity, buttery, milky, coconut-like, or peach-like characteristics depending on the specific lactone and its concentration within a formulation.

According to the product information provided by Odowell's Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 product page, the material is supplied as a clear, colorless liquid and is positioned for flavor, fragrance, and cosmetic applications.


What Are the Key Chemical Properties?

Understanding the basic physical and chemical profile of Gamma Heptalactone is important for formulation development, quality control, transportation, and storage. The available product specifications provide several useful reference values.

Property Typical Information
Product Name 4-Heptanolide / Gamma Heptalactone
CAS Number 105-21-5
Molecular Formula C7H12O2
Molecular Weight 128.17
Appearance Clear, colorless liquid
Density Approximately 0.999 g/mL at 25°C
Refractive Index n20/D 1.442
JECFA Number 225
FEMA Number 2539
Water Solubility Approximately 23 g/L at 20°C

These values should be treated as product reference information rather than substitutes for the specification or certificate of analysis supplied with a particular batch. Commercial buyers should always confirm current specifications directly with the manufacturer before placing an order.


What Does Gamma Heptalactone Smell and Taste Like?

The sensory profile is the main reason Gamma Heptalactone is attractive to flavorists. It is generally associated with a sweet, creamy, coconut-like character supported by nutty, caramel, malty, and herbaceous nuances.

At appropriate formulation levels, it can contribute body and roundness rather than simply producing a single-dimensional coconut note. Product information also describes creamy, lactonic, coconut, coumarin, milky, and tobacco nuances at a specified sensory concentration.

  • Sweet: helps reinforce sweet-oriented flavor profiles.
  • Coconut-like: provides a recognizable creamy tropical impression.
  • Nutty: adds depth to confectionery and dessert compositions.
  • Caramel-like: contributes warmth and richness.
  • Creamy and milky: useful for rounded dairy-style profiles.
  • Herbaceous and malty: can add complexity when used appropriately.

Gamma Heptalactone has also been reported as a naturally occurring volatile compound in products and foods including green tea, asparagus, beer, strawberry, peach, and beef. This natural occurrence helps explain why lactones can play an important role in the complex aroma character of foods.


Where Is Gamma Heptalactone Used?

Gamma Heptalactone is particularly useful when a formulation needs creamy, coconut, sweet, caramel, or lactonic character. Its application potential extends across several industries.

Food Flavoring

In flavor creation, Gamma Heptalactone can be incorporated into formulations designed to reproduce or enhance creamy, fruity, coconut, caramel, nutty, and dairy-like sensory characteristics. It may be used as one component of a broader flavor system rather than as a standalone flavor.

Beverage and Dairy-Type Profiles

Its creamy and lactonic characteristics can be useful when developing flavor systems for dairy-inspired beverages, desserts, creamy formulations, and other products where smoothness and richness are important sensory objectives.

Confectionery and Dessert Flavors

The combination of sweetness, caramel, coconut, and nutty notes can complement confectionery and dessert profiles. Flavorists can combine it with other aroma chemicals to create more complete and balanced compositions.

Fragrance and Cosmetic Formulation

Gamma Heptalactone is also categorized among lactone flavors and cosmetic-related aroma materials. Its creamy and coconut-like odor can contribute to fragrance accords where a soft, warm, sweet, or tropical character is required.

Actual permitted uses, dosage levels, labeling requirements, and regulatory status depend on the target application and destination market. Formulators should verify applicable local regulations before commercial use.


Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 Specifications

For procurement teams, specification transparency is just as important as sensory performance. A reliable supplier should be able to provide clear product identification and batch-related quality documentation.

Specification Item Reference Value / Description
CAS 105-21-5
Purity Reference Gamma Heptalactone ≥99.0% reference specification
Physical Form Oil / liquid
Color Colorless
Odor Sweet, coconut, nutty, caramel, tonka, hay nuances
HS Code 29322090
Production Capacity Odowell states a capacity of approximately 200 tons annually
Quality System Odowell states that its quality management meets ISO 9001 requirements

How Does Gamma Heptalactone Support Formulation?

One of the advantages of Gamma Heptalactone is its ability to participate in a broader sensory architecture. Rather than relying on a single aroma chemical to define a complete flavor, formulators can use lactones alongside esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, natural extracts, and other aroma materials.

For example, a flavorist may consider Gamma Heptalactone when the formulation requires:

  • A smoother creamy impression.
  • Greater depth in coconut or tropical profiles.
  • A warmer caramel-like background.
  • Additional richness in dairy-inspired flavors.
  • More complexity in sweet and fruity compositions.
  • A soft lactonic character in fragrance development.

The final sensory result depends heavily on concentration, the surrounding ingredients, processing conditions, and the intended product matrix. Therefore, laboratory evaluation and sensory testing remain essential before establishing a commercial formulation.


What Should Buyers Consider When Choosing a Supplier?

Selecting a Gamma Heptalactone supplier should involve more than comparing unit prices. For industrial buyers, consistency, documentation, production capability, communication, and supply continuity can directly affect formulation stability and manufacturing efficiency.

  1. Product identity: Confirm the CAS number, molecular formula, synonyms, and product grade.
  2. Purity and consistency: Request current specifications and a certificate of analysis for the relevant batch.
  3. Production capability: Evaluate whether the manufacturer can support your expected order volume and future demand.
  4. Quality management: Check whether the supplier operates under a documented quality management system.
  5. Samples: Laboratory samples allow flavorists and R&D teams to assess odor, purity, compatibility, and formulation performance.
  6. International supply: For importers, confirm packaging, shipping documentation, lead times, and export experience.

Odowell states that it has specialized in flavors and fragrances since 2012 and supplies Gamma Heptalactone to European and American markets. The company also states that its annual production capacity for this material is approximately 200 tons, supporting buyers looking for a China-based source with established manufacturing capability.


Safety, Handling, and Storage Considerations

Chemical handling procedures should always follow the latest supplier documentation, safety data sheet, applicable workplace requirements, and destination-market regulations. The product information available from Odowell identifies irritation-related hazard and risk information, making appropriate handling practices important.

General good practices include:

  • Keep the material in a tightly sealed container when not in use.
  • Store it in a dry environment at appropriate room-temperature conditions according to the supplier's current instructions.
  • Use suitable personal protective equipment during handling.
  • Avoid unnecessary skin and eye exposure.
  • Maintain appropriate ventilation when handling concentrated material.
  • Review the latest SDS and technical documentation before industrial use.

Buyers should not rely solely on general online product descriptions for regulatory or safety decisions. The current SDS, technical specification, certificate of analysis, and applicable regulatory documentation should be requested from the supplier for the intended market and application.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5?

Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 is a lactone aroma chemical also known as 4-Heptanolide and 5-Propyldihydro-2(3H)-furanone. It is characterized by sweet, creamy, coconut-like, nutty, and caramel-related sensory notes.

2. What is the molecular formula of Gamma Heptalactone?

Its molecular formula is C7H12O2, and its molecular weight is approximately 128.17.

3. What does Gamma Heptalactone smell like?

Its odor is commonly described as sweet, coconut-like, nutty, caramel, tonka, and hay-like, with creamy and lactonic nuances depending on concentration and formulation context.

4. Where is Gamma Heptalactone used?

It can be used in flavor and fragrance formulations, including food flavoring, cosmetic and fragrance applications, and compositions requiring creamy, coconut, sweet, caramel, or lactonic characteristics.

5. Is Gamma Heptalactone naturally occurring?

Gamma Heptalactone has been reported in various natural sources, including green tea, asparagus, beer, strawberry, peach, and beef. Whether a commercial product is natural or synthetic should be confirmed with the supplier because production method and regulatory definitions can differ.

6. What should I request when buying Gamma Heptalactone in bulk?

Buyers should consider requesting a current specification sheet, certificate of analysis, SDS, sample, packaging information, production capacity, lead time, and documentation relevant to the intended application and destination market.

7. Can I obtain a sample before placing a bulk order?

Odowell's product information states that samples are available for testing. Buyers should confirm current sample availability, quantity, shipping arrangements, and applicable terms directly with the supplier.


Conclusion

Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5 combines a distinctive sweet, creamy, coconut-like, nutty, and caramel sensory profile with useful properties for professional flavor and fragrance development. Its role as a lactone aroma ingredient makes it particularly valuable when formulators need to add richness, smoothness, warmth, and depth to a composition. For commercial sourcing, product identity, purity, quality consistency, documentation, production capability, and regulatory suitability should all be evaluated alongside price. If you are looking for a reliable China supplier for Gamma Heptalactone CAS 105-21-5, contact us at Odowell to discuss product specifications, samples, bulk supply requirements, and your formulation needs.

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