"A practical supplier guide to Ambroxane (CAS 6790-58-5, C16H28O, MW 236.39, EINECS 229-861-2): the synthetic ambergris note that anchors fine fragrances, personal care, and household products with warm woody-amber and marine character. Covers the note profile, where it is used, why synthetic replaced natural ambergris, key specs (mp 74-76 C, bp 273.9 C, density 0.939, water solubility 1.88 mg/L, LogP 5.09, FEMA 3471), formulation and handling notes, and what buyers should check on the COA, with natural links to related fragrance and emollient raw materials."
-Deshangchemical-chemechemi
Ambroxane (CAS 6790-58-5) is the synthetic molecule most perfumers reach for when they want the warm, dry, slightly marine character of natural ambergris without touching whale-derived material. It is a workhorse base note: a small amount sits underneath a formula and makes the brighter top notes feel settled and expensive. For buyers, it is one of the more reliable fragrance ingredients on the market – stable, predictable, and well documented. You can review the full specification on our Ambroxane (CAS 6790-58-5) product page.
What the molecule does in a formula
Ambroxane carries a warm woody-amber profile with a faint marine edge. On its own it reads as calm and slightly powdery; in a blend it behaves like a fixative, stretching the life of lighter materials. That is why it shows up across fragrance families – Oriental and Chypre builds lean on its woody depth, fougère bases pair it with lavender and oakmoss, and modern fresh compositions use a trace to add gravity to citrus and marine accords.
When you are balancing a perfume, think of ambroxane as the anchor rather than the headline. A high-dose floral or citrus top will fade within an hour; ambroxane lingers for most of the wear. Formulators usually layer it with a floral or citrus building block such as linalool (CAS 78-70-6) or citral (CAS 5392-40-5), then round the base with a soft amber or balsamic material.
Where it actually gets used
The compound is not limited to fine fragrance. Its IFRA-compliant status and low skin-irritation profile put it into daily care: shampoos, shower gels, and body moisturizers use it to signal "clean" and "premium." Household lines add it to laundry detergent and fabric softener so clothes keep a quiet, elegant scent after washing and the chemical base note is masked. It also serves as a base tone in air fresheners, scented candles, and reed diffusers, where slow diffusion is an advantage rather than a problem.
Why synthetic replaced the natural source
Natural ambergris is rare, expensive, and tied to whaling – a non-starter for most brands today. Synthetic ambroxane reproduces the complexity of the natural aroma closely enough that other single molecules struggle to substitute for it. The fully synthetic route also fits the "cruelty-free" and low-environmental-impact positioning that buyers now ask about by name. Because the process does not depend on a harvested animal product, supply stays steadier and pricing is easier to plan around.
From a purchasing view, the main benefit is consistency. A controlled synthetic process gives the same profile batch after batch, so a fragrance house can lock a formula and trust that the next drum matches the last one. That predictability is what lets a manufacturer scale a product from pilot to full production without re-approving the base note every time, and it is the reason ambroxane keeps showing up on approved-material lists.
Spec snapshot
| Chemical name | Ambroxane (Ambrox) |
| CAS | 6790-58-5 |
| EINECS | 229-861-2 |
| Formula | C16H28O |
| Molecular weight | 236.39 |
| Melting point | 74–76 °C |
| Boiling point | 273.9 ± 8.0 °C |
| Density | 0.939 |
| Water solubility | 1.88 mg/L at 20 °C |
| LogP | 5.09 at 25 °C |
| FEMA | 3471 |
| Storage | Sealed, dry, room temperature |
Handling and formulation notes
Ambroxane is practically insoluble in water (about 1.88 mg/L), so it is almost always dissolved in a carrier or a fragrance oil before use. In personal-care bases it is commonly carried in an emollient such as isopropyl palmitate (CAS 142-91-6) or a light oil like squalane (CAS 111-01-3) so it disperses evenly through the batch. Its LogP of 5.09 and high boiling point tell you two useful things: it will not flash off during heating, and it will stay put on skin and fabric.
Stability is a genuine selling point. The material resists light, acid, alkali, and high temperature, which lets it sit in transparent packaging and survive hot-fill or spray-drying steps that would break down more delicate aroma chemicals. Pair it with robust companions like terpineol (CAS 8000-41-7) for a fresh floral lift or dihydrocoumarin (CAS 119-84-6) for a sweet hay-tonka facet, and the blend keeps its shape across batches.
Dosage is low, so start small
Most fine-fragrance formulas land in the trace-to-low-percent range, and daily-care products use even less. Because the note is strong and persistent, over-pouring is the more common mistake than under-use – start small, evaluate after drydown, and adjust. A controlled trial in the actual base (not just on a strip) is the only way to judge how it reads once the other materials settle.
What to check before you buy
Confirm the CAS and EINECS on the COA, and ask for the batch test report so you can see assay and any residual-solvent figures. Request IFRA documentation if the material goes into a leave-on product, and confirm storage and shelf-life guidance from the supplier. Reputable sources provide commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, COA, health certificate, and certificate of origin on request – keep those on file for audits and customs.
Related materials worth keeping on the bench
Beyond the anchors above, geranyl-linalool (CAS 1113-21-9) extends the woody-floral drydown, linalyl acetate (CAS 115-95-7) adds a fruity-floral brightness, benzyl salicylate (CAS 118-58-1) acts as a classic fixative, and myrcene (CAS 123-35-3) or ethyl maltol (CAS 4940-11-8) can bridge into terpene or gourmand directions depending on the brief. Building a small library of these around ambroxane covers most amber, fougère, and fresh-marine concepts a customer is likely to request.
For formulators who need a dependable amber base that behaves the same way every batch, ambroxane is hard to beat. Get the spec sheet, run a small trial, and it will likely earn a permanent spot on the bench.
