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Cashmeran in Perfumery | Première Peau

Q: Is Cashmir wood natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic. Produced by a major aroma-chemical supplier via synthesis of the pentamethylindanone framework. Not found in nature. Clear liquid..

WOODS AND MOSSES / woody · warm · rich

Cashmir wood

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	woody · warm · rich
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A — likely refers to a synthetic woody-amber molecule or Kashmir-inspired accord
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Synthetic — manufactured globally
Pyramid	Base

Warm, velvety, and impossibly soft. Cashmeran smells like burying your face in an expensive cashmere sweater.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery
See Also

Scent

Warm, powdery, and texturally soft. The immediate impression is a velvety smoothness -- musky and woody simultaneously, with faint spicy-coniferous undertones. Drier than musk, softer than cedar, warmer than iris. The drydown reveals a clean, comfortable warmth that clings to skin like the memory of a cashmere blanket. Nothing else in the perfumer's palette quite replicates this texture.

Evolution over time

Immediately

After a few hours

After a few days

The Full Story

Cashmeran (CAS 33704-61-9), also known as DPMI (6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4(5H)-indanone), is an a major aroma-chemical supplier synthetic molecule developed in 1970 that occupies a unique space between wood, musk, and amber. Its polycyclic ketone structure produces a warm, diffusive, velvety scent that defies clean categorization -- simultaneously musky, woody, spicy, and powdery.

The molecule (C14H22O, MW 206.2) does not exist in nature. Its scent is often described as 'the smell of cashmere fabric' -- a warm, textured softness with coniferous and slightly spicy undertones. This unique profile has made it a common synthetics in modern perfumery.

Cashmeran is subject to IFRA concentration restrictions under Amendment 49 (2020), with maximum levels varying by product category from 0.0063% in lip products to 9.4% in non-skin-contact products. Despite restrictions, its importance in fragrance formulation remains immense, with typical use levels of traces to 2%.

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Cashmeran was developed by a major aroma-chemical supplier in 1970 but did not achieve widespread use until the 1990s, when perfumers discovered its extraordinary ability to make any composition feel 'expensive' and textured at even trace doses.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic. Produced by a major aroma-chemical supplier via synthesis of the pentamethylindanone framework. Not found in nature. Clear liquid.

Molecular Formula	C₁₄H₂₂O (Cashmeran / 6,7-dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4(5H)-indanone)
CAS Number	33704-61-9 (Cashmeran / cashmir wood reference molecule)
Botanical Name	N/A — likely refers to a synthetic woody-amber molecule or Kashmir-inspired accord
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Kashmir wood, Cashmere wood
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid

In Perfumery

Cashmeran functions as a heart-to-base bridging note, connecting musk and wood accords with notable smoothness. It is used as a fixative, a blender, and a comfort-inducing modifier in woody, spicy, coniferous, and amber compositions. At trace levels, it contributes warmth and roundness; at higher doses, it becomes the dominant textural signature. Critical ingredient in cashmere-musk accords, modern woods, and 'comfort' fragrances.

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