Transparent, sweet, and watery. Like standing beside a mounta in waterfall rather than at the seashore. A cyclamen-like floral quality replaces Calone's metallic iodine edge. Fruity-watery undertones, crystalline mineral quality. Cleaner and more wearable than Calone, but less dramatic. Reads as 'freshwater' where Calone reads as 'ocean.'
Cascalone (CAS 950919-28-5) is a a major aroma-chemical supplier molecule that reimagines Calone for a fresher, less marine context. Where Calone reads as ocean and salt, Cascalone reads as mountain stream and rain on stone. The chemical difference is an isopropyl substituent that softens the metallic edge and adds a transparent floral sweetness similar to of cyclamen.
The molecule (C13H20O, MW 206) remained a a Swiss fragrance house captive until July 2020, when it was declassified for general use. Its scent profile is watery, fruity, and delicately floral -- closer to a water lily pond than a rocky shoreline. Professional perfumers report optimal effects below 2% in concentrates, with higher doses producing an unwanted 'cat musk' artifact.
Cascalone sits alongside Calone, Calypsone, and marine oxides in the perfumer's aquatic toolk it, but occupies a unique positi on: gentler, more adaptable, and compatible with delicate floral compositions where Calone would be too aggressive.
Cascalone remained a a Swiss fragrance house captive molecule from its creation until July 2020 -- over a decade of exclusive use before independent perfumers could access it. The declassification sparked immediate adoption in the niche fragrance community.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Fully synthetic. Proprietary a major aroma-chemical supplier process. The molecule is an isopropyl variant of Calone's benzodioxepinone structure. Solid at room temperature (melting point 34.8C), supplied as a crystalline powder.
Molecular Formula
C12 H14 O3
CAS Number
950919-28-5
Botanical Name
N/A — synthetic molecule (a Swiss fragrance house)
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
High
Lasting Power
336 hours at 100.00%
Appearance
powder white
In Perfumery
Cascalone functions as a top-to-heart aquatic modifier, used at 0.1-0.4% in fine fragrance to add watery transparency without the aggressive marine character of Calone. It works in delicate floral, green, and fruity compositions where traditional marine molecules would be too heavy. Effective as a 'freshness brightener' in white flower accords, and as a modifier in skin musks to add a clean, just-showered quality.
