Galaxolide 50% in DPG – HHCB | Perfumery Raw Material

Galaxolide® 50% in DPG

HHCB musk for professional perfumery

Galaxolide is the musk that most people know – without knowing that it is.

HHCB (hexamethylindanopyran) is behind a large share of commercial perfumery: from luxury brands to detergents, from niche to mainstream. A raw material that lends compositions warmth, volume and exceptional tenacity – even at extreme dosages of over 40% it lets all other ingredients show through.

This product is a ready-to-use 50% solution in DPG (dipropylene glycol) – ideal for direct use in fragrance formulas without additional dissolving.

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Odor character

Galaxolide is perceived as:

• clean, powerful musk
• slightly floral, woody nuances
• soft powdery depth
• an exceptionally long drydown – over 48 hours on the blotter
• transparent effect at any concentration

Galaxolide does not feel heavy. Even at high concentrations it stays transparent – which makes it one of the most versatile musk raw materials of all.

The scent is clean, sweet, slightly floral-woody. No animalic character, no dirty musk. Exactly what most people understand by "musk."

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Use in perfumery

Galaxolide is one of the few materials that works simultaneously as a main accord and as an invisible fixative. It is suited to soft musk and white-musk accords, lends tenacity and substantivity, provides bloom and volume in almost any accord type, and rounds compositions off harmoniously.

Typical applications: skin-scent and clean-musk effects, floral, woody and oriental bases, body care, shampoo, detergents and fabric softeners. It blends easily with other musk types and reinforces their projection – especially in combination with Ambroxan and ISO E Super.

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Why 50% in DPG?

Pure Galaxolide is a highly viscous, almost solid mass at room temperature. Weighing it out of the original container is barely possible in practice – the material can neither be dosed cleanly nor incorporated evenly into a formula.

For this reason, the 50% solution in DPG (dipropylene glycol) has become the industry standard. It turns a barely manageable mass into a clear, free-flowing liquid that can be measured precisely and used directly – without separate warming or dissolving before each use.

The dilution factor is known and constant: 1 g of the 50% solution corresponds to 0.5 g of pure HHCB. This makes formulas reproducible and dosages traceable – an advantage that matters especially in repeated test series.

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Regulatory note

Galaxolide (HHCB, CAS 1222-05-5) is not subject to any quantity restriction under the IFRA 51st Amendment. However, it is classified as a declarable allergen under EU Regulation 2023/1545: labeling is required from 0.001% in leave-on products and from 0.01% in rinse-off products.

A CLH classification (Repr. 1B) is currently under review at ECHA; the public consultation ended in March 2025 and industry has submitted objections. The outcome is open. Check current IFRA Standards and EU regulations before use in commercial products.

Galaxolide is considered not fully biodegradable and is under observation regarding its bioaccumulation potential in aquatic organisms (BCF 600–1,600, log Kow ≈ 5.5). Do not allow to enter waterways or drains.

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Physico-chemical properties

Property	Value
Product name	Galaxolide 50% in DPG
Active ingredient	HHCB (hexamethylindanopyran)
INCI name	Hexamethylindanopyran
Concentration	50% HHCB in dipropylene glycol (DPG)
Fragrance family	musk / white musk / powdery / floral
Perfumery role	base note, fixative, musk structural material
Material form	clear, slightly viscous, colorless to nearly colorless liquid
Molecular formula	C₁₈H₂₆O
Molecular weight	258.4 g/mol
Density at 20°C	1.002–1.012 g/ml
Refractive index nD20	1.4940–1.5040
Flash point	105°C
Vapor pressure	0.014 kPa (calculated)
Solubility	partially water-soluble; soluble in ethanol
Special note	may solidify at low temperatures
Storage	cool, dry, protected from light, tightly closed
Shelf life	24 months (quality check recommended thereafter)
CAS no.	1222-05-5
EINECS	214-946-9
Customs tariff no.	3302 90 00 00
IFRA status	no quantity restriction; declarable allergen from 0.001% (leave-on) / 0.01% (rinse-off)

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Frequently asked questions

What is Galaxolide?
Galaxolide (HHCB) is a synthetic polycyclic musk and one of the most widely used aroma materials in the world – clean, soft, transparent at almost any concentration.

Why is Galaxolide only available as a 50% solution?
Pure Galaxolide is a highly viscous, almost solid mass and barely dosable directly in practice. The 50% solution in DPG turns it into a clear, precisely measurable liquid with a constant dilution factor.

Are there IFRA restrictions for Galaxolide?
Galaxolide is not subject to any quantity IFRA restriction, but it is classified as a declarable allergen (from 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products).

How long does the scent of Galaxolide last?
Exceptionally long – on the blotter, Galaxolide remains perceptible for over 48 hours.

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Hazard Information (CLP Labelling)

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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.