Limediene ™ 1% Dilution
Premium Synthetic Ingredient for Perfumery
Limediene™ is a high-impact synthetic top note developed by Bedoukian Research Inc., prized for its intense and short-lived olfactory effect. It delivers a powerful burst of lemon-lime freshness with sharp truffle, diesel, and melted plastic undertones. This ultra-low molecular weight compound (94.15 g/mol) is used to amplify top-note brightness and create contrast in green, marine, or citrus compositions. Its extremely short tenacity makes it suitable for volatile, energetic openings rather than long-lasting impressions.
It is supplied as a 1% dilution in dipropylene glycol (DPG) to facilitate handling and precise dosing.
Premium Synthetic Ingredient for Perfumery
Limediene™ is a high-impact synthetic top note developed by Bedoukian Research Inc., prized for its intense and short-lived olfactory effect. It delivers a powerful burst of lemon-lime freshness with sharp truffle, diesel, and melted plastic undertones. This ultra-low molecular weight compound (94.15 g/mol) is used to amplify top-note brightness and create contrast in green, marine, or citrus compositions. Its extremely short tenacity makes it suitable for volatile, energetic openings rather than long-lasting impressions.
It is supplied as a 1% dilution in dipropylene glycol (DPG) to facilitate handling and precise dosing.
Premium Synthetic Ingredient for Perfumery
Limediene™ is a high-impact synthetic top note developed by Bedoukian Research Inc., prized for its intense and short-lived olfactory effect. It delivers a powerful burst of lemon-lime freshness with sharp truffle, diesel, and melted plastic undertones. This ultra-low molecular weight compound (94.15 g/mol) is used to amplify top-note brightness and create contrast in green, marine, or citrus compositions. Its extremely short tenacity makes it suitable for volatile, energetic openings rather than long-lasting impressions.
It is supplied as a 1% dilution in dipropylene glycol (DPG) to facilitate handling and precise dosing.
Synthetic Ingredient Overview
🏭 Manufacturer: Bedoukian Research Inc.
🔎 IUPAC Name: Methyl cyclohexadiene (mixture of isomers)
🧪 Synonyms: Limediene™, Methyl Cyclohexadiene, Lemon Hexadiene, Methylene Cyclohexene
🧬 Chemical Formula: C₇H₁₀
📂 CAS N°: 30640-46-1
📘 FEMA: 4311
⚖️ Molecular Weight: 94.15 g/mol
📝 Odor Type: Citrus-Truffle
📈 Odor Strength: Very high impact / extremely short tenacity (<10 minutes)
👃🏼 Odor Profile: Sharp lemon-lime, white truffle, diesel, melted plastic; tropical and marine nuances at trace levels
⚗️ Primary Uses: Citrus boosters, green floral lift, marine and watery notes, cool water compositions
🧴 Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid (diluted 1% in DPG)
What is Limediene™?
Limediene™ is the trademarked name for a highly volatile mixture of methylated cyclohexadienes, developed by Bedoukian Research Inc. The molecule is part of the monoterpene family and exhibits extremely high vapor pressure, contributing to its explosive top note and rapid fade. It is not naturally occurring and is considered synthetic, though it is sometimes classified as nature-identical for regulatory labeling.
Chemically, Limediene™ is a low-mass hydrocarbon that evaporates rapidly, delivering intense brightness in the first few seconds of a fragrance's development. It is typically used in very low concentrations — often under 0.1% — due to both its power and instability.
Olfactory Profile and Perfumery Applications
Limediene™ opens with a loud and immediate hit of lemon-lime freshness, often accompanied by sulfuric or plasticky truffle notes. It brings a distinctive, slightly offbeat energy to citrus or green compositions and fades rapidly, leaving room for more tenacious floral or musky elements to take over.
It is particularly effective for:
Amplifying top note freshness in citrus-green structures
Adding character to watery, ozonic, and tropical accords
Supporting bold transitions in fougère or aquatic styles
Enhancing lift in functional perfumery (e.g., air care, detergents)
Its lack of longevity is not a limitation but a design feature: Limediene™ is valued for what it does in the first 5–10 minutes of a fragrance’s life on skin or blotter.
Industrial and Technical Uses
Outside perfumery, Limediene™ is also FEMA-approved (FEMA 4311) for flavor use at trace levels. It contributes lime-like and garlic-sulfuric nuances to citrus, wasabi, and tropical fruit flavorings, though its instability limits its range in food applications. It is not permitted for use in tobacco or nicotine delivery systems.
The compound is supplied at 1% in dipropylene glycol (DPG) due to its high volatility, flammability (flash point 35 °F), and odor intensity, ensuring greater safety and accuracy in formulation.
Regulatory and Safety Overview
IFRA: Contains 0.3% toluene as a trace production impurity; total toluene content in final formulations must not exceed 100 ppm
EU Allergens: Not listed among declarable allergens
FEMA GRAS: FEMA 4311 — approved for flavor use under controlled conditions
ECHA (REACH): Registered under EC 250-269-5; listed on TSCA, DSL, AICS, and CHINA inventories
Toxicology: High volatility; not classified as sensitizer; avoid inhalation at concentrate level
Environmental Status: Not PBT/vPvB; classified as flammable liquid
Usage Note: Not for use in tobacco or nicotine-related products
✅ Safe for trace-level use in fragrance and flavor applications when handled according to regulatory guidance.
Bedoukian Research Inc. – Technical Product Data (Limediene™)
FEMA GRAS Database – Entry 4311
ECHA Substance Database – EC 250-269-5
Fulvio Ciccolo, Scentspiracy (2022) – Analytical Notes on Limediene
RIFM Monograph – Methylated Cyclohexadiene Derivatives
Internal evaluation – Scentspiracy BRI Sample Archive 2022–2024