Silvanone Supra – Dosage-Dependent Musk
Silvanone Supra by Givaudan – The Complete Reference
The most important question with this material is not "what does it smell like," but "at what dosage." Silvanone Supra changes its character with concentration more than most other musk materials – and this is exactly what makes it one of the most versatile tools in this fragrance family.
Contents
- What is Silvanone Supra?
- What does it smell like at different dosages?
- Role in the formula – concrete applications
- Origin – Exaltone and the musk family
- Quick reference: chemistry and safety
- Further questions
1. What is Silvanone Supra?
Silvanone Supra is not a single substance, but a mixture of two macrocyclic musk compounds – cyclopentadecanone and hexadecanolide – dissolved in isopropyl myristate. Cyclopentadecanone is also known in the field under the name "Exaltone" (originally a Firmenich brand for the same compound), while hexadecanolide is chemically related to Ambrettolide, which is already available individually in our range.
2. What does it smell like at different dosages?
Experienced users describe a clear difference between high and low dosage:
- At around 10%: less "dirty," more nuanced, slightly metallic – closer to related materials such as muscone or Exaltolide.
- At around 1% or more finely diluted: the most elegant dosage. All facets come out – powdery, slightly metallic (with a certain closeness to Exaltolide), while still preserving a fine animalic depth.
This dosage dependency is the practical core of the material: anyone testing only at high concentration misses the finer, powdery nuances that only become visible in dilution.
3. Role in the formula – concrete applications
According to the manufacturer, Silvanone Supra can be used in practically all application areas and gives compositions full body and longevity. The official usage range goes up to 20% – a considerably broader window than with most musk materials.
Proven fields of application:
- Heavy, demanding white-flower compositions
- Spicy carnation accords and related clove nuances
- Oriental directions
- Woody-ambery structures
Documented practice: Givaudan itself publishes official teaching formulas in which Silvanone Supra appears – including a classic men's cologne structure (together with tonka bean resinoid, elemi resin and ethylene brassylate), as well as compositions in the aldehyde-cyclamen and galbanum range. The aroma chemist and evaluator Matvey Yudov also identified the material as a component of "Aether Methaldone" (created by Rodrigo Flores-Roux, a senior perfumer at Givaudan) – there in the exact ratio of 62% hexadecanolide to 38% cyclopentadecanone, precisely the composition that also characterizes our material.
4. Origin – Exaltone and the musk family
One of the two core components, cyclopentadecanone, is not a new Givaudan development, but a compound established for decades that is also marketed by Firmenich under the name Exaltone. Silvanone Supra deliberately combines this classic, animalic-fatty musk note with hexadecanolide – a more powdery, "clean" musk compound – to achieve a balanced character that seems neither purely animalic nor purely powdery-white, but offers both facets at the same time.
5. Quick reference: chemistry and safety
You will find the complete physico-chemical data as well as the safety information on the product page. In summary: a mixture of two macrocyclic musk compounds by Givaudan, classified as hazardous to water (H400/H410), but without classification for skin or eye irritation. Under IFRA (51st Amendment), the material is not restricted.
Frequently asked questions about Silvanone Supra
Is Silvanone Supra the same as Exaltone?
Not quite. Exaltone is Firmenich's brand name for cyclopentadecanone – one of the two components of Silvanone Supra. Silvanone Supra itself is the combination of cyclopentadecanone and hexadecanolide.
What dosage should be used?
Givaudan states an official usage range of up to 20%. In practice, however, the character changes clearly with concentration – lower dosages (around 1%) show the finest, most powdery facets, higher dosages (around 10%) seem more nuanced and metallic.
What does Silvanone Supra combine well with?
Woody and ambery notes as well as white-flower, carnation and oriental accords have proven their worth. Within our own range, the combination with Ambrettolide or Velvione is a good option.
Is Silvanone Supra restricted by IFRA?
No, according to the current 51st Amendment of the IFRA Standards, the material is not restricted.