Is Z-11 HD natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic..

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Z-11 HD

NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, POPULAR AND WEIRD / fruity · fresh · green

Z-11 HD

Category	NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	fruity · fresh · green
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic molecule (insect pheromone analog)
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Synthetic molecule; manufactured in China, Europe, United States
Pyramid	Heart

Powerful, clean-musky with metallic-aldehydic lift. Z-11-Hexadecenal is a pheromone-adjacent molecule with excellent diffusion and skin-like radiance.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Clean, musky, slightly metallic. Skin-like warmth with an airy quality. Like standing close to warm, freshly washed skin in cool air.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Clean aldehydic-musky lift, airy

After a few hours

Skin-like warmth, smooth

After a few days

Persistent clean-musk trace, intimate

The Full Story

Z-11-Hexadecenal is a sixteen-carbon unsaturated aldehyde with clean-musky, slightly metallic character. Structural similarity to certain insect pheromones, though perfumery value comes from olfactory properties.

Provides clean, airy, skin-like radiance with good diffusion. Less soapy than shorter-chain aldehydes. The longer chain gives better tenacity.

Functions as a clean-musky modifier with aldehydic transparency. Adds radiance and skin-like warmth.

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

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Related: Acerola · Akebia Fruit · Allyl Amyl Glycolate · Arctic Bramble · Argan · Berries · Black Sapote · Buriti

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Z-11-Hexadecenal is a component of moth pheromone blends. Its structural similarity to human sebum components has fueled speculation about mammalian pheromonal activity, but this remains unproven.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic.

Molecular Formula	C₁₆H₃₀O
CAS Number	53939-28-9
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic molecule (insect pheromone analog)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Z-11 · -11-HEXADECENAL
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Boiling Point	250.00 °C @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	230.00 °F TCC ( 110.00 °C )
Specific Gravity	0.842 to 0.852 @ 25.00 °C
Refractive Index	1.450 to 1.460 @ 20.00 °C

In Perfumery

Heart-to-base modifier providing clean-musky radiance with aldehydic transparency. Sixteen-carbon unsaturated aldehyde. Suited to skin-scent, clean-musky, and minimalist compositions.