Macrolide Supra

Macrolide Supra (Pentadecan-15-olide) – Complete Product Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer — Symrise

• 🔎 Chemical name — Pentadecan-15-olide

• 📂 CAS N° — 106-02-5

• 📘 FEMA —

• ⚖️ MW — 240.38 g/mol

• 📝 Odor type — Musky, Floral, Woody

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Musky, Powdery, Warm and soft.

• ⚗️ Uses — commonly used in the base notes of perfumes to provide a musky foundation, enhancing the depth and longevity of floral, fruity, or woody compositions. Adds depth to musk compositions, offering a powdery softness. Lends support to white florals like jasmine and lily of the valley, giving them a musky, long-lasting quality. Complements woody accords, such as sandalwood and cedarwood, providing a creamy musk base.

Trademark:

Macrolide Supra by Symrise

Exaltolide by Givaudan

Chemical Name:

Pentadecan-15-olide

Synonyms:

• Omega-Pentadecalactone

• Exaltolide

• Muskalactone

• Pentalide

Chemical Formula:

C₁₅H₂₈O₂

Molecular Weight:

240.38 g/mol

Historical Background

Exaltolide, also known as Pentadecan-15-olide, was first synthesized in the early 20th century as part of the industry's broader search for alternatives to natural animal musks. Synthetic musks like Exaltolide became essential in replacing expensive and scarce natural musks such as civet and deer musk.

The discovery of macrocyclic musks, including Exaltolide, represented a significant advance due to their biodegradability and lack of persistence in the environment, which set them apart from the more controversial nitro musks used at the time. Givaudan eventually trademarked Exaltolide, and it became one of the most widely used synthetic musks due to its long-lasting, soft, and warm musk qualities (Symrise, 2024; The Good Scents Company, 2024).

In parallel, Symrise introduced Macrolide Supra, another branded version of Pentadecan-15-olide, highlighting the versatility and environmental friendliness of this molecule.

Olfactory Profile

Macrolide Supra (Pentadecan-15-olide) is characterized by its musky, powdery, and soft scent. It imparts a long-lasting, warm musk that is neither too sweet nor harsh, making it ideal for subtle, enduring musk accords in a wide range of fragrances.

Odor Characteristics:

• Musky

• Powdery

• Warm and soft

It is often used to create a clean, soapy musk note, with excellent diffusion, adding a comforting, delicate quality to the overall fragrance composition.

Applications in Perfumery and Product Categories

• Fine Fragrances: Macrolide Supra is commonly used in the base notes of perfumes to provide a musky foundation, enhancing the depth and longevity of floral, fruity, or woody compositions.

• Personal Care Products: Its clean, fresh, and long-lasting scent makes it popular in shampoos, lotions, and soaps.

• Functional Products: Its persistent musk note makes it ideal for air fresheners, fabric softeners, and other cleaning products.

Fragrance Families:

• Musky: Adds depth to musk compositions, offering a powdery softness.

• Floral: Lends support to white florals like jasmine and lily of the valley, giving them a musky, long-lasting quality.

• Woody: Complements woody accords, such as sandalwood and cedarwood, providing a creamy musk base.

Usage in Fragrance Formulation

Concentration Levels:

• Fine Fragrance: Typically used at concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 3%, depending on the desired intensity of the musk.

• Personal Care Products: Used in products like shampoos and body washes at concentrations of 0.5% to 2% for a long-lasting musk effect.

• Functional Products: In air fresheners and fabric softeners, concentrations between 2% and 5% provide a clean and persistent musk.

Blending Suggestions:

• With Florals: Works well with white florals, giving them a warm muskiness.

• With Woods: Blends effectively with woody notes like cedarwood and sandalwood, enhancing their depth with a creamy musk profile.

• With Fruity Notes: Can also be paired with fruity notes like pear and peach to create a more sensual, musky-fruity composition.

Regulatory Information and Safety

IFRA Guidelines:

Macrolide Supra (Pentadecan-15-olide) is considered safe for use in fragrance and personal care products. As with all fragrance ingredients, it must adhere to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) guidelines regarding usage levels and product safety.

Safety Considerations:

• Non-sensitizing: Pentadecan-15-olide is generally considered non-sensitizing, though concentrations should be managed according to regulatory standards.

• Handling Precautions: Appropriate safety gear, such as gloves and eye protection, should be used when handling this compound in its concentrated form.

Environmental Impact

• Biodegradability: Macrolide Supra is considered biodegradable, making it a favorable alternative to other synthetic musks that can persist in the environment.

• Aquatic Toxicity: While not considered highly toxic to aquatic life, proper disposal protocols should be followed to prevent contamination of water sources.

Conclusion

Macrolide Supra (Pentadecan-15-olide) and Exaltolide are versatile and long-lasting macrocyclic musks that provide perfumers with a soft, powdery musk base ideal for creating sophisticated, subtle musk accords. Their ability to blend seamlessly with floral, woody, and fruity notes, combined with their biodegradability, makes them key ingredients in both fine fragrances and functional products. As trademarked products of Symrise and Givaudan, respectively, Macrolide Supra and Exaltolide continue to be used widely for their musk profile, longevity, and environmental benefits (Symrise, 2024; The Good Scents Company, 2024).

References

• Symrise. (2024). Macrolide Supra – Product Data. Retrieved from https://www.symrise.com

• The Good Scents Company. (2024). Pentadecan-15-olide Overview. Retrieved from https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com