Fragrance material review on 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 2,6-Dimethyl-4-heptanol is a member of the fragrance structural group branched chain saturated alcohols. The common characteristic structural elements of the alcohols with saturated branched chain are one hydroxyl group per molecule, and a C4–C12 carbon chain with one or several methyl side chains. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. A safety assessment of the entire branched chain saturated alcohol group will be published simultaneously with this document; please refer to Belsito et al. (2010) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all other branched chain saturated alcohols in fragrances.