Solvents & Carriers

Buy solvents and carriers for perfume

Materials in which a composition is prepared and diluted. They have little or no odour of their own.

  • Glucam P-20: propoxylated methyl glucose ether. Odourless, non-volatile. Slows the evaporation of top notes and softens the alcohol burst.
  • IPM 99% (isopropyl myristate): clear, practically odourless, low-viscosity, non-volatile carrier oil. Suitable for oil perfumes and roll-ons.

Glucam P-20 or IPM?

The two do different jobs. Glucam P-20 is an additive to the alcoholic solution: it holds the top notes longer and makes the application softer. IPM replaces the alcohol entirely – as the base for oil perfumes and roll-ons. Both come in 20, 100 and 300 ml; IPM from €12, Glucam P-20 from €25.

Frequently asked questions

Is Glucam P-20 a fixative?

It slows evaporation but has no odour of its own. The difference between fixative and solvent is explained in the article Fixative or solvent?

Do solid materials such as Ambroxan dissolve in IPM?

Check solubility on a small scale before preparing a batch. Notes on Ambroxan are in Ambroxan in detail.

Related collections: Perfumery Raw Materials and Fragrance Accords.