Javanol Givaudan

✦ Ultra-powerful synthetic sandalwood molecule from Givaudan

✦ Rich, creamy sandalwood character with soft rosy undertones

✦ Exceptional tenacity and substantivity — lasts on blotter for weeks

✦ Used at trace levels (below 0.1%) due to very low odor threshold

✦ Backbone material for modern sandalwood and woody accords

✦ Adds lift, creaminess, and fixation to fine fragrance and attars

✦ Vegan and cruelty-free — no animal-derived content

Javanol is a captive-style sandalwood molecule developed by Givaudan and discovered in 1996 by Jerzy Bajgrowicz and Georg Frater at Givaudan's research center in Switzerland. It emerged during an industry-wide search for synthetic sandalwood materials, driven by the declining supply and rising cost of natural Mysore sandalwood oil.

What makes Javanol special is its molecular structure — two cyclopropane rings create a rigid, electron-rich framework that binds extremely efficiently to olfactory receptors. This gives it a natural, creamy sandalwood odor combined with a clean rosy facet, plus power and longevity that surpass most other sandalwood synthetics on the market.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade Javanol suitable for fine fragrance, attar and mukhallat blending, woody accord construction, and cosmetic fragrancing.

SCENT DESCRIPTION: Javanol opens as a smooth, creamy sandalwood with a clean, soapy-rosy lift. It feels warm, woody, and slightly milky, never dry or harsh. The rose nuance adds elegance and brightness, while the sandalwood core remains substantive and natural. It is delicate yet remarkably persistent, hovering quietly for an exceptionally long time.

NOTE POSITION: Base

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: Woody · Sandalwood · Floral-Woody

FACETS: Creamy · Rosy · Sandalwood · Milky · Soapy

TENACITY: Very High (lasts 300+ hours on blotter)

SILLAGE: Medium to High — diffusive despite trace dosage

Chemical Name : [1-methyl-2-[(1,2,2-trimethyl-3-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl)methyl]cyclopropyl]methanol

CAS Number : 198404-98-7

Synonyms : Sandal Cyclopropane, Javanol Givaudan

Purity % : verify with supplier CoA

Appearance : Colorless to pale yellow liquid

Odor Threshold: Very low (extremely powerful)

Solubility : Soluble in alcohol and oils; insoluble in water

Specific Gravity : verify with supplier CoA

Flash Point : verify with supplier CoA (combustible, high flash point)

Type : Synthetic

Fine Fragrance ★★★★★

The premier use for Javanol. It builds creamy sandalwood hearts and bases, adds longevity, and lifts woody and floral accords. Essential for modern sandalwood perfumes.

Attar & Oriental Blending ★★★★★

Excellent in mukhallat and oriental oil blends. Its creamy-rosy sandalwood pairs beautifully with oud, rose, and amber notes traditional in Gulf perfumery.

Cosmetics ★★★★☆

Useful in creams, lotions, and luxury cosmetic bases where a long-lasting sandalwood note is desired. Use at trace levels.

Functional Fragrance ★★★☆☆

Performs in soaps and premium functional products due to substantivity, though cost favors fine fragrance use.

Home Fragrance ★★★☆☆

Adds woody depth to reed diffusers and candles, but high cost and trace dosage limit large-scale functional use.

EDP : 0.05% – 0.5%

EDT : 0.05% – 0.3%

Body Lotion : 0.02% – 0.2%

Shampoo/Body Wash: 0.02% – 0.2%

Candle : 0.05% – 0.5%

Reed Diffuser : 0.05% – 0.5%

Soap : 0.05% – 0.3%

IFRA: Javanol is generally used freely in perfumery, but specific IFRA 51st Amendment category limits must be verified at ifrafragrance.org and against your supplier CoA before finalizing any formula.

⚠️ Extremely powerful — always dilute to 10% before evaluation and dose in traces. Overdosing flattens the accord and wastes material.

Trace Dosing: Use far below 0.1% in the final formula. Even tiny amounts deliver full creamy sandalwood character.

Pre-Dilution: Always work from a 10% solution in alcohol or DPG for accuracy and control.

Accord Backbone: Build sandalwood and woody accords around Javanol, layering supporting woods on top.

BEST PAIRINGS

Ambroxan → Adds warm, dry amber-wood depth and projection

Rose absolute → Amplifies the natural rosy facet beautifully

Sandalwood EO → Rounds and naturalizes the synthetic core

Cashmeran → Builds a soft, musky-woody modern base

Iso E Super → Extends diffusion and woody transparency

Vanillin → Adds creamy, sweet warmth to the base

AVOID: Overloading with other strong woods, which masks Javanol's creaminess and rosy lift.

Javanol is, to my nose, the most natural and substantive sandalwood molecule available — it does the work of far more material at a fraction of the dose. The rosy lift is its signature, giving compositions an elegant, clean quality that pure woody synthetics lack.

ADVANCED TIP: Blend Javanol with a small amount of natural sandalwood oil at roughly a 1:3 ratio. The synthetic provides power and longevity while the natural oil softens any sharpness, producing a sandalwood accord that smells richer and more authentic than either material alone.

Physical State : Liquid

Skin Safety : Use diluted; follow IFRA limits

Eye Contact : Avoid; rinse thoroughly if exposed

Ingestion : Do not ingest; keep away from children

Ventilation : Use in well-ventilated area

Storage : Cool, dark place, tightly sealed

Shelf Life : 24+ months when stored properly

Container : Glass or HDPE, away from light

Flammability : Combustible; keep from heat and flame

Q: What does Javanol smell like?

A: It is a creamy, natural sandalwood with a soft rosy lift. Warm, woody, and milky rather than dry.

Q: How much Javanol should I use?

A: Use it in traces, usually below 0.1% of the final formula. Always dilute to 10% first.

Q: Why is Javanol so expensive?

A: It is an extremely powerful, complex Givaudan molecule, but trace dosing makes it economical per use.

Q: Can I use Javanol in attars and mukhallat?

A: Yes. Its creamy-rosy sandalwood works beautifully with oud, rose, and amber in oriental oil blends.

Q: How does Javanol compare to natural sandalwood oil?

A: Javanol is more powerful, longer-lasting, and far more stable, while natural oil is softer and more complex. Many perfumers blend both.

Professional formulation workflow

Javanol Givaudan should be evaluated in a controlled small batch before production. Confirm the supplied grade, active concentration and recommended application range from the current supplier documentation. Weigh accurately instead of measuring by drops, record every adjustment, and compare the modified trial against an unchanged control.

Compatibility and quality checks

Test the ingredient in the actual alcohol, oil, surfactant, emulsion or wax base intended for sale. Observe clarity, separation, color, odor and performance immediately after mixing and again after a suitable resting period. A material that looks stable in a concentrate can behave differently in the finished formulation.

Scale-up and safety

Convert percentages into exact batch weights and verify the final consumer-product concentration before scaling. Follow the latest applicable IFRA, cosmetic, chemical and supplier safety documentation for the intended category. Use appropriate protective equipment, ventilation and clearly labeled containers, and retain a sample from every approved batch for quality comparison.