Character
The Story of Methyl Anthranilate
Bright, grape‑like aroma with a hint of strawberry, methyl anthranilate bridges fruit and floral worlds, delivering a crisp, sweet note that instantly recalls ripe vineyard clusters.
Heritage
The story of methyl anthranilate begins in the early twentieth century, when flavor houses sought a stable substitute for fresh berries. In 1923 a Cincinnati firm, Alex Fries & Brothers, reported a successful synthesis that reproduced strawberry and pineapple notes for confectionery. By the 1950s the compound’s grape‑like character caught the attention of perfumers, who adopted it to create the iconic artificial grape scent in both cosmetics and fine fragrance. Its sharp, sweet profile filled a market gap left by scarce natural grape extracts, leading to widespread use in candy, beverages, and scented products throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The 1990s saw the first large‑scale fragrance applications, with major houses listing methyl anthranilate in top‑note accords of fruity and gourmand creations. In 2005, gas‑chromatography‑olfactometry confirmed its dominance, ranking it as the primary grape odorant among synthetic esters. The 2010s introduced microbial production, allowing the molecule to be generated from sugar without petrochemicals, a milestone celebrated at the 2018 International Fragrance Symposium. Today, methyl anthranilate remains a benchmark for grape aroma, linking a century of innovation from early flavor labs to contemporary sustainable chemistry.
At a Glance
1
Feature this note
United States
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Synthetic
Anthranilic acid (synthetic precursor) and methanol
Did You Know
"Although first synthesized in the 1920s to mimic strawberry flavor, methyl anthranilate became the signature scent of artificial grape candies and now powers modern perfumery."