Vulcanolide
Note Profile
About
A synthetic musk. It is a musk with soil in it, not a laundry musk, and it is very strong. Firmenich's paper reports it as at least ten times stronger and more tenacious than the benchmark molecules of its own family.
Scent Profile
Vulcanolide smells musky, earthy and powdery, closer to soil than to clean laundry. A hint of amber sits alongside the earth and powder. It is a very strong musk, more tenacious than the benchmarks of its family.
ScentWheel
Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.
ScentArt
Origin
A polycyclic aromatic musk odorant, discovered and published by Firmenich. The University of Bristol dates the (S,S)-(-) form to 2002. The smell lives almost entirely in one stereoisomer. Bristol reports that (S,S)-(-)-vulcanolide has 'a powerful musky, earthy and slightly amber smell', while the (R,R)-(+) form has 'a very weak smell which is less earthy but slightly woody'. The Firmenich work reported by CHIMIA adds that a double bond at the ring junction is a structural requirement for the musk character.
Usage in Perfumery
A base musk and a fixative, used where a musk should read earthy and substantial rather than clean and transparent. It is at least ten times stronger than the benchmark musks of the same family, so it goes in small. Attested on 4 Parfumo placements across 2 brands and on no Fragrantica note listing.
Similar Notes
Perfumes featuring Vulcanolide
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Vulcanolide appears prominently.
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