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Melon

FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND NUTS  /  fruity · fresh · sweet
Melon
Melon perfume ingredient
CategoryFRUITS, VEGETABLES AND NUTS
Subcategoryfruity · fresh · sweet
Origin
VolatilityTop Note
BotanicalCucumis melo
Appearancecolorless to amber yellow clear liquid
Odor StrengthMedium
Producing CountriesChina, Turkey, Iran, India, Egypt
PyramidTop

Melon is a sweet, juicy fruit used in perfumery for its refreshing, fruity notes.

  1. Scent
  2. The Full Story
  3. Fun Fact
  4. Extraction & Chemistry
  5. In Perfumery

Scent

The scent of melon is predominantly sweet and juicy, with a watery, fresh quality. It can also show green undertones.

Scent Evolution

As the fragrance evolves, the melon's sweetness becomes more pronounced, with subtle candy-like nuances. The initial fresh burst softens into a rounded sweetness that lingers on the skin.

Signature Accords

On a blotter after 24 hours, the melon note fades but leaves hints of its original freshness, becoming more muted and sweet. It blends readily with other notes.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Immediately

Fresh, sweet, and juicy with a watery quality.
After a few hours

After a few hours

Sweetness intensifies, revealing candy-like nuances.
After a few days

After a few days

Soft, muted sweetness reminiscent of a fruity dessert.

The Full Story

Melon, chiefly Cucumis melo, has sweet, juicy flesh. It was cultivated thousands of years ago in Africa and Asia and has since diversified into many varieties. In perfumery it contributes a fresh, watery note.

Origin and Production

Melon is chosen for its sweet, fresh character, but because the natural fruit is delicate it is usually reconstructed synthetically in perfumery. Melon notes impart a light, airy quality.

Chemistry and Scent Profile

In addition to its refreshing scent, melon is valued in contemporary perfumery for its versatility. It works with floral notes like jasmine and rose, as well as with other fruits such as peach and citrus. Melon can also be layered with green notes for a crisp, bracing effect, or blended with warm, spicy notes to add complexity. Its light, fruity freshness makes it useful in summer fragrances and unisex compositions.

Chemical Properties

Melon (Molecular Formula: C10 H18 O2). Boiling Point: 115.00 °C. @ 21.00 mm Hg. Flash Point: 196.00 °F. TCC ( 91.11 °C. ). Specific Gravity: 0.88000 to 0.95000 @ 25.00 °C. Refractive Index: 1.44000 to 1.47000 @ 20.00 °C. Vapor Pressure: 0.146000 mmHg @ 25.00 °C. (est).

Did You Know?

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

Did You Know?

Did you know?
Did you know that melons belong to the gourd family, which also includes cucumbers and pumpkins? This makes them more than just a fruit, but rather a member of a diverse botanical family.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Synthetic or natural extraction methods depending on the specific use

Molecular FormulaKey aroma compound: cis-6-Nonenal C₉H₁₆O (fresh melon); Calone / Methylbenzodihydropyranone C₁₁H₁₂O₃ (watermelon note)
CAS NumberN/A — complex fruit accord (key odorant: cis-6-nonenal CAS 2277-19-2)
Botanical NameCucumis melo
IFRA StatusNo known restrictions
SynonymsCANTALOUPE · HONEYDEW · MUSKMELON
Physical Properties
Odor StrengthMedium
Lasting Power16 hours at 100.00%
Appearancecolorless to amber yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point115.00 °C. @ 21.00 mm Hg
Flash Point196.00 °F. TCC ( 91.11 °C. )
Specific Gravity0.88000 to 0.95000 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index1.44000 to 1.47000 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Melon is primarily used as a top note in perfumery, delivering an immediate burst of freshness and sweetness. Its light nature allows it to pair smoothly with a variety of other ingredients, including floral, fruity, and green notes. It is an excellent bridge in blends, reinforcing the structure of the fragrance while maintaining a refreshing quality. Perfumers often utilize mel on to carries a sense of lightness and vitality, used in summer fragrances and casual scents.

From the raw to the worn

This is what it becomes.