noun
- a colorless or pale yellow liquid compound found in sassafras oil and other plant oils, used in perfumes and formerly in root beer flavoring
Usage: chemistry
Examples
- Safrole was once commonly used to flavor root beer.
- The FDA banned safrole in food products due to health concerns.
- Sassafras root contains high levels of safrole.
- The chemist extracted safrole from the plant oil.
- Safrole is still used in some perfume formulations.
- The distinctive smell came from the safrole in the mixture.