Borneol

Note Profile

Molecule

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About

A bicyclic terpene alcohol, the alcohol that oxidises to camphor. It smells camphoraceous first and drier than camphor, with a pine clarity and a faint old-wood, dried-herb undertone. Perfumery uses it in aromatic and fougere accords and in incense reconstructions.

Scent Profile

Borneol smells sharply cooling and camphor-like at first, drier and less penetrating than camphor itself. A clear, pine-like wood note runs under it, with a dried-herb, apothecary edge alongside. Small traces of balsamic resin, green foliage and a faint earthy trace round out the body, and the drydown carries a faint peppery, minty freshness.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeHeart · ~4h lasting

Family Fresh & Citrus

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Materials That Can Make This Note

Perfumers can use this material directly to make Borneol.

Borneol peppery · pepper · camphoraceous

Smell words come from published sources.

A given perfume with this note may use this material, or something else.

Origin

Found in the essential oils of many plants, among them camphor laurel, rosemary, valerian and several conifers. Traditional Chinese and Southeast Asian trade extracted it from Dryobalanops aromatica, which is where the name comes from. Most commercial borneol today is made synthetically, usually as a racemic mix of the d- and l- forms, from alpha-pinene or from camphor reduction.

Usage in Perfumery

Attested on 16 Fragrantica note listings and none on Parfumo. Fragrantica files it under greens, herbs and fougeres. It is used at low levels for a cool, dry lift in fougere and aromatic structures, and at higher levels in incense and temple accords.