Exaltolide® Total (dsm-firmenich) | Cyclopentadecanolide

Exaltolide® Total – dsm-firmenich

Exaltolide® Total (product code 935985) is a quality of the musk lactone cyclopentadecanolide – one of the macrocyclic musk molecules that were found in nature and developed for perfumery in the 1930s/40s. A solid lasting around two weeks on the blotter.

Odour profile

• Official descriptors: Musky, Powdery, Woody
• According to the manufacturer, with a "particularly sensual effect on the skin"
• Note position: heart and base note
• Substantivity on blotter: approx. 2 weeks (tenacity 10 on the manufacturer's scale)
• White to pale yellow solid (independent source, JECFA), melting point 52–53 °C

Role in the formula

"Exaltolide® Total gives depth and roundness to a wide range of creations. It creates synergy in the bouquet of a perfume and has a particularly sensual effect on the skin." (Manufacturer statement, translated.) As a base musk lactone it rounds off compositions and lasts for weeks.

Other macrocyclic musks in our shop: Velvione®, Silvanone® Supra, Habanolide® and Globalide®. For an alicyclic musk, see Helvetolide®.

Use in perfumery

• Fine fragrance: avg. 1.86 %, up to max. 7.36 % (manufacturer data)
• Shampoo: avg. 1.5 %, up to 6.3 % · Shower gel and soap: avg. 0.9 %, up to 5.9 % (high substantivity ratings)
• Detergent: avg. 1.5 %, up to 9.3 % · Fabric softener: avg. 3.1 %, up to 12.8 %
• All-purpose cleaner: avg. 0.13 %, up to 1.2 % · Candles: avg. 0.75 %, up to 3.5 %

Practical note: dissolving, storing, combining

Dissolving: Exaltolide Total is a solid (melting point 52–53 °C). For formula work, the easiest way is a 10 % solution in ethanol or DPG; gentle warming in a water bath speeds up dissolving.

Storage: Store cool, dry, protected from light and tightly closed.

Combining: The manufacturer names synergy across the whole bouquet – Exaltolide Total rounds other materials rather than covering them. For layered musk bases, combine it with the macrocyclic musks in our shop.

The house of musk

dsm-firmenich has worked on musk for over 90 years – since a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1939 – and calls itself the "House of Musk". Exaltolide belongs to the group of macrocyclic musk compounds that were found in nature and developed in the 1930s/40s. A second group was developed later in the Firmenich laboratories: Habanolide from the late 1980s (patent 1989), Muscenone in the early 1990s (patent 1992).

More on our encyclopedia page Exaltolide® Total – musk from the ring.

Safety information

According to the manufacturer's data (dsm-firmenich), cyclopentadecanolide is classified with pictograms GHS07 and GHS09 and signal word "Warning": H411 (toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects) and H317 (may cause an allergic skin reaction).

IFRA: Restriction Standard "Cyclopentadecanolide" (49th Amendment, restriction due to dermal sensitisation and systemic toxicity); maximum level in Category 4 (fine fragrance): 2.4 %; the current IFRA Standard is authoritative. According to the manufacturer the material is readily biodegradable, with a Green Score of 70–100 %.

Physico-Chemical Properties

FAQ

What is Exaltolide Total?
A quality of the musk lactone cyclopentadecanolide (CAS 106-02-5) from dsm-firmenich: a fine, powdery-woody musk in solid form, lasting about two weeks on the blotter.

How should Exaltolide Total be dosed?
For fine fragrance the manufacturer states an average of 1.86 % and a maximum of 7.36 %. In addition, the current IFRA Standard applies to the finished product. As a solid, it is best handled as a 10 % solution in ethanol or DPG.

Are there IFRA restrictions?
Yes. Restriction Standard "Cyclopentadecanolide" (49th Amendment); maximum level in Category 4 (fine fragrance): 2.4 % in the finished product; the current IFRA Standard is authoritative.

Is Exaltolide Total biodegradable?
Yes, according to the manufacturer it is readily biodegradable, with a Green Score of 70–100 %.

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.