2-[2-(Trifluoromethyl) phenyl] (hydroxy) methylcyclododecanone (2CF3-CDD) has been synthesized by direct aldol condensation reaction. The crystals weregrown in the mixture of solvent tetrahydrofuranand ethanol by slow evaporation method.The linear optical property of the crystal has been studied using UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy. The optical constants are calculated theoretically in the wavelength range 190-1100nm. The third order nonlinear optical property of the crystal has been investigated by using zscan technique with He-Ne laser (632.8nm). The saturation absorption and self-defocusing effect was observed in z-scan open and closed aperture methods respectively. The response time of the crystal has found to be in the order of milliseconds.The two figures of merit W>1andT<1 are suitable for optical switching application. The refractive index of the crystal has been measured using Abbe's refractometer and it is found to be 1.609.