MOLECULE

Phenylethyl alcohol

Phenylethyl alcohol, 2-Phenylethano or benzeneethanol, also known as phenethyl alcohol (PEA), belongs to the class of organic compounds known as benzenes and substituted derivatives. These are aromatic compounds containing one monocyclic ring system consisting of benzene. 2-Phenylethanol is a primary alcohol and as such, is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). It is a colourless liquid that is slightly soluble in water (2 ml/100 ml H2O), but is miscible in most organic solvents. It occurs widely in nature, being found in a variety of plant essential oils. It has a pleasant floral or rose-like odor with a honey-like taste. 2-Phenylethanol has been found in extracts of rose, carnation, hyacinth, Aleppo pine, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, geranium, neroli, and champaca. 2-Phenylethanol is also found in a number of different foods, such as red wines, white wines, blackberry wines, black walnuts, olive oils and in lower concentrations in sweet basils, peppermints, asparagus, allspice, horned melons, and lemons. 2-Phenylethanol has also been reported to be found in Cannabis sativa (PMID: 6991645). Because of its pleasant floral aroma, it is a common ingredient in flavors and perfumery. It is also used as an additive in cigarettes and as a preservative in soaps due to its stability in basic conditions. 2-Phenylethanol is also an autoantibiotic produced by the fungus Candida albicans ‚Ää(PMID: 5762768).