Black Agar Givco 215/2 (Givaudan) | Oud Base

Black Agar Givco 215/2 – Givaudan

Black Agar Givco 215/2 does not build a wood accord – it delivers the finished picture of burning agarwood. Smoky, resinous, amber-warm, with a depth that otherwise can only be laboriously assembled from many individual materials.

Odour Profile

• Woody-ambery with a pronounced olibanum character
• Balsamic, resinous, slightly smoky
• Warm, oriental depth without animalic heaviness
• Amber-coloured to amber-brown, viscous

Role in the Formula

Black Agar Givco 215/2 is a ready-made oud reconstruction base from Givaudan – not a single substance but a blend for which the manufacturer lists 22 components by name.

The core is formed by two materials in equal proportions: Oxyoctaline Formate (10–20%) and dihydro-beta-ionone (10–20%). These are followed by Okoumal (5–10%), acetyl cedrene of the Vertofix Coeur type (5–10%) and a hydrogenated rosin methyl ester as fixative (5–10%), then Georgywood (2.5–5%) and genuine elemi oil (2.5–5%). Smaller proportions include, among others, Patchoulol, Ebanol™ and Velvione™ – three materials we also stock individually, as we do Oxyoctaline Formate.

The olibanum character of the base can thus be traced back to its largest single material: Givaudan itself describes Oxyoctaline Formate as an odorant that brings "an interesting olibanum effect".

Use in Perfumery

Black Agar Givco 215/2 is suited to oriental compositions, contemporary chypres, woody-ambery accords and classic oud interpretations. It works across the entire evaporation curve – from top to base note – and is particularly effective in men's fragrances and in incense (agarbatti).

Practical Note: Dissolving, Storing, Combining

Dissolving: Practically insoluble in water. As a liquid concentrate it mixes well with ethanol and common perfumery solvents.

Storing: Store at 10–30 °C in a dry, well-ventilated place, preferably in full and tightly closed containers. Protect from light.

Combining: Blends well with patchouli, amyris, cedarwood, labdanum, frankincense and guaiac wood – the very natural materials found in the base's own formula.

Agarwood and CITES

The manufacturer's data (Givaudan) list neither agarwood oil nor an agarwood extract. Black Agar Givco 215/2 is a reconstruction from synthetic and nature-identical odorants plus a few genuine natural materials (elemi oil).

This matters because all species of the genera Aquilaria and Gyrinops have been listed in Appendix II since the 2004 CITES Conference of the Parties. The annotation exempts seeds, pollen, fruits, leaves, exhausted powder and finished products packaged for retail – agarwood oil is not exempt and therefore requires a permit. In the EU, Aquilaria is additionally listed in Annex B of Regulation (EC) No 338/97, which requires an import permit from the country of destination in addition to the export permit.

Safety Information

Under CLP, Black Agar Givco 215/2 is classified as a skin sensitiser and hazardous to the aquatic environment: Skin Sens. 1, H317 (may cause an allergic skin reaction) and Aquatic Acute 1 / Aquatic Chronic 1, H400 / H410 (very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects), signal word "Warning". In Germany this corresponds to water hazard class 3 (severely hazardous to water) – a stricter classification than most other materials in our range. Transport: UN 3082, class 9, packing group III, marine pollutant.

Acute toxicity is in the low-concern range (oral acute toxicity estimate above 2,000 mg/kg). The flash point is 104 °C. The usual precautions for handling concentrated odorants apply – wear protective gloves and eye protection when working with open containers.

Fragrance Allergens Requiring Declaration

As a blend, Black Agar Givco 215/2 contains several substances that must be declared individually in the finished product under Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 – in addition to the term "Parfum". The relevant thresholds are 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.

The last four entries were only added by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, which extended the annex by 56 further allergens. The deadline for placing on the market non-compliant finished products expired on 31 July 2026; products already placed on the market may still be made available until 31 July 2028. Which of these substances must appear on your label depends on your use concentration.

Physico-Chemical Properties

FAQ

Is Black Agar Givco 215/2 real agarwood (oud)?
No. It is a reconstruction by Givaudan that recreates the character of genuine agarwood. No agarwood oil and no agarwood extract are listed in the manufacturer's data.

What does Black Agar have to do with Oxyoctaline Formate and Ebanol™?
At 10–20%, Oxyoctaline Formate is one of the two largest components; Ebanol™ is present in a smaller proportion. If you already know both materials, Black Agar gives you a ready-composed development of how they work together.

What is Black Agar Givco 215/2 typically used for?
For oriental and woody-ambery compositions, contemporary chypres, and in men's fragrances and incense.

Hazard Statements (CLP Labelling)

Important Notice

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.

Black Agar Givco 215/2 – origin, application and role in the formula →

See also: Building an oud accord: Black Agar, Oxyoctaline, Ebanol & Labdanum · Kodo – Black Agar and the Japanese way of incense (in Japanese). Pairs well with: Oxyoctaline Formate.