Flavor ingredient regulatory record
cis-3-Octen-1-ol
cis-3-Octen-1-ol is an alcohol in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3467 (CAS 20125-84-2). Its odor is green, fruity, grassy, herbal.
- FEMA
- 3467
- CAS
- 20125-84-2
- JECFA
- 321
- EU FL
- 02.094
- Formula
- C8H16O
- EC
- 243-533-6
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 9. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 20125-84-2.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: 3-Octen-1-ol, (3Z)-, 3-Octen-1-ol, (Z)-, (3Z)-3-Octen-1-ol, (Z)-3-Octen-1-ol, cis-3-Octene-1-ol, (z)-3-octen-1-ol, 3-octen-1-ol, (3z)-, 3-octenol, cis-, (3z)-3-octen-1-ol, 3-octen-1-ol, cis-, octen-1-ol, cis-3-, cis-3-octen-1-ol [fhfi].
Can cis-3-Octen-1-ol be labeled natural?
The process decides for cis-3-Octen-1-ol. It occurs in nature, so a natural-source, natural-process material is natural flavor in the US and synthetic cis-3-Octen-1-ol is artificial. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic cis-3-Octen-1-ol identical-to-natural.
- United States
- Natural or artificial, by process
- European Union and UK
- Natural only from natural material
- Mercosur and Mexico
- Natural or identical-to-natural
How each market defines the classes: natural vs artificial flavor under 21 CFR 101.22.
Regulatory status, with citations
United States
cis-3-Octen-1-ol is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3467. It is cited in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21 CFR 172.515.
European Union and United Kingdom
Listed on the Union List of flavouring substances as FL 02.094, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (JECFA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 321, evaluated at the 51st meeting in 1998. No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. cis-3-Octen-1-ol appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 20125-84-2, where EPA names it 3-Octen-1-ol, (3Z)-.
Active in US commerce
EPA designates this substance active, so no Notice of Activity Form B is required before manufacturing. What active and inactive mean.
EPA publishes no regulatory flags on this listing. What the flags mean.
From the EPA non-confidential TSCA Inventory, July 2026 release. EPA also maintains a confidential portion it does not publish. Search the Inventory by CAS number.
Odor and taste
Odor: Green, fruity, grassy, herbal.
Where it is used
cis-3-Octen-1-ol is used in beverage, fruit flavors, confection and savory dishes, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to cis-3-Octen-1-ol by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| cis-2-Octenol | 4615 | 99% | In nature |
| 2-Octen-1-ol | 3887 | 99% | In nature |
| cis-5-Octen-1-ol | 3722 | 99% | In nature |
| cis-4-Octenol | 4354 | 99% | In nature |
| trans-3-Nonen-1-ol | 4605 | 98% | In nature |
More alcohols in this index
3-Decanol · 2-Octen-4-ol · Hexan-3-ol · alpha-Amylcinnamyl alcohol · 2-Octen-1-ol · (-)-3,7-Dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol
cis-3-Octen-1-ol FAQ
Is cis-3-Octen-1-ol on the FEMA GRAS list?
It is. FEMA number 3467 covers cis-3-Octen-1-ol. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What is the FEMA number for cis-3-Octen-1-ol?
The FEMA number for cis-3-Octen-1-ol is 3467 and its CAS registry number is 20125-84-2. Its flavor category is fruity.
What is cis-3-Octen-1-ol used for?
cis-3-Octen-1-ol is described as green, fruity, grassy, herbal. It shows up in beverage, fruit flavors, confection and savory dishes.
What did JECFA conclude about cis-3-Octen-1-ol?
JECFA evaluated cis-3-Octen-1-ol at the 51st meeting in 1998 under JECFA number 321. The panel concluded: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Is cis-3-Octen-1-ol approved in the EU?
Yes. FL 02.094 is the Union List entry for cis-3-Octen-1-ol, annex I Part A, under Regulation 1334/2008, and the UK keeps the same list.
Is cis-3-Octen-1-ol natural or artificial?
Nature makes cis-3-Octen-1-ol, which is why the US label turns on process. A natural route gives natural flavor; synthesis gives artificial cis-3-Octen-1-ol, same molecule. The EU and UK grant the natural claim only to that natural route; Mercosur and Mexico call synthetic material identical-to-natural.
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Sources and attribution. The identity and regulatory facts on this page are taken from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, a US government record, which lists this substance as CIS-3-OCTEN-1-OL under CAS 20125-84-2 and carries its FEMA number, its JECFA flavor number. The inventory is searchable at FDA. FDA records its technical effect as flavoring agent or adjuvant.
A FEMA GRAS conclusion is reached by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States, and the FEMA number names that conclusion. FEMA publishes its own entry for this substance in the FEMA Flavor Library, which is the authoritative record of what the Panel decided and is worth reading alongside this page.
Ambrose Compliance is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FEMA. FEMA and FEMA GRAS are used here as identifiers for a published regulatory determination, not as marks of any relationship between FEMA and Ambrose.
About this page. Facts come from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, the Code of Federal Regulations, the EPA TSCA Inventory, the EU Union List, JECFA and the Ambrose database, with FEMA's published determination cited where it applies; parts of the text are written by Ambrose AI, which can make mistakes. Check the cited source before relying on anything here. This is not regulatory or legal advice.