Safrol
/ˈsæfroʊl/noun
A chemical compound found naturally in sassafras and certain other essential oils.
Did you know?Safrol occurs in sassafras oil and can be chemically transformed into compounds associated with MDMA production, leading to its regulation in many countries.
Etymological Timeline
Before 16th Century
Indigenous North American source
sassafras
“The plant name later borrowed into European languages; its deeper Indigenous etymology is uncertain.”
16th Century
Spanish
sassafrás
“Name for the aromatic North American tree introduced into European botanical writing.”
16th–17th Century
Latin botanical usage
Sassafras
“The genus name for the sassafras tree, whose fragrant bark and leaves yield essential oil.”
19th Century
English chemistry
safrole
“A constituent of sassafras oil, named from sassafras with the chemical suffix -ole.”
Modern English
English
safrol
“An established variant spelling of safrole, referring to the same aromatic chemical compound.”
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