Javanol™ (Givaudan)

Javanol™ – Givaudan

Javanol™ is the most powerful sandalwood molecule perfumery currently knows. What other sandalwood synthetics achieve through dosage, Javanol™ achieves through quality: it does not merely smell of sandalwood, it smells of what one actually looks for in sandalwood – creamy, milky, warm, with a rosy facet no other material in this group possesses.

Odour character

• Woody, sandalwood, creamy, rosy, powerful (official sensory profile)
• Rich, natural sandalwood note of the β-santalol type combined with rosy nuances (manufacturer description)
• The rosy facet fades first – what remains is milky warmth
• Tenacity on blotter: over one month
• Odour threshold 0.02 ng/l – the lowest published value in the entire sandalwood group

Role in the formula

Javanol™ is the latest generation of sandalwood molecules, developed by Jerzy A. Bajgrowicz and Georg Fráter in the research laboratories of Givaudan-Roure in Switzerland; the patent priority dates from April 1996, the European application EP 0 801 049 was filed on 29 March 1997 and the US equivalent US 5,929,291 was granted on 27 July 1999. Chemically it is a cyclopropyl alcohol – the complete absence of double bonds explains its unusual stability.

According to the manufacturer, Javanol™ is roughly eight times more effective in wash tests than the most powerful competing sandalwood product. In practice this means it works simultaneously as a sandalwood note and as a radiant fixative, carrying musky, floral and spicy accords without covering them.

Use in perfumery

The use level ranges from traces to 2% in the concentrate. Below 0.1% Javanol™ already brings richness and creaminess to almost any accord – a dosage window well below that of most other sandalwood materials.

Documented synergy: 20% Javanol™ with 80% Nectaryl gives the impression of a pencil freshly sharpened at school, with surprising inflections of peach and patchouli.

Stability by application base (manufacturer data):

Further sandalwood materials: for the warm, sweet side of sandalwood we offer Sandalore™.

Practical notes: dissolving, storing, combining

Dissolving: practically insoluble in water (3.8 mg/l at 20 °C), with a log Pow of 4.5 readily soluble in alcoholic and oily carriers. Distinctly viscous (67.2 mPa·s at 20 °C).

Crystallisation – please note: Javanol™ may crystallise or turn cloudy when stored cool. This is not a quality defect and affects neither odour nor performance. Before use, warm the container to around 40 °C and mix thoroughly once until the liquid is clear again.

Storing: store warm at around 40 °C, dry and well ventilated, protected from light. Keep containers preferably full and hermetically sealed. Shelf life 24 months from manufacture.

Combining: proven in sandalwood accords, as a fixative in white-floral and musk compositions, and in spicy woody notes. Because of the low threshold, always prepare a dilution first.

Safety information

Under the current classification according to CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Javanol™ is classified as hazardous to the aquatic environment (Aquatic Acute 1, H400 – very toxic to aquatic life; Aquatic Chronic 1, H410 – very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects), signal word "Warning".

For human health the values are in the harmless range: oral LD50 in the rat is above 2,000 mg/kg, dermal LD50 likewise above 2,000 mg/kg (both OECD-tested under GLP). Not classified: acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, skin and respiratory sensitisation, germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity and STOT. Not a PBT or vPvB substance, not assessed as an endocrine disruptor.

Ecotoxicological data: LC50 (fish) = 1.02 mg/l, EC50 (Daphnia magna) = 0.38 mg/l, EC50 (algae, 72 h) = 0.33 mg/l, chronic NOEC (Danio rerio, 30 d) = 0.055 mg/l. The substance is not rapidly degradable. The flash point is 136 °C (Pensky-Martens closed cup) and the auto-ignition temperature 255 °C – non-flammable in the sense of fire safety regulations. For transport: UN 3082, class 9, packing group III, classified as a marine pollutant.

Please consistently prevent residues or rinse water from entering the sewer system.

Physico-Chemical Properties

FAQ

Why is my Javanol™ cloudy or crystalline?
Javanol™ tends to crystallise when stored cool. This is normal and not a quality defect. Warm the container to around 40 °C and mix once – the material will then be clear again and unchanged in performance.

What dosage should be used?
Traces to 2% in the concentrate. The effect is already clear below 0.1% – because of the extremely low odour threshold, always prepare a dilution first.

What is the difference between Javanol™ and Sandalore™?
Javanol™ is considerably more powerful and has a characteristic rosy facet; Sandalore™ emphasises the warm, sweet side of sandalwood and is used at much higher concentrations (0.5–10%).

Is Javanol™ biodegradable?
No. According to test data the substance is not rapidly degradable and is toxic to aquatic life. Residues and rinse water must not enter the sewer system.

In which applications is Javanol™ unsuitable?
In liquid bleach (pH 11). In all other tested bases – from fabric conditioner through shampoo to powder detergent – it shows very good stability.

Hazard information (CLP labelling)

Important note

This product is a perfumery raw material and is intended exclusively for fragrance development, creative experimentation, training and the study of perfumery materials. It is not a finished cosmetic product. Please use responsibly.

Javanol™ – origin, science and application →