Definition

A clear, oily liquid that comes from the oil of sassafras and is mainly used in making perfumes and soaps.

Example

The perfumer used safrole to create a unique fragrance for the new perfume.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of safrole?

Yeah, isn’t it something used in perfumes?

Exactly! It comes from sassafras oil.

I read it can be toxic in some amounts, though.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Safrole is derived from the word 'sassafras' (from the Spanish *sasa fras*, meaning a type of tree) and the suffix '-ole' (a diminutive suffix used in chemistry to denote a small or lesser form). The word 'safrole' refers to a compound derived from the sassafras tree, often used in flavoring and fragrance.

Memory Tip

Think of the sassafras tree, which gives us safrole, and remember that '-ole' indicates a smaller or lesser form of a compound.

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