Cyclogalbanate

Synthetic Ingredient Overview – Markdown Format)

• 🏭 Manufacturer — Symrise

• 🔎 Chemical name — Allyl (cyclohexyloxy) Acetate

• 📂 CAS N° — 68901-15-5

• ⚖️ Molecular Weight — 198.3 g/mol

• 📝 Odor type — Green → Fruity

• 📈 Odor Strength — Medium

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Green, pineapple, herbal, slightly resinous and balsamic

• ⚗️ Uses — Used to enhance floral-fruity accords, particularly in fougère and chypre structures. Elevates middle notes with verdant complexity. Suggested usage: 0.1–5%

• 🧴 Appearance — Clear to pale yellow liquid with moderate volatility

What is Cyclogalbanate?

Cyclogalbanate, chemically known as Allyl (cyclohexyloxy) acetate, is a synthetic ester introduced in the early 1980s by Hans Warnecke and Ernst Brunke at Dragoco S.A. (now part of Symrise). Their objective was to develop fragrance molecules capable of replicating and extending the olfactory depth of natural materials like galbanum, while offering enhanced stability and versatility.

Cyclogalbanate mimics certain elements of galbanum resin and blends them with pineapple-like fruitiness, creating a hybrid note that is at once green, herbal, and subtly sweet. It plays especially well in fougère, chypre, and floral accords where a softened green accent is desired.

Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications

Primary behavior in composition:

• Acts as a middle-note enhancer, supporting transitions from citrus or herbal top notes to heavier floral or woody bases

• Adds brightness and freshness to otherwise dense structures

• Balances aldehydes or synthetic jasmines with a naturalistic green facet

Common applications:

• Fougère Fragrances — Harmonizes with lavender, coumarin, and oakmoss

• Chypres — Enhances the green-woody interplay of labdanum, patchouli, and citrus

• Floral-Fruity Accords — Lifts apple, pineapple, jasmine, and gardenia blends

• Functional Products — Suitable for shampoos and detergents with herbal or green profiles due to moderate volatility

Cyclogalbanate is particularly valued in modern perfumery for its ability to replicate the complexity of natural resins like galbanum while maintaining formulation flexibility.

Historical and Industrial Context

Cyclogalbanate was developed during a fertile period of aromatic chemistry at Dragoco S.A. in West Germany (1982–1986). The molecule was part of a wave of green-accent molecules aimed at replacing natural extracts with more sustainable and stable synthetic analogues. Researchers such as Philip Kraft later explored its reactivity and structural compatibility with aldehydes, ionones, and other synthetic florals, confirming its potential as a modular green-building block in fragrance development.

Regulatory and Safety Overview

• IFRA Status: Conforms to IFRA standards within recommended usage levels

• RIFM Monograph: Available and confirms acceptable toxicological profile at conventional concentrations

• GHS Classification: Not classified as hazardous under normal usage

• Storage: Store tightly sealed, away from heat sources. Flashpoint > 100°C

• Environmental: No major ecotoxicity concerns documented at standard concentrations

Cyclogalbanate is not used in flavors or ingestible products.

Sources

• Fulvio Ciccolo, Creative Base Design Notes

• Perfumery Raw Materials Handbook, Internal Training (2023)

• RIFM Safety Assessment – CAS 68901-15-5

• S. Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (1960)

• Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, G.A. Burdock (1995)

• FragranceMaterialSafetyResource (Elsevier, 2021)

• Formulation Stability Testing Notes – Scentspiracy Studio (2024)