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Alpha-Ionone

Q: Is Alpha-Ionone natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Produced synthetically. Also found naturally in boronia absolute and orris butter..

FLOWERS / floral · violet · sweet

Alpha-Ionone

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · violet · sweet
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic molecule (naturally found in Boronia megastigma, Osmanthus fragrans)
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Producing Countries	N/A — synthetic (manufactured globally)
Pyramid	Heart

Lighter, fruitier, more floral than beta-ionone. Alpha-ionone (CAS 127-41-3) has violet-raspberry character: sweeter and more delicate than its beta isomer.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Light, sweet, violet-raspberry. Fresher and more fruity than beta-ionone. Like smelling a violet from six inches (alpha) versus pressing it to your nose (beta).

Evolution over time

Immediately

Light violet-raspberry sweetness

After a few hours

Delicate fruity-floral heart

After a few days

Soft sweet-violet trace, less persistent than beta

The Full Story

Alpha-ionone (CAS 127-41-3) is the structural isomer of beta-ionone. Lighter, sweeter, more fruity, less woody. Has raspberry-violet character.

Less persistent than beta, provides brighter, more transparent violet. Found naturally in boronia absolute, orris, violet flowers.

Often combined with beta-ionone: alpha for brightness, beta for warmth. Together they create a fuller violet.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Alpha Isomethyl Ionone · Beta Ionone · Boisiris · Diviniris · Iris · Iris Butter · Iris Pallida · Orris Absolute

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Alpha and beta ionone differ only in the position of one double bond, yet this shift changes the scent from fruity-raspberry (alpha) to woody-warm (beta). One of the clearest examples of how geometry determines olfactory character.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Produced synthetically. Also found naturally in boronia absolute and orris butter.

Molecular Formula	C13H20O
CAS Number	127-41-3
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic molecule (naturally found in Boronia megastigma, Osmanthus fragrans)
IFRA Status	Restricted. Alpha-isomethyl ionone/alpha-ionone: IFRA limits apply; must contain ≤2% pseudoionone as impurity. Declared allergen (EU) above 0.001% leave-on / 0.01% rinse-off.
Synonyms	IONONE · IONONE ALPHA
Physical Properties
Lasting Power	112 hour(s) at 100.00 %
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	131.00 °C. @ 13.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	> 230.00 °F. TCC ( > 110.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.92700 to 0.93500 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.49900 to 1.50400 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Heart modifier for violet and fruity-floral compositions. CAS 127-41-3. Brighter and fruitier than beta-ionone. Often combined with beta for full violet character. Found in boronia, orris, violet.