Ionone Beta (beta-ionone) is a classic aroma chemical with a violet-iris floral character accented by woody, powdery and fruity nuances. It contributes a soft yet diffusive violet and orris effect, often with raspberry-like and beeswax facets that add body and texture to compositions. Widely used in fine fragrance and functional perfumery, it is valued for linking floral hearts to woody and fruity undertones.
Scent Profile
Olfactorily, Ionone Beta is characterized by a **violet and orris-like floral core** with distinctive **woody and powdery** facets. Many descriptions note a **raspberry or red-berry fruitiness** and occasional tropical-fruit and beeswax nuances that add a soft, tactile sweetness to the accord. It tends to be smooth and diffusive rather than sharp, supporting violet, iris, freesia and osmanthus effects while subtly persisting into the drydown.
CORRECTED 2026-08-14: this edge said the material was not held, and it is - as '(E)-4-[(5R)-5,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl]but-3-en-2-one' (CAS 79-77-6). The gap was in the LOOKUP, not the catalogue: we store this molecule under its systematic or registry name, the edge was authored against the trade name, and nothing matched. Supplier catalogues published the CAS and PubChem confirmed it (CID 638014). Previously: Beta-ionone is real; we hold only its oxidised derivatives. The material that would realise this note is beta-ionone; we do not hold it, so this edge
Beta-ionone is a C13 nor-isoprenoid ketone produced industrially by degradation of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, followed by purification to high purity. Although it occurs naturally in various flowers, fruits, teas and essential oils, the material used in perfumery is almost always synthesized and then rectified to a defined isomeric composition. It belongs to the ionone subgroup of rose ketones, together with damascones and damascenones that have played a central role in modern floral perfumery since the late 19th century.
Usage in Perfumery
Perfumers use Ionone Beta primarily in the **heart and soft base** of fragrances to build violet, iris, freesia and general floral-woody accords. It is employed to give volume, powdery texture and a naturalistic floral impression, and it also supports raspberry, tea, tobacco and osmanthus notes thanks to its fruity-tobacco nuances. The material is common in fine fragrances as well as soaps, detergents and personal care products, where it provides a durable yet gentle floral-woody signature.
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Ionone Beta appears prominently.
No perfumes featuring this note have been reviewed yet. Check back soon.
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