Ethyl Alcohol Evaporation and Smell Loss in Formula
Question
In formula ID 37946 containing 7% Ethyl Alcohol (99.9%, 200 Proof, Perfumer Grade), there is no alcohol smell. Is it possible that the alcohol has completely evaporated?
Answer
Ethyl Alcohol, especially at high purity like 99.9% and perfumer grade, is highly volatile. This means it evaporates very quickly at room temperature.
When used in a formulation, even at 7%, if the product is stored in a container that is not airtight, or if it has been opened frequently, it is very likely that a significant portion, if not all, of the alcohol has evaporated over time.
The lack of alcohol smell strongly suggests that the Ethyl Alcohol is no longer present in a significant amount, supporting your suspicion that it has evaporated. 7% is also not a very high concentration, so the initial smell might not have been very strong to begin with, making its disappearance even less noticeable.