Givaudan
Ambermax™ 50% in Dowanol TPM (Givaudan) | Perfumery Raw Material
Ambermax™ 50% in Dowanol TPM (Givaudan) | Perfumery Raw Material
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Ambermax™ – Amber-Woody Molecule by Givaudan
50% in Dowanol TPM | Perfumery Raw Material
Not every formula is convincing because it contains many aroma materials. Often something else is decisive: structure.
A composition can consist of high-quality raw materials and still feel unfinished. Accords blur into one another, base notes lose contour, the drydown lacks a clear direction. It is precisely for such tasks that Ambermax™ is used.
Givaudan describes Ambermax™ as the most powerful and efficient dry amber note ever developed. Even at very low dosages the material can make woody and ambered structures appear clearer.
The role of Ambermax™ in the formula
Ambermax™ is not a material that fills a composition with sweetness or body. Its strength lies elsewhere: it organizes. Woody notes gain contour, amber accords feel more compact, the drydown gets a clear direction instead of drifting diffusely.
Perfumers use Ambermax™ where a formula should feel finished – as the final building block that brings structure and stability to a complex composition. This effect is especially evident in the later phases of the scent's development, when other materials lose intensity and Ambermax™ carries the base.
A key advantage: substantivity on fabric. Givaudan emphasizes that Ambermax™ outperforms all comparison values on dry fabric in laundry-care tests – one reason it is considered a key building block for fabric-care formulations, and it works equally well in fine fragrance, body care and skin-scent compositions.
Odor profile of Ambermax™
In its odor character, Ambermax™ shows a dry woody-ambered signature with cedarwood facets, mineral warmth and pronounced persistence. The material recalls sun-warmed wood, dry air and the stability of a long-lasting woody base. According to Givaudan, the odor threshold is 0.0585 ng/L – Ambermax™ is thus perceptible even in the finest traces.
Ambermax™ is perceived as:
- dry woody amber
- warm cedarwood facets
- compact woody-amber structure
- dry mineral warmth
- defined drydown
- long-lasting woody presence
- structured amber base
- deep woody signature
What is Ambermax™ used for in perfumery?
Ambermax™ serves to construct amber and woody-amber accords, to reinforce the drydown, and to improve diffusion and projection. It is suited to building dry amber structures, supports woody base notes and increases the depth and volume of a composition.
Ambermax™ is used in amber and woody-amber compositions, woody base accords, cedarwood-oriented scent structures, skin-scent compositions, body care, deodorants, shampoo, hair care, soaps and laundry-care products.
Givaudan recommends Ambermax™ in combination with other materials of the same family – one example from official documentation: 30% Ambermax™ 50%/Dowanol TPM with 70% Kephalis yields a cistus note with pine, earthy and fruity facets. In traces it also develops synergy with other amber materials such as Ambrofix™, to which it lends additional lift.
A Givaudan exclusivity
For years Ambermax™ was a captive molecule of Givaudan – reserved exclusively for the company's own perfumers since the trademark filing in 2008, before it later became available through regular trade.
Like numerous other amber materials, Ambermax™ too arose from the search for effective alternatives to natural ambergris. Chemically it is a molecule in its own right, not just another Ambroxan variant.
50% solution in Dowanol TPM
Ambermax™ is offered by Givaudan as a 50% solution in Dowanol TPM. This form makes dosing within fragrance formulas easier and allows more precise handling of a material that is already perceptible in very small amounts. Givaudan also offers a 10% dilution in triethyl citrate (TEC).
Note: With cool storage or transport in winter the material can crystallize. Gentle warming in a water bath (max. 30–40 °C) usually dissolves the crystals again without problems.
Safety information
Ambermax™ 50%/Dowanol TPM is – unlike most materials in our range – classified as a hazardous mixture under the CLP Regulation (signal word "Warning," H332, H315, H317, H410) and classified as WGK 3 in Germany. When handling, protective gloves and adequate ventilation should be used; the material should not enter waterways or drains. Full details in the table below and in the safety data sheet.
Physico-chemical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Givaudan |
| Product name | Ambermax™ 50% in Dowanol TPM |
| Fragrance family | ambery / woody / cedarwood |
| Perfumery role | base note, structural material, drydown enhancer |
| Material form | colorless to pale-yellow liquid, may crystallize |
| Molecular formula | C₁₈H₃₀O |
| Molecular weight | 262.4 g/mol |
| Density at 20°C | 979.2 kg/m³ |
| Flash point | 121°C |
| Vapor pressure | 0.0136 hPa at 20°C |
| Odor threshold | 0.0585 ng/L |
| Log Pow | 6.3 |
| Solubility | insoluble (qualitative) |
| Storage | 10–30°C, dry, protected from light, tightly closed |
| CAS no. | 929625-08-1 / 1001252-30-7 |
| EC no. | 482-030-8 |
| REACH registration number | 01-0000020145-80 |
| Hazard classification | Warning – H332, H315, H317, H410 |
| Biodegradability | not readily biodegradable (1% after 28 days, OECD 301F) |
| Water hazard class (WGK) | 3 (highly hazardous to water) |
| Transport | UN 3082, Class 9, Packing Group III |
Frequently asked questions
What is Ambermax™?
Ambermax™ is an amber-woody molecule developed by Givaudan with a dry, woody-ambered character. Givaudan describes it as one of the most powerful and efficient dry amber notes of all.
What is Ambermax™ most often used for?
For structuring amber and woody accords and for extending and clarifying the drydown. It brings contour to compositions that might otherwise feel diffuse.
Is Ambermax™ an Ambroxan variant?
No. Ambermax™ is chemically a molecule in its own right, even though, like Ambroxan, it belongs to the family of amber materials.
What does Ambermax™ combine well with?
Givaudan recommends combining it with Kephalis (30% Ambermax™ / 70% Kephalis) for a cistus note. Combining it with other amber materials such as Ambrofix™ is also common practice.
What should I keep in mind when handling it?
Ambermax™ 50%/Dowanol TPM is classified as a hazardous mixture (H332, H315, H317, H410). Protective gloves and adequate ventilation are recommended; the material must not enter waterways. Details in the safety information above.
Hazard Information (CLP Labelling)
Signal word: Warning
Hazard statements (H):
H332 – Harmful if inhaled.
H315 – Causes skin irritation.
H317 – May cause an allergic skin reaction.
H410 – Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Precautionary statements (P):
P261 – Avoid breathing vapour/spray.
P264 – Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
P271 – Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
P272 – Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
P273 – Avoid release to the environment.
P280 – Wear protective gloves/eye protection.
P302+P352 – IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water.
P304+P340 – IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
P333+P313 – If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
P391 – Collect spillage.
P501 – Dispose of contents/container in accordance with local regulations.
Mixture: Ambermax™ 50% in Dowanol TPM. The relevant CLP hazard-labelling elements (pictograms, signal word, H and P statements) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), as amended, are reproduced here in full. The legally binding labelling appears on the packaging.
Related materials
Complementary to Ambermax™, further dry amber and woody-amber materials from our range: Ambrofix™ – Ambroxan (Givaudan), Cetalor (IFF) – Ambergris-type molecule and Oxyoctaline Formate (Givaudan).
Important note
This product is a perfumery raw material intended exclusively for fragrance development, creative experimentation, education and the study of perfumery materials.
It is not a finished cosmetic product.
Please use responsibly and observe the safety information.
