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Beta-Damascone

Q: Is Beta-Damascone natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic. Identified in Rosa damascena oil at levels too low for isolation..

AROMA CHEMICALS / fruity · rosy · woody

Beta-Damascone

Category	AROMA CHEMICALS
Subcategory	fruity · rosy · woody
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic aroma chemical (found naturally in trace amounts in rose oil and tea)
Appearance	pale yellow clear liquid
Producing Countries	Synthetic molecule; manufactured globally (major producers: China, Europe)
Pyramid	Heart

Exceptionally potent fruity-floral ketone. Beta-damascone (CAS 23726-91-2) smells of dark plum, blackcurrant, and tobacco at parts-per-billion concentrations.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Dark plum, blackcurrant, tobacco-wine. The richest, most complex fruity molecule available. Not bright-fruity but dark-fruity: fermented, sun-ripened. Unsubstitutable.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Dark plum-berry burst at trace level

After a few hours

Wine-like depth, tobacco warmth

After a few days

Persistent dark-fruit complexity, extremely long-lasting

The Full Story

Beta-damascone (CAS 23726-91-2) is the most potent isomer of the damascone family, perceptible at approximately 0.002 ng/L in air. Dark, fruity, complex: plum, blackcurrant, rose-hip, with tobacco and wine-like undertones.

Functions as a perfumery multiplier: even at parts per million it adds rich dark-fruit depth that transforms surrounding notes.

Essential in rose reconstructions, berry accords, and plum compositions. Used at extreme dilution (0.01-0.1% in accords). No adequate substitute.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Rose Monotone. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

Did You Know?

Did you know?

A single gram of beta-damascone can be detected dissolved in a swimming pool's worth of water. It is among the five most potent odorants known. Overdosing by 0.05% can ruin a formula.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic. Identified in Rosa damascena oil at levels too low for isolation.

Molecular Formula	C₁₃H₂₀O
CAS Number	23726-91-2
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic aroma chemical (found naturally in trace amounts in rose oil and tea)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	BETA-DAMASCENONE
Physical Properties
Lasting Power	191 hour(s) at 100.00 %
Appearance	pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	200.00 °C @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	> 200.00 °F TCC ( > 93.33 °C )
Specific Gravity	0.925 to 0.932 @ 25.00 °C
Refractive Index	1.496 to 1.500 @ 20.00 °C

In Perfumery

Trace-level heart-to-base modifier. CAS 23726-91-2. Odor threshold about 0.002 ng/L. Used at 0.01-0.1% in accords. Essential in rose, berry, plum, and dark-fruit compositions. Must be diluted before use.