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Nympheal™

POPULAR AND WEIRD  /  floral · fresh · aquatic
Nympheal™
Nympheal™ perfume ingredient
CategoryPOPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategoryfloral · fresh · aquatic
Origin
VolatilityTop Note
BotanicalN/A — synthetic captive molecule
AppearanceColorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor StrengthHigh
Producing CountriesN/A — proprietary synthetic, manufactured by a major aroma-chemical supplier
PyramidTop

Aquatic-floral, transparent, dewy. Nympheal is a synthetic water-lily-type molecule — clean, sheer, with the cool, floating quality of a white flower on still water.

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

Scent

Clean, aquatic-floral, transparent, dewy. The scent of a white flower floating on still water — cool, clean, gently sweet, with none of the heaviness of narcotic white florals. Like the air above a water lily pond at dawn — fresh, peaceful, luminous.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Immediately

Clean aquatic-floral, dewy, transparent
After a few hours

After a few hours

Softer, more musky, less dewy, gentle
After a few days

After a few days

Faint clean floral-musk residue

The Full Story

Nympheal is a proprietary synthetic molecule designed to capture the aquatic-floral character of water lilies (Nymphaea spp.). The name references the genus Nymphaea, and the molecule is designed to provide a clean, transparent, dewy floral quality suggestive of lotus and water lily.

Water lilies and lotus flowers have mild, clean, slightly sweet scents that are difficult to extract commercially. Nympheal and similar synthetics (Aqual, Aquozone, Cascalone) fill this gap — providing aquatic-floral notes without requiring natural extraction from aquatic plants.

The character is specifically aquatic-floral: cooler and wetter than terrestrial flowers, more transparent, with a clean, dewy freshness. This distinguishes it from Calone-type marine notes (which are more oceanic and melon-like).

In formulation, Nympheal provides a fresh, aquatic-floral note suited to clean, transparent, and water-themed compositions.

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

Related: Accord Eudora · African Marigold · Alpha Amylcinnamaldehyde · Alyssum · Angels Trumpet · Aquaflora · Ashoka Flower · Aurantiol

Did You Know?

Did you know?
True lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) flowers have been shown to thermoregulate — they can maintain their internal temperature 15-25°C above ambient air temperature during blooming, which helps volatilize their scent molecules to attract pollinators.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic — proprietary molecule. No natural source. Designed to replicate water lily/lotus character since these flowers produce insufficient volatiles for commercial extraction.

Molecular FormulaN/A — proprietary structure (aldehyde/alcohol class, estimated ~C₁₂H₂₂O₂)
CAS NumberN/A — proprietary a major aroma-chemical supplier molecule (exact CAS undisclosed)
Botanical NameN/A — synthetic captive molecule
IFRA StatusNo known restrictions
Physical Properties
Odor StrengthHigh
Lasting Power24 hours
AppearanceColorless to pale yellow clear liquid

In Perfumery

Nympheal is a synthetic aquatic-floral molecule functioning as a fresh, transparent heart note. Provides water lily/lotus character without natural extraction. Used in clean, aquatic, and transparent floral compositions. Part of the aquatic-floral molecule family (alongside Aqual, Cascalone). Distinct from marine notes (Calone) — more floral, less oceanic.

From the raw to the worn

This is what it becomes.