Kephalis Givaudan

✦ Givaudan specialty aroma chemical with a rich woody-amber-tobacco profile

✦ Powerful long-lasting heart-to-base note for depth and structure

✦ Adds substantivity, diffusion, and longevity to compositions

✦ Carries refined agarwood (oud) nuances ideal for oriental work

✦ Blends with florals, woods, leather, amber, and tobacco accords

✦ Excellent fixative for fine fragrance and attar blending

✦ Vegan and cruelty-free synthetic material

Kephalis is a captive-style woody amber molecule developed by Givaudan, one of the world's leading fragrance houses. It belongs to the modern family of woody-ambery aroma chemicals created to give perfumers reliable, long-lasting base structure without the cost or restrictions of natural woods.

What makes Kephalis special is its rich, multi-faceted character. It is not a flat woody note — it carries warm amber depth, a smooth dry tobacco edge, and refined agarwood nuances that make it invaluable in oud, oriental, and masculine creations. It boosts diffusion and tenacity while staying balanced and elegant in a blend.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade Kephalis suitable for fine fragrance, attar and mukhallat blending, woody amber accords, and oriental perfumery for both hobbyists and professional formulators.

SCENT DESCRIPTION: Kephalis opens with a dry, refined woody character that quickly reveals warmth and presence. Deep ambery tones emerge alongside a smooth tobacco-like richness that never feels heavy. Subtle agarwood and dried-wood nuances give it an oriental, oud-leaning depth. The overall impression is confident, warm, modern, and long-lasting.

NOTE POSITION: Mid-Base

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: Woody · Amber · Oriental

FACETS: Woody · Ambery · Tobacco · Dry · Agarwood

TENACITY: Very High — 24+ hours on blotter

SILLAGE: Medium to High — diffusive yet smooth

Chemical Name : 4-(1-Ethoxyvinyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexanone

CAS Number : 36306-87-3

Synonyms : Kephalis, Woody Cyclohexanone

Purity % : verify with supplier CoA

Appearance : Pale yellow liquid

Odor Threshold : Low (medium odor strength)

Solubility : Soluble in alcohol and oils; insoluble in water

Specific Gravity: verify with supplier CoA

Flash Point : verify with supplier CoA

Type : Synthetic

Fine Fragrance ★★★★★

Excellent as a woody amber base and fixative. Adds depth, longevity, and a refined tobacco-agarwood richness to niche and designer-style creations.

Attar & Oriental Blending ★★★★★

A natural fit for oud, amber, and mukhallat work. Its agarwood nuance reinforces dehn al oud and bakhoor-style accords beautifully.

Functional Fragrance ★★★★☆

Performs well as a substantive woody note in soaps and personal care, with good tenacity across many bases. Confirm stability per application.

Cosmetics ★★★★☆

Suitable as a fragrance component in cosmetic formulations at safe usage levels. Always follow IFRA guidance for skin-contact products.

Home Fragrance ★★★★☆

Adds long-lasting warmth and diffusion to candles and diffusers. Test for discoloration in light-coloured wax and bases.

Typical usage rates (of neat material):

EDP : 1.0 – 5.0%

EDT : 0.5 – 3.0%

Body Lotion : 0.2 – 1.0%

Shampoo/Body Wash: 0.2 – 1.0%

Candle : 1.0 – 4.0%

Reed Diffuser : 1.0 – 5.0%

Soap : 0.5 – 2.0%

IFRA 51st Amendment:

✦ Verify current category limits at ifrafragrance.org before finalizing skin-contact products

✦ IFRA compliance is voluntary in Pakistan but recommended for Gulf export markets

⚠️ Always confirm restriction status against the latest IFRA standard and supplier documentation

Method 1 — Base fixative: Add at 1–3% to anchor woody, amber, and oriental compositions and extend longevity.

Method 2 — Oud reinforcement: Pair with oud and woody accords to deepen agarwood character in mukhallat and attar blends.

Method 3 — Floral lift: Use small amounts under florals to add warmth and a dry woody backbone without flattening the top.

BEST PAIRINGS

Jasmine → Adds warmth and woody depth beneath the florals

Rose → Builds a rich rose-oud oriental structure

Oud / Agarwood → Reinforces and extends natural agarwood character

Amber accord → Deepens warmth and substantivity

Lavender → Grounds the aromatic into a masculine woody base

Tobacco note → Enhances dry, smooth tobacco richness

AVOID

✦ Overdosing in delicate citrus or fresh top-note structures, where it can dominate

To me, Kephalis is one of those quiet workhorses that holds a woody amber accord together. It gives that dry, warm, slightly tobacco-and-oud feeling that makes a base smell expensive and complete, without shouting over the other materials. It is reliable, diffusive, and remarkably long-lasting on skin.

ADVANCED TIP: Build a woody amber module by combining Kephalis with a cedar or Iso E-style woody and a touch of amber base at roughly 3:2:1, pre-blend it, then drop it into the formula as a single accord — this gives a smoother, more rounded base than dosing each material separately.

Physical State : Liquid (pale yellow)

Skin Safety : Use within IFRA limits; do not apply neat

Eye Contact : Avoid; flush with water if exposed

Ingestion : Not for ingestion; keep away from food

Ventilation : Use in a well-ventilated area

Storage : Cool, dark place, tightly sealed

Shelf Life : 24+ months when stored correctly

Container : Amber glass or HDPE; avoid prolonged light

Flammability : Combustible; keep from heat and flame

Q: What does Kephalis smell like?

A: Rich, warm woody-amber with a smooth tobacco edge and subtle agarwood nuances. It is dry, elegant, and long-lasting.

Q: Where in a fragrance do I use Kephalis?

A: It works as a heart-to-base note and fixative. Use it to add depth, warmth, and longevity to woody, amber, and oriental blends.

Q: What is a good starting dose?

A: Begin around 1–3% in fine fragrance and adjust to taste. A little goes a long way in florals.

Q: Is Kephalis vegan?

A: Yes. It is a synthetic aroma chemical and contains no animal-derived materials.

Q: How does Kephalis compare to natural oud?

A: Kephalis is a single synthetic molecule with an oud-like agarwood nuance, while natural oud is a complex, costly, and CITES-sensitive oil. Kephalis is a consistent, affordable way to add woody-amber depth and reinforce real oud accords.

Professional formulation workflow

Kephalis 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.