Spicy

Safraleine

Note Profile

Natural

About

Safraleine is a proprietary Givaudan aroma chemical with a powerful spicy-leathery profile and a distinctive saffron-like character.[1][2][3][4][5] It combines warm saffron, tobacco, and suede-like leather facets with subtle woody and rose-ketone floral nuances, creating a complex, tenacious base note.[2][3][4][5][9] Perfumers use it widely in modern compositions to deliver impactful saffron-leather effects with excellent stability and diffusion.[2][3][4][9]

Scent Profile

Olfactorily, Safraleine is characterized by an intensely warm, spicy-leathery odor with a clear resemblance to natural saffron.[1][2][3][4][5][9] It exhibits prominent tobacco and suede facets, supported by woody and slightly phenolic undertones that give a dense, velvety texture.[2][3][4] At lower dosages, rose ketone-like floral and herbal nuances emerge, adding refinement and a faintly aromatic brightness to its otherwise deep, oriental character.[2][3][4][5]

Citrus 0%

Floral 18%

Fruity 0%

Green 6%

Sweet 18%

Warm 80%

Woody 35%

Earthy 16%

Animalic 10%

Fresh 0%

Origin

Safraleine is a fully synthetic fragrance ingredient developed and manufactured by Givaudan, designed as a modern saffron-leather specialty chemical.[1][2][3][4][5][9] Chemically, it is an indenone derivative, identified as 2,3,3-trimethyl-2H-inden-1-one (also known as saffron indenone), supplied as a racemic mixture.[2][3][6][8] It does not occur in nature and was engineered to capture and extend key facets of saffron while providing better stability, performance, and regulatory flexibility than restricted natural constituents such as safranal.[2][3]

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers primarily use Safraleine as a powerful base note in leather, tobacco, and warm spicy or amber-oriental compositions, typically at very low dosages due to its high odor strength.[2][3][9][10] It is a go-to material for constructing saffron accords, enriching suede and black leather effects, and adding a hot, spicy glow around rose, woods, and lactonic notes.[2][3][4][7][9] Beyond fine fragrance, it can also be employed in functional perfumery and even flavor applications (FEMA 4556), where its herbal-spicy warmth and saffron-like character add depth and complexity.[2][3][8]