Exaltolide (CAS 106-02-5) — musk base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Exaltolide
CAS 106-02-5
What Is Exaltolide?
Exaltolide is a synthetic musk used in perfumes for its long-lasting, sweet scent. It belongs to the macrocyclic musk family, prized for their clean, non-animalic qualities. You’ll find it in luxury fragrances where it adds depth and warmth. This ingredient matters because it provides a sustainable alternative to traditional animal-derived musks, aligning with modern ethical standards while delivering superior performance in scent longevity.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFE
What Does Exaltolide Smell Like?
Exaltolide opens with a soft, powdery sweetness reminiscent of freshly laundered linen drying in sunlight. As it evolves, the scent deepens into a creamy, skin-like warmth – imagine cashmere wool infused with vanilla pods. The drydown reveals its true musk character: a persistent, intimate glow that clings to fabrics like the memory of a lover’s perfume. Unlike animalic musks, it maintains a pristine cleanliness throughout, never becoming sweaty or aggressive.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Exaltolide provides the clean musk base that tempers the animalic notes, creating a paradoxically dirty-yet-pristine effect.
Used as the primary musk to create that addictive skin-but-better scent that adapts uniquely to each wearer.
Exaltolide’s powdery sweetness complements the floral heart, giving the fragrance its signature velvety texture.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: O=C1CCCCCCCCCCCCCCO1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Exaltolide (dodecanal) is a macrocyclic lactone with a 12-membered carbon ring. Unlike nitro or polycyclic musks, its structure allows for biodegradability while maintaining excellent olfactory properties. Synthesized via ring-closing metathesis of long-chain dienes, it demonstrates how modern organic chemistry can create sustainable fragrance materials. The molecule’s conformation is crucial – the specific spatial arrangement of its ester group creates the perfect fit for musk receptors in our olfactory system.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 185.00 °C @ 100.00 mm Hg |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 44.5 °C |
| Density | 0.826-0.836 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.01 mmHg |
| Refractive Index | 1.433-1.439 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 5-15% | Up to 20% | Provides long-lasting musk foundation |
| Body Care | 1-3% | 0.5-5% | Adds subtle skin affinity |
| Laundry Products | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Delivers fabric-softening effect |
Classic Accords
+ Rose + Patchouli = Modern chypre
+ Citrus + Clean musks = Sporty freshness
Tip: Combine with ethyl maltol to enhance sweetness or with ambroxan for modern diffusion.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When a more affordable macrocyclic musk is needed, though it lacks Exaltolide’s distinctive powdery character.
For a more animalic musk profile while maintaining clean drydown characteristics.
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
No restrictions under current IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM safety assessment confirms safe use at current industry levels.
Sustainability
As a synthetic musk, Exaltolide avoids the ecological impacts of animal-derived musks. Its production via efficient catalytic processes minimizes waste and energy use. Unlike some persistent musk compounds, its macrocyclic structure allows for environmental degradation while maintaining scent performance. The shift to such musks represents perfumery’s response to both regulatory pressures and consumer demand for sustainable luxury.
Explore Exaltolide
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Industry & Science Data
References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 8194 (Dodecanal) PubChem
- Frater et al. (1999). Synthesis and olfactory properties of musky odorants. Helvetica Chimica Acta. DOI
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 106-02-5Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 240.38 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.8🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 137 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0006 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 160 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.048💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1CCCCCCCOC(=O)CCCCCC1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 8.7 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | muskypearsweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | esterether💻 RDKit |
| “Delicately animal, musky and sweet, extremely tenacious odor of outstanding uniformity. Its fixative effect is absolutely unusual in that it is not a physical fixation, but a true fixative and mellowing effect at incredibly low concentration of usage. The effect of perfumes containing this Lactone differ from others in the excellent "wearability" introduced by the Lactone. This is particularly conspicuous when the perfume is applied to the skin.”📖 Arctander | |
| w-Pentadecalactone has an extraordinarily persistent, musk-like odor.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Cyclopentadecanolide gives highly interesting effects when applied to certain flavors, e. g. alcoholic beverages, dentifrice flavors etc. There is very often a unanimous preference for the flavor that is properly treated with the Lactone. Concentration in such flavors may be about 0.02 to 1.50 ppm c”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.1929 ppm (n=18)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2840⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
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: DTXSID6044359
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 240.387 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.99 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 325 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 33.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 160 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.436 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 271.377 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.1 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.485 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.485 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.63 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.001 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.001 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 5.566 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.472 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 26.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 70.912 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 28.112 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.
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