Heidi Norton
Galaxolide is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, musky, floral, and woody scent used in fragrances. It is one of the most popular musks in the world and is used by luxury fragrance brands such as Tom Ford, Amouage, and Creed. It is often blended with other musks and has a subtle, long-lasting fragrance that can last over 400 hours. Due to its high viscosity, it needs to be heated to become fluid. It is typically sold in a 50% dilution for easy use. While it is widely used, galaxolide has been detected in high concentrations in the Great Lakes, raising concerns about its bioaccumulation properties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Odour | Strong, clean, sweet, floral, musk, powerful, fresh, woody |
| Uses | All-types florals, laundry soap, musk comfort, softlan, detergents, personal care |
| Molecular Formula | C18H26O |
| Molecular Weight | 258.4 g/mol |
| Phase at Room Temperature | Highly viscous liquid |
| Melting Point | -20 °C |
| Boiling Point | Estimated to be 330 °C based on a boiling point of 160 °C at 4 hPa |
| Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) in Fish | 600-1600 |
| Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient (Log Kow) | 5.5 (5.3 – 5.9) |
| Persistence | High |
| Bioaccumulation | High |
| Aquatic Toxicity | High |
| Average Use | 5.9% in a perfume compound |
| Longevity | > 400 hours on a smelling strip |
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What You'll Learn
- Pure galaxolide is thick and sticky, so it's sold diluted to 50%
- It's a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, floral, woody odour
- It's used in all types of perfumes, from florals to woody blends
- It's the largest aromachemical in luxury fragrances like Tom Ford
- It's a good fixative, adding bloom, volume and longevity to perfumes
Pure galaxolide is thick and sticky, so it's sold diluted to 50%
Galaxolide is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, musky, floral, and woody odour. It is one of the most popular musks in the world and is used in fragrances to add a musk odour. It is also used in detergents and fabric softeners.
Pure galaxolide is very thick and sticky, making it difficult to work with. It is highly viscous and requires heat to make it fluid. For this reason, it is often sold diluted to 50%, which results in a mobile liquid that is easier to handle and use. This dilution is still strong, clean, and powerful, with a superb fragrance quality. It is important to check the dilution before buying to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Galaxolide is typically used as a building block in the perfume creation process and is not meant to be applied directly to the skin. It is combined with other ingredients to create unique fragrances. It is a popular choice for perfumers due to its low cost and widespread appeal.
When creating alcoholic fragrances, the mixture should be macerated for up to a month, chilled overnight, and then finely filtered to remove any cloudiness or detritus. This is the industry norm and ensures a high-quality final product.
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It's a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, floral, woody odour
Galaxolide is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, floral, woody odour. It is a popular ingredient in perfumes and colognes, adding a musk scent to the fragrance. Its chemical name is 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta [g]benzopyran or HHCB, hexamethylindanopyran. It has a molecular formula of C18H26O and a molecular weight of 258.4 g/mol.
Galaxolide is a mixture of isomers with chiral centres at carbon atoms 4 and 7. It is a highly viscous liquid at room temperature and has a sweet musky odour. Its discovery is attributed to Heeringa and Beets at IFF in the 1960s, where they aimed to improve existing synthetic musks by enhancing their stability and hydrophobicity.
In perfumery, galaxolide is often used as a primary fixative in fine fragrances, detergents, and personal care products. It adds volume and longevity to the final product. It is also known to be a key ingredient in luxury fragrance brands such as Tom Ford, Amouage, and Creed.
When working with pure galaxolide, it is important to note that it is very thick and sticky, requiring heat to make it fluid. It is typically sold in a 50% dilution, which results in a mobile liquid that is easier to handle and use.
Galaxolide is a versatile and well-liked musk, allowing other materials in a fragrance to stand out. It is often blended with other musks, which act as modifiers to enhance the overall scent. Its clean and powerful scent make it a popular choice for perfumers.
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It's used in all types of perfumes, from florals to woody blends
Galaxolide is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, musky, floral, and woody odour. It is used as a fragrance in perfumes, colognes, detergents, and fabric softeners. Its chemical name is 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta [g]benzopyran, and it has a molecular formula of C18H26O and a molecular weight of 258.4 g/mol.
Galaxolide is a popular ingredient in perfumes, as it is well-liked by consumers and adds fixation and exaltation to all fragrances. It is often blended with other musks, which act as modifiers. Its versatility allows it to be used in all types of perfumes, including florals, woody blends, and laundry soap musk. It is also a key ingredient in luxury fragrance brands such as Tom Ford, Amouage, and Creed.
The popularity of galaxolide can be attributed to its low cost, ease of use, and mass appeal. It is available in both pure and diluted forms, with the diluted version being more manageable due to the high viscosity of pure galaxolide. The diluted form is fluidised with IPM, which is preferable for those avoiding phthalates.
Galaxolide is a powerful and versatile iso-chroman musk with excellent persistence and fragrance quality. It has a subtle floral-woody nuance and soft powdery, ambery undertones. It is a primary fixative in fine fragrances, adding bloom, volume, and longevity to the final product.
Overall, galaxolide is a versatile and well-liked ingredient in the perfume industry, contributing to the creation of a wide range of fragrances. Its unique properties and mass appeal make it a popular choice for perfumers.
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It's the largest aromachemical in luxury fragrances like Tom Ford
Galaxolide, also known as Abbalide, Pearlide, Astrolide, Musk 50, and Polarlide, is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, musky, floral, and woody odour. It is a popular ingredient in luxury fragrances, including those by Tom Ford, Amouage, and Creed. Its low cost and widespread appeal make it a staple for perfumers.
Galaxolide was first synthesized in 1956 and used in fabric softeners and detergents in the late 1960s. It is a key synthetic musk ingredient, belonging to the polycyclic musk group as defined by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). Its chemical name is 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran, and its IUPAC name is 4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-cyclopenta [g]-isochromene.
In fragrances, galaxolide is often used as a primary fixative, adding bloom, volume, and longevity to the final product. It is known for its exceptional persistence and fragrance quality, enhancing the overall aroma of the perfume. Its versatility allows it to blend seamlessly with other musks, taking on the role of a modifier.
When working with galaxolide, it is important to note that it is extremely viscous in its pure form. Heat is required to make it fluid, and it is typically sold as a 50% dilution from IFF. The average use of galaxolide in a perfume compound is around 5.9%. It is also important to follow safety guidelines, as with any other raw material used in perfumery. These products are intended for experienced perfumers and are not meant to be applied directly to the skin undiluted.
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It's a good fixative, adding bloom, volume and longevity to perfumes
Galaxolide is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, musky, floral, and woody odour. It is a popular ingredient in perfumes and colognes, used to add a musk odour to the final product.
Galaxolide is an excellent fixative, adding bloom, volume, and longevity to perfumes. A fixative is a substance used to equalize the vapour pressures and thus the volatilities of the raw materials in a perfume oil, increasing the perfume's odour tenacity and the time for which the scent lasts. In other words, fixatives ensure that the smell of a perfume remains on the skin for longer after the initial application.
Galaxolide is a powerful fixative, allowing other materials in a fragrance to shine through. It is a versatile iso-chroman musk with exceptional persistence and a superb fragrance quality. It is often the largest aromachemical in luxury fragrances, and its low cost and popular appeal make it a must-have for perfumers.
As a fixative, galaxolide gives body to perfumes and slows the dispersion of essential oils and other fragrance materials into the air. It is particularly prevalent in ambery perfumes and is known for its sweetly seductive aroma.
Natural fixatives such as sweet and earthy ambergris, and velvety and sensual civet were once used to increase longevity and stability. However, due to strict environmental protection laws, they are rarely, if ever, used today. Modern perfumers mostly rely on synthetic fixatives like galaxolide, which is a more economical, consistent, and ethical alternative.
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Frequently asked questions
Galaxolide is a synthetic musk with a clean, sweet, musky floral woody odour used in fragrances. It is often the largest aromachemical in luxury fragrance brands such as Tom Ford, Amouage and Creed.
The chemical name of galaxolide is 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran or HHCB, hexamethylindanopyran. It has a molecular formula of C18H26O and a molecular weight of 258.4 g/mol.
Galaxolide is available in pure form and diluted forms. The pure form is very thick and sticky, so it is often sold diluted to 50% for easy use.
To use galaxolide in perfume, it is important to first dilute it to the desired concentration. Then, it can be added to other ingredients and macerated for up to a month before being chilled and filtered fine to remove any cloudiness.
Galaxolide is a popular choice for perfumers due to its low cost and wide appeal. It is a strong and clean-smelling fixative that adds bloom, volume, and longevity to fragrances. It also combines well with other musks, allowing their unique qualities to shine through.
