Ambroxan (Ambroxide) (CAS 6790-58-5) — Woody Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Ambroxan (Ambroxide)
CAS 6790-58-5
What Is Ambroxan (Ambroxide)?
Ambroxan is a synthetic molecule that mimics the warm, woody-amber scent of ambergris, a rare natural substance from sperm whales. It’s found in premium perfumes, body care products, and even some fabric conditioners. Ambroxan matters because it provides an ethical alternative to natural ambergris, offering long-lasting scent diffusion and enhancing other fragrance notes.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Ambroxan (Ambroxide) Smell Like?
Ambroxan opens with a crisp, marine-like freshness that evolves into a warm, woody-amber heart. The dry-down is rich and velvety, reminiscent of sun-warmed skin with a subtle animalic undertone. It behaves like a musical bass note—present but not overpowering, adding depth and persistence to any composition.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Ambroxan provides the signature amber-woody backbone, enhancing the fresh citrus top notes with long-lasting warmth.
Ambroxan blends with saffron and jasmine to create a luminous, slightly metallic amber accord.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: C[C@@]12CC[C@H]3C(C)(C)CCC[C@]3(C)[C@H]1CCO2
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Ambroxan is a synthetic macrocyclic ketone, structurally similar to natural ambrein found in ambergris. It is typically synthesized from sclareol, a diterpene alcohol found in clary sage. The molecule’s large ring structure contributes to its excellent stability and diffusion properties, making it a staple in modern perfumery.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | Not specified |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Adds warmth and longevity |
| Body Care | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Provides subtle amber undertones |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use Ambroxan to anchor citrus or floral notes, adding depth without overpowering.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Natural ambergris offers a more complex scent profile but is rare and expensive.
A more woody alternative with similar diffusion properties.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
Ambroxan is not restricted by IFRA.
RIFM Assessment
Ambroxan has been assessed by RIFM and is considered safe for use in fragrances.
Sustainability
Ambroxan is synthesized from renewable plant-derived sclareol, making it a sustainable alternative to natural ambergris. Its production avoids harm to marine wildlife and supports ethical sourcing practices.
Explore Ambroxan (Ambroxide)
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References
- PubChem: Ambroxan PubChem
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 6790-58-5Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 236.39 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.7🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 317.9 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0005 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 150 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.805💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC3(C2CCO3)C)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 8 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | ether💻 RDKit |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0006 ppm📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
Trade Names
| Compound starting from natural sclareol: Ambermore, Ambermore-DL, Ambermore-EX (Aromor), Ambrox® Super (Firmenich), Ambroxan®(Kao), Ambroxide (Symrise); compound starting from homofarnesic acid deriva📖 Surburg |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID0047113
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 236.399 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.052 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 323.35 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 70.739 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 150 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.481 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 251.62 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.417 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.342 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.342 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 7.42 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.001 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 15.742 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 33.406 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 102.322 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 9.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 71.59 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 28.381 Å^3📊 OPERA |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
