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Cashalox

Q: Is Cashalox natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic. Proprietary production process. Classified as a specialty or captive aroma chemical..

POPULAR AND WEIRD / woody · musky · warm

Cashalox

Category	POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	woody · musky · warm
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic molecule
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	N/A — synthetic (captive molecule)
Pyramid	Base

Warm, ambery-woody, with a clean musky dryness. A synthetic ambergris alternative — less marine than Ambrox, more structured, with a sandalwood-like smoothness.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Warm, ambery-woody, with a clean musky dryness and a sandalwood-like smoothness. Less marine than Ambrox, less radiant than Ambroxan, more structured than Cetalox. A composed, well-behaved amber that stays close to skin. The woody quality distinguishes it from purely ambery materials.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Warm amber with woody-musky opening

After a few hours

Smooth sandalwood-like warmth, clean and dry

After a few days

Persistent ambery residue, quiet and close to skin

The Full Story

Cashalox is a proprietary synthetic molecule in the ambergris-musk family. Its name combines 'cachalot' (French for sperm whale, the source of natural ambergris) with a chemical suffix, positioning it clearly as an ambergris substitute.

The scent profile is warm, ambery-woody, with a clean musky dryness. It shares territory with Ambrox and Cetalox but distinguishes itself through a slightly more structured, sandalwood-like smoothness. Less radiant and diffusive than Ambrox, more woody and less marine, it occupies a quieter position in the amber-musk spectrum.

As a captive or specialty molecule, Cashalox is used in fine fragrance as a base-note fixative and amber modifier. It provides longevity and a warm, woody-ambery foundation without the sometimes overwhelming projection of Ambrox.

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

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Related: Almond Tree · Ambrox Super · Amburana Wood · Amyris · Blonde Woods · Caoutchouc · Cashmir Wood · Cetonal

Did You Know?

Did you know?

The word 'cachalot' (from which Cashalox derives) comes from Portuguese 'cachalote,' which may originate from the Basque word for 'big tooth.' Basque whalers were among the first Europeans to systematically hunt sperm whales for ambergris in the 17th century.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic. Proprietary production process. Classified as a specialty or captive aroma chemical.

Molecular Formula	N/A — proprietary (undisclosed)
CAS Number	N/A — proprietary captive molecule
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic molecule
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Cashalox
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid

In Perfumery

Cashalox functions as a base-note fixative and amber modifier. It provides warm, woody-ambery longevity with a controlled projection — useful when Ambrox would be too radiant. Works in woody-amber, amber, and skin-scent compositions. Pairs with sandalwood, musks, and other amber materials. Its structured character makes it useful as an anchor for compositions that need quiet warmth rather than dramatic sillage.