Methyl Anthranilate brings a familiar grape-like aroma that shows up in perfumes, food flavorings, and many consumer products. It goes by the molecular formula C8H9NO2 and carries the HS Code 29224985 for customs purposes. In nature, this compound occurs in grapes, jasmine, and some citrus fruits, but nearly all that finds its way into commercial applications gets synthesized in a lab. People recognize its scent right away, and over time it finds new uses in more technical fields, from pest control to biotechnology.
Describing Methyl Anthranilate starts with its tangible features. At room temperature, it takes the form of a pale yellow liquid, though with certain processes it turns into crystals or even fine powders. The density sits around 1.17 g/cm³, which means it pours slowly and holds together more than water, but still spreads easily during blending or formulation. The boiling point rests near 256°C, so it stands up well to moderate heat in industrial settings. In solution, it mixes with organic solvents but stays mostly clear of water—something that matters a lot when formulating the right blend or isolating pure material. The molecular structure brings together a benzene ring with an ester and an amine group, packing chemistry that shapes how it interacts with other materials and how it gives off that distinctive odor.
The base components of Methyl Anthranilate—anthranilic acid and methanol—come from larger chemical manufacturing systems, so suppliers need to pay attention to purity as much as pricing. Any trace contaminants in these raw supplies end up in the finished product, and that matters for food-grade and pharmaceutical uses. Packing, shipping, and storage all hinge on chemical stability. Methyl Anthranilate stays safe under most normal conditions, but improper handling causes headaches. Spilled material leaves a strong, lingering scent, and the compound can cause eye and skin irritation. Good ventilation, gloves, and proper chemical storage cabinets go a long way in keeping workspaces safe. For someone handling either powdered or liquid forms, reading the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is a must. Breathing in high concentrations can bother the respiratory system, and the substance should never mix with incompatible chemicals like strong acids, oxidizers, or bases, as surprise reactions turn a routine task dangerous fast.
Rarely does Methyl Anthranilate get used in a vacuum—it always finds itself in a bigger recipe. Food technologists use the neat liquid for flavoring, while fragrance makers mix it with oils to build rich aromas. In technical applications, it comes as clear solutions or processed into flakes, powders, or pellets depending on how fast it needs to dissolve, blend, or disperse. For quality control, reputable suppliers test every lot for things like purity (often above 99%), water content, acidity, and volatility. The chemical’s color and clarity flag problems in production quality; even slight changes signal potential trouble in downstream use. Any food-grade supply falls under more rigid rules, covering everything from heavy metal content to permitted solvent residues.
Methyl Anthranilate stands out not just for its sensory punch, but for the way it crosses industry lines. In personal experience working on small-batch perfumes, a drop or two transformed an otherwise unremarkable base into a standout scent profile, illustrating just how little it takes to make a difference. Beyond fragrances and flavors, crop protection companies use it to repel birds and prevent crop loss in grape, cherry, or blueberry fields. For years, this substance has helped solve real-world problems in agriculture and food safety, where non-lethal solutions keep pests away without harming humans or the environment. Labeling requirements keep suppliers and manufacturers honest, so everyone in the chain knows whether that grape flavor in a candy, soda, or vitamin comes from nature or the lab. This matters more as consumers demand transparency in what they eat or wear.
Using Methyl Anthranilate responsibly means paying attention to risk as much as reward. Inhalation or prolonged skin contact causes irritation, so manufacturers train their staff and keep protective equipment in place. It classifies as a hazardous material for some shipping and storage routes, and international trade falls under both chemical control law and food safety regulation. Inspection—at the tank, the drum, or the finished product line—tries to catch any out-of-spec batches before they make their way into commercial channels. Environmental rules limit its use in open sprays over water or in places where runoff might put aquatic life at risk.
A few changes improve results across the board. Automated monitoring during production can spot contaminant spikes or improper temperatures before they ruin an entire lot. For workers, better training and easier access to up-to-date chemical data make the workplace safer. It also pays to invest in more robust traceability—so every batch links back to its source, audit trail intact. As a consumer, I appreciate seeing full ingredient breakdowns; a move toward QR code labeling lets anyone scan and learn a product’s full backstory, including which raw materials came into play. Clearer hazard labeling and stronger cross-industry collaboration prevent accidents and keep quality consistent.
Methyl Anthranilate carves out a unique place based on real, hands-on attributes—nailing a flavor or scent, delivering safe crop protection, and balancing production with human health. Whether it comes as a liquid or powder, ends up in candy or perfume, or gets sprayed in an orchard, it needs careful stewardship. The simple molecule tells a complex story if you dig into sourcing, handling, regulatory limits, and even the way one whiff triggers memories or invites curiosity. Meeting today’s bar for safety, transparency, and performance means looking past specs on a data sheet and thinking about every step from raw material to finished product.
