It is a colorless solid, although typical samples are brown owing to air-oxidized impurities.

In contrast, pyrolysis of lignin from gymnosperms gives more guaiacol, resulting from conversion of coniferyl alcohol.

Artificial liquid or solid smoke flavorings also contain these chemicals, on average composing 13.73% and 13.42% of those products by mass respectively.

[4] Pyrolysis oil, a biofuel derived from woody biomass, can be optimized to yield syringol as a byproduct, potentially competing with petroleum-derived phenols.

[5] Some studies indicate that syringol can substitute for phenol formaldehyde resin, a commonly used, water resistant adhesive for plywood.