Kephalis

SyntheticMUSK, AMBER, ANIMALICwoody · warm · amber

Heart·BasePyramid

—Strength

3hTenacity

—Origins

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Specimen

Kephalis perfume ingredient — Heart-to-Base

Definition

Kephalis is a woody amber fragrance material whose main component is 4-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexanone. Its note is rich, warm and long-lasting woody amber.

WOODY AMBER TOBACCO HERBAL HONEY WARM

Ambrether, Kephalor, Garfield Lux, woody cyclohexanone, tetramethyl-4-ethoxyvinylcyclohexanone

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Woody
Subfamily: Amber notes
Cluster: Warm amber notes
Source: Made from mesityl oxide; not reported as found in nature
Chemical class: Cyclohexanone

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

Tenacity on blotter

3hours

1 h6 h24 h3 d7 d400 h

Scent

The odour is described as woody, old wood, amber, tobacco and hot herbal. Another description gives a honey, amberwoody note. The olfactive note is given as woody, ambery, tobacco and rich.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Identity

Kephalis is an alias of the chemical compound 4-(1-ethoxyethenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexanone. It is not reported as being found in nature. It is classified as a fragrance ingredient. Its European Community number is 252-961-2.

Chemistry

The compound has the molecular formula C₁₄H₂₄O₂ and a molecular weight of 224.34. Its IUPAC name is 4-(1-ethoxyethenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexan-1-one. Its solubility in water is 51 mg/L at 20°C. It is soluble in alcohol. The molecule has 16 heavy atoms, 2 hydrogen bond acceptors, no hydrogen bond donors and 3 rotatable bonds, and its topological polar surface area is 26.3 Å2. PubChem lists no defined stereocentres and a computed XLogP3 of 3.1.

Regulation and hazard

The compound is a REACH registered substance. In the United States it is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting system. It is also TSCA listed, and EPA data reporting gives fragrance as its industry and consumer use. Of the companies that notify hazard codes, 83.5% classify it as causing skin irritation and 83.4% as toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Its GHS pictograms are GHS07 and GHS09, with the signal word Warning.

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Related: Aldambre · Ambrarome · Ambrein · Ambreine · Ambrettolide · Ambronova · Ammonia · Animal Notes

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

The compound is the main component of a mixture obtained by cyclodimerization of mesityl oxide in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate and reaction with ethyl orthoformate.

Formula: C₁₄H₂₄O₂
CAS: 36306-87-3
Appearance: Pale yellow liquid
Lasting power: 3 days on blotter
Synonyms: Ambrether, Kephalor, Garfield Lux, woody cyclohexanone, tetramethyl-4-ethoxyvinylcyclohexanone

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Boiling point: 80–82 °C at 0.3 kPa
Flash point: >100 °C
Specific gravity: 0.937–0.957
Refractive index: 1.4758

In Perfumery

Kephalis is used as a long lasting heart and base note. It blends well with floral notes (jasmine, rose, violet, lavender, etc.) as well as sophisticated ambery, woody-aldehydic, tobacco and masculine creations. It is used in large proportions in almost every type of perfume composition. The use level is 1% to 8%.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02modifier

03backbone

04signature note

05blender

06naturalizer

Available as

synthetic