• 🔎 Chemical name — 2-Methyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl)butan-1-ol

• 🏭 Manufacturer — Symrise

• 🧪 Synonyms — Brahmanol™, tertiary sandalwood alcohol

• 🧬 Chemical Formula — C₁₃H₂₄O

• 📂 CAS N° — 72089-08-8

• ⚖️ MW — 196.33 g/mol

• 📝 Odor type — Woody, Sandalwood

• 📈 Odor Strength — High

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Creamy, warm sandalwood with soft, musky and slightly herbal nuances

• ⚗️ Uses — Sandalwood accords, creamy florals, modern woods, amber-musk bases; fine fragrance applications up to 10%

• 🧴 Appearance — Clear, colorless liquid

Brahmanol (CAS 72089-08-8)

Chemical Name: 2-Methyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl)butan-1-ol

Molecular Formula: C₁₃H₂₄O

Molecular Weight: 196.33 g/mol

Class: Aliphatic tertiary alcohol

Olfactory Family: Woody – Sandalwood type

Historical Background

Brahmanol is a relatively recent synthetic sandalwood-type material developed to meet the increasing demand for non-restricted, stable alternatives to natural sandalwood oil (Santalum album), which is both expensive and ecologically threatened. The compound was introduced commercially by Symrise as part of a broader initiative to expand their sustainable woody portfolio. Unlike iconic early materials like β-santalol or Bacdanol, Brahmanol entered the market without a widely publicized patent history or inventor attribution.

Discovery and Synthesis

Though no publicly disclosed inventor is cited in available documentation, Brahmanol's synthesis involves cyclopentane ring substitution and alcohol functionalization, resulting in a saturated, tertiary alcohol structure with low volatility and high substantivity. It is produced synthetically using partially renewable feedstocks. According to Symrise, 69.2% of its carbon content is derived from renewable raw materials (Symrise, 2022).

Olfactory Profile

Brahmanol is prized for its warm, diffusive sandalwood character. Its scent is:

• Primary facets: Creamy, woody, sandalwood-like

• Secondary nuances: Waxy, herbal, slightly nutty, soft musk

• Perception: Long-lasting, smooth, with a rounded tactile effect

In fine fragrance, Brahmanol acts as both a sandalwood replacer and a smoothing base note, blending seamlessly with lactonic musks, ambers, and white florals.

Applications in Fine Fragrance

Brahmanol is primarily used in:

• Sandalwood accords (as a core material or modifier)

• Modern woods compositions (fougères, orientals, neo-chypres)

• Creamy floral bases (especially with jasmine, tuberose, or ylang-ylang)

• Soft ambery structures (as a textural connector between musks and woods)

Its excellent substantivity and bloom on skin make it ideal for use in fine fragrance bases, where it contributes to both volume and diffusion. It can be used in concentrations from 0.5% to 10% depending on composition goals (Symrise, 2022).

Chemical Properties

• Structure: Tertiary alcohol with cyclopentyl substitution

• Boiling Point: ~272.6 °C

• Log P: 4.73

• Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid

• Stability: Good oxidative stability; stable in emulsions, alcohol, and mild surfactant systems

• Shelf Life: At least 24 months under cool, dark storage

It is less prone to oxidation than primary sandalwood alcohols and performs well in alcoholic bases, emulsions, and anhydrous formats. However, it shows reduced stability in highly acidic aqueous solutions or aggressive surfactant systems.

IFRA & Safety Information

• IFRA Restrictions: None (as of IFRA Amendment 51)

• Skin Sensitization: Not classified as a sensitizer

• Primary Hazard Classification:

  • H411: Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects

• Recommended use levels: ≤10% in perfume concentrate

• REACH Registration: Registered under EU REACH by Symrise

• GHS Classification: Not acutely toxic; requires standard handling precautions

No significant photoallergenicity, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicity has been reported in current toxicological evaluations. Safety data sheets indicate low dermal toxicity and absence of mutagenic concerns at standard use levels (ECHA, 2024).

Environmental Impact

• Renewable Carbon Content: 69.2% (Symrise internal assessment, 2022)

• Biodegradability: Readily biodegradable

• Aquatic Toxicity: Classified as hazardous to aquatic environments (per H411)

• Sustainability Profile: Considered part of Symrise’s green chemistry initiative, developed to minimize ecological footprint while offering high olfactory performance.

Brahmanol’s use as a sandalwood substitute contributes to the preservation of endangered natural sandalwood sources, making it a favorable choice in sustainable fine fragrance formulation.

References

• ECHA. (2024). Substance Information: 2-Methyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl)butan-1-ol (CAS No. 72089-08-8). Retrieved from https://echa.europa.eu

• IFRA. (2023). IFRA Standards - 51st Amendment. International Fragrance Association. https://ifrafragrance.org

• Symrise. (2022). Brahmanol – Product Sheet & Regulatory Data. Internal Publication. https://www.symrise.com

• Surburg, H., & Panten, J. (2016). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials: Preparation, Properties and Uses(6th ed.). Wiley-VCH