N/A — synthetic molecule (a major aroma-chemical supplier); mixture of octahydrotetramethylnaphthalenyl ethanone isomers
Appearance
Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength
Medium
Producing Countries
United States (a major aroma-chemical supplier — proprietary base)
Pyramid
Base
A proprietary molecule combining woody warmth with a silk-smooth, musky transparency. Timbersilk is wood rendered as texture — the softness of sanded wood rather than the sharpness of split timber.
Smooth, warm, and musky-woody — polished timber rather than raw wood. Less dry than Timberol, less diffuse than Iso E Super, more woody than Cashmeran. A clean musky transparency wraps the woody warmth, creating a intimate, intimate quality. The overall effect is of touching warm, sanded wood — a tactile impression translated into scent.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Smooth woody warmth with a clean musky transparency — polished wood, not raw timber
After a few hours
After a few hours
Musky-woody character deepens, silk-smooth and skin-close, minimal projection
After a few days
After a few days
Warm, clean, woody-musky residue — intimate, persistent, like skin-warmed wood
The Full Story
Timbersilk takes the concept of woody fragrance and runs it through silk. Where most woody molecules emphasize structure, dryness, or sharpness, Timbersilk prioritizes smoothness — the tactile quality of sanded, oiled wood, warm to the touch and free of splinters.
The molecule combines woody warmth with clean musky transparency, creating a base note that is intimate rather than projecting. It sits closer to the skin than Iso E Super (which diffuses broadly) and is warmer than Cashmeran (which has a more textile-laundry character). The 'silk' in the name is functional: it describes what the molecule does to a formula — it smooths, it softens, it polishes.
In formulation, Timbersilk serves as both a standalone base note and a blending agent. As a standalone, it provides a clean, modern woody-musky foundation for minimalist compositions. As a blending agent, it softens harsher woody materials (cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli) into more wearable forms. It pairs naturally with Ambroxan for a woody-amber skin scent, with sandalwood for enhanced creaminess, and with clean musks for transparent intimacy.
The name 'Timbersilk' follows a modern fragrance industry convention of naming molecules by combining their olfactory territory ('timber' = woody) with a tactile quality ('silk' = smooth, concentrated). Other examples include Cashmeran (cash + mere = cashmere), Veloutone (velvet + tone), and Suederal (suede + aldehyde). These names function as poetry for the perfumer's palette.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Entirely synthetic. Proprietary chemical structure and synthesis pathway. Typically a clear liquid with a woody-musky odor.
Molecular Formula
C₁₆H₂₆O (mixture of Iso E Super isomers)
CAS Number
54464-57-2 / 68155-66-8 / 68155-67-9
Botanical Name
N/A — synthetic molecule (a major aroma-chemical supplier); mixture of octahydrotetramethylnaphthalenyl ethanone isomers
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
Medium
Lasting Power
> 200 hours
Appearance
Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
In Perfumery
Timbersilk is a proprietary woody-musky synthetic molecule that bridges woody warmth and clean musky transparency. It functions as a base-note modifier providing a 'polished wood' effect — the olfactory equivalent of sanded, oiled timber rather than raw-cut lumber. It belongs to the modern family of designer woody molecules (alongside Cashmeran, Iso E Super, Timberol) but distinguishes itself through a silky, musky smoothness that makes woody accords more wearable and intimate. Useful in skin-scent compositions, in transparent woody-amber structures, and as a blending agent that softens harsher woody materials. works with Ambroxan, sandalwood, and clean musks.
