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Sublimolide

Q: Is Sublimolide natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic. Designed as a vegan, supply-secure alternative to natural ambrettolide from ambrette seeds..

MUSK, AMBER, ANIMALIC SMELLS / fruity · powdery · floral

Sublimolide

Category	MUSK, AMBER, ANIMALIC SMELLS
Subcategory	fruity · powdery · floral
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A (synthetic musk molecule)
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Manufactured globally
Pyramid	Base

Clean, powdery, intimate -- ambrettolide's plant-based double.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Clean, powdery, and warm. Ambrettolide-like in character -- a soft, intimate musk without the animalic heaviness of natural musk or the laundry-clean brightness of polycyclics. Slightly sweet, slightly waxy, with a comforting warmth that reads as 'clean skin.' More natural-smelling than Galaxolide, less fruity than Helvetolide.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Soft, clean musk shimmer, faint powder

After a few hours

Warm skin-like envelope, ambrettolide character

After a few days

Persistent gentle musk, close to skin

The Full Story

Where ambrettolide requires agricultural cultivation of Abelmoschus moschatus, Sublimolide achieves a comparable olfactory profile through synthetic chemistry, removing supply-chain vulnerability and animal/plant sourcing concerns.

The molecule delivers a clean, powdery musk character with the skin-like warmth characteristic of the macrocyclic class. Like other macrocyclics, it has a large ring structure that gives it superior biodegradability compared to polycyclic musks, along with excellent tenacity and a natural-smelling profile.

Sublimolide represents the trend toward bio-inspired synthetic musks that combine regulatory compliance, environmental responsibility, and olfactory quality -- materials designed to replicate nature's best without depending on it.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Celestolide · Cheese · Nirvanolide · Phantolide · Sclareol · Tires · Tolu Balsam · Traseolide

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Sublimolide emerged from the growing demand for 'vegan perfumery' -- fragrances that contain no animal-derived ingredients. While ambrettolide is plant-derived, its production depends on ambrette seed cultivation, making a purely synthetic alternative commercially attractive.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic. Designed as a vegan, supply-secure alternative to natural ambrettolide from ambrette seeds.

Molecular Formula	C16 H28 O2
CAS Number	28645-51-4
Botanical Name	N/A (synthetic musk molecule)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	AMBRETTOLIDE · -7-HEXADECEN-16-OLIDE
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	248 hours at 100.00%
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	185.00 to 190.00 °C. @ 16.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	> 212.00 °F. TCC ( > 100.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.94900 to 0.95700 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Sublimolide functions as a base-note musk and fixative, used as a vegan replacement for ambrettolide in clean, natural-positioning compositions. It provides skin-like warmth and longevity to floral, woody, and minimal compositions. Works well in 'clean beauty' formulations where natural-origin or vegan claims are important.