Base Material Descriptions


Diffusion boosters / radiance


Hedione (methyl dihydrojasmonate)

Main effect: airy, transparent jasmine-like radiance; bridges notes

Lifetime: ~160 hours on strip (6–7 days)

Impact: ~65 (strong but soft blender)

Typical usage amount: 2–15% (can be higher, up to ~35%+)


Iso E Super

Main effect: smooth transparent cedar/ambery “skin-wood” volume; boosts diffusion and blends edges

Lifetime: 280 hours on a smelling strip

Impact: 40 (Relative Odor Impact)

Typical usage amount: up to 30% as a blender; can be used much higher (even ~80%) in very linear “substrate” style formulas


Amber Xtreme

Main effect: very powerful dry woody-amber radiance; boosts projection and long-lasting trail

Lifetime: >172 hours on a smelling strip (also described as >1 week on blotter by another supplier )

Impact: 8/10 odour strength and 8/10 dominant impact in blends (vendor scale) 

Typical usage amount: traces to 0.5%



Musks (clean fabric → skin musks → fruity musks)


Galaxolide

Main effect: clean, sweet “soft fabric / laundry” musk; adds smooth diffusion and volume

Lifetime: 200 hours on a smelling strip 

Impact: 60 (Relative Odor Impact)

Typical usage amount: 2–15% (often 3–10%; can be 20%+ in very musky bases)


Ethylene Brassylate (EB)

Main effect: warm, soft macrocyclic “skin musk” with gentle sweetness; adds body + fixation (less “laundry” than Galaxolide)

Lifetime: 280 hours on a smelling strip 

Impact: 40 (Relative Odor Impact)

Typical usage amount: 2–15% (often 4–12%; can be 20%+ in musk bases)


Exaltolide

Exaltolide (Pentadecanolide / ω-pentadecalactone)

Main effect: clean, elegant macrocyclic “skin musk” (creamy, smooth, expensive-feeling); boosts diffusion and softness

Lifetime: 500 hours on a smelling strip 

Impact: 25 (Relative Odor Impact)

Typical usage amount: 0.5–6% (often 1–3%; can be higher in musk-focused bases)


Ambrettolide

Main effect: soft “natural-leaning” musk with a fruity/pear-wine nuance; adds sensual radiance and smooth diffusion

Lifetime: 450 hours on a smelling strip 

Impact: 30 (Relative Odor Impact)

Typical usage amount: 0.2–3% (often 0.3–1.5%; higher in musk bases)



Helvetolide

Main effect: clean fruity musk (pear/apple-like) that boosts diffusion and makes tops feel plush/lasting

Lifetime: long; typically several days on strip

Impact: medium–high (fruity-musky signature shows quickly)

Typical usage amount: 0.2–5% (often 0.5–2%; higher for obvious fruity-musk effect)



Floralizers / muguet heart builders


Hydroxycitronellal

Main effect: fresh muguet (lily-of-the-valley) clean floral/soapy heart; adds structure and diffusion

Lifetime: moderate–long; typically ~1–3 days on strip

Impact: medium (can read “soapy/old-school” if overdosed)

Typical usage amount: 0.2–5% (often 0.5–2%; higher in classic muguet styles)


Mayol

Main effect: clean muguet/floral heart body; boosts “dewy petal” volume and continuity

Lifetime: moderate; typically ~1–2 days on strip

Impact: low–medium (more of a builder/blender than a soloist)

Typical usage amount: 0.2–3% (often 0.5–1.5%; higher for stronger muguet body)


Lilyflore

Main effect: modern muguet/floral lift (clean, transparent, slightly fruity); brightens and updates the heart

Lifetime: moderate; typically ~1–2 days on strip

Impact: medium (adds noticeable fresh muguet presence)

Typical usage amount: 0.2–5% (often 0.5–2%; higher in clean floral/muguet styles)


Cyclamen Aldehyde


Salicylates (solar/creamy floral body + blending)


Hexyl Salicylate

Main effect: sweet green-floral, solar “suntan/white floral” body; smooth blender

Lifetime: long; typically ~2–5 days on strip

Impact: low–medium (builds body more than “punch”)

Typical usage amount: 1–10% (often 2–6%)


Amyl (Isoamyl) Salicylate

Main effect: warmer, creamier “solar/sunscreen” floral body; softens woods and fattens white florals

Lifetime: long; typically ~2–5 days on strip

Impact: medium (more character than hexyl salicylate)

Typical usage amount: 0.5–6% (often 1–4%)


Benzyl Salicylate

Main effect: heavy sweet-balsamic floral fixative; big jasmine/ylang support + solvent-like rounding

Lifetime: very long; typically ~5–10 days on strip

Impact: medium (can feel heavy at high %)

Typical usage amount: 1–10% (often 2–8%)


Woody-musky body builder


Cashmeran

Main effect: warm woody-musky, slightly spicy “cashmere/amber-wood” body; adds plushness and warmth

Lifetime: very long; typically several days to a week+ on strip

Impact: high (can dominate if pushed)

Typical usage amount: 0.5–5% (often 1–3%; higher for obvious cashmeran signature)


Iso E Super

Main effect: smooth transparent cedar/ambery “skin-wood” volume; blends edges and boosts trail without heaviness

Lifetime: very long; typically several days to a week+ on strip

Impact: medium–high (builds a strong aura at higher %)

Typical usage amount: 5–30% (often 10–25%; higher in minimalist woody styles)


Amber Xtreme

Main effect: very powerful dry woody-amber radiance; boosts projection and long-lasting trail

Lifetime: extremely long; typically several days to a week+ on strip

Impact: very high (can get harsh if overdosed)

Typical usage amount: 0.01–0.3% (often 0.02–0.15%; rarely above 0.5%)


Sweetener / gourmand-amber builder

Vanillin

Main effect: sweet vanilla, creamy gourmand warmth; rounds and sweetens drydown

Lifetime: very long; typically several days to a week+ on strip

Impact: high (reads quickly as “vanilla” if pushed)

Typical usage amount: 0.1–3% (often 0.2–1.5%; higher in gourmands)


Solvents / fixatives (function-first materials)


Benzyl benzoate

Main effect: mild sweet-balsamic, faint floral; primarily solvent/fixative (little “odor effect”)

Lifetime: very long; persists in base many days on strip

Impact: low (functional more than aromatic)

Typical usage amount: 1–15% (often 3–10%; higher for resin/vanillin-heavy concentrates)


DPG (Dipropylene Glycol)

Main effect: low-odor diluent/solvent; improves blending and handling

Lifetime: long; remains in base many days on strip

Impact: very low (mostly functional)

Typical usage amount: 1–30% (often 5–20% in bases/dilutions)


TEC (Triethyl Citrate)

Main effect: low-odor, slightly ester/fruity solvent; smoother/heavier feel than DPG; helps stability/fixation

Lifetime: long; remains in base many days on strip

Impact: very low (mostly functional)

Typical usage amount: 1–30% (often 5–25%, especially with naturals/resins)