Dry, mineral warmth with woody undertones. Less overtly 'ambergris' than Ambroxan, more transparent and less pushy. Opens with a crystalline dryness like sun-heated quartz, develops into soft cedar-skin warmth. The animalic quality is barely there -- a ghost of musk rather than a roar. Drier than Cetalox, which leans creamier.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Crystalline mineral brightness, faint cedar
After a few hours
After a few hours
Warm amber-wood, soft skin-like musk
After a few days
After a few days
Persistent mineral halo, barely-there animalic warmth
The Full Story
Ambrofix (CAS 6790-58-5) is a biotech-derived ambroxide produced by a major aroma-chemical supplier through fermentation of sugarcane-derived sclareol. Chemically identical to the key odorant in aged ambergris -- the rare whale secretion that historically anchored fine perfumery -- Ambrofix delivers the same woody, mineral, and subtly animalic warmth without any animal sourcing.
The molecule is a perhydronaphthofuran (C16H28O, MW 236.40). Its crystalline solid form dissolves slowly in alcohol, releasing a persistent amber-woody aura that can last weeks on a blotter. The scent sits at the intersection of wood and mineral: drier than Cetalox, more transparent than Ambroxan, with a subtle salinity that recalls ocean-weathered stone.
Ambrofix is a commercially significant molecules in contemporary use. Its development in 2009 via white biotechnology represented a breakthrough in sustainable fragrance chemistry, replacing the need for both natural ambergris and petrochemical synthesis.
A single blotter dipped in pure Ambrofix remains fragrant for over a month. The molecule's extraordinary persistence comes from its low vapor pressure and high molecular weight, which slow evaporation to a crawl.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Biotech synthesis. Produced by a major aroma-chemical supplier via fermentation of engineered yeast strains using sugarcane-derived sclareol as precursor, followed by purification and crystallization. a sustainable production methods in contemporary use.
Molecular Formula
C16H28O
CAS Number
3738-00-9
Botanical Name
N/A — synthetic ambergris substitute (a Swiss fragrance house proprietary)
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
AMBROFIX
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
Medium
Lasting Power
> 400 hour(s) at 10.00 % in dipropylene glycol
Appearance
Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point
285.00 °C @ 760.00 mm Hg (est)
Flash Point
> 100.00 °C
Specific Gravity
0.93000 to 0.94000 @ 25.00 °C
Melting Point
75.00 to 76.00 °C
In Perfumery
Ambrofix is a base note fixative and diffuser used across virtually every fragrance family. It extends the longevity of volatile top notes, adds mineral warmth to florals, and provides structural backbone to woody accords. At low doses (0.1-1%), it acts as a radiance enhancer; at higher concentrations, it becomes the central amber axis of a composition. Essential in modern skin scents and 'your skin but better' compositions.
