Important functions in perfumery

• Fixative: Benzyl benzoate slows the evaporation of volatile molecules, making a perfume last longer.
• Solvent/carrier: It helps integrate difficult-soluble fragrances (such as nitro-musks and certain CO₂ extracts) into a formula.
• Subtle Scent: It has a faint, sweet-balsamic scent that does not dominate, but gives a soft background.
• Stability: It contributes to the stability of complex chords, making perfumes less likely to become unbalanced.

 

💡 Tips for use

• Dosage: Use it mainly in the base notes of a perfume; that is where it works best as a fixative.
• Combinations: It blends well with jasmine, spicy notes (cinnamon, clove) and amber accords.
• Solubility: It can dissolve difficult-soluble fragrance substances (such as nitro-musks, certain resins and CO₂ extracts) and bring them homogeneously into a perfume formula.
• Compatibility: It mixes well withboth natural oils and synthetic aroma chemicals, makingit a versatile carrier.
• Stability: Due to its solubility, it helps prevent crystallization or cloudiness in perfumes.
• Technical advantage: Useful for dissolving resins, absolutes and difficult to dissolve molecules.
• Use in small percentages: usually a few percent, depending on the formula and IFRA limits.
• Combine with ethanol or dipropylene glycol (DPG): benzyl benzoate can combine with other carriers to form a more stable solvent system.
• IFRA limits: Note the restrictions by product category (e.g., max. 1.7% in Class 1, 1.4% in Class 2, up to 12% in candles).

 

🔎 Curiosities

• Natural occurrence: Also occurs naturally in some flowers, such as jasmine and ylang-ylang.
• Versatile: Besides perfumery, it is also used in pharmaceutical applications (e.g., as an acaricide against scabies), but in perfumery the emphasis is on fixation and solubility.
• Indispensable but subtle: Many perfumers note that while you hardly smell it in a formula, it is indispensable for performance.
• Regulation: It is one of the most thoroughly evaluated fragrances and is on the IFRA list with clear limits.

👉 Summary: Benzyl benzoate is a quiet force in perfumery – not for its own scent, but for its role as a fixative, solvent and stabilizer. It makes perfumes last longer and helps complex accords come together harmoniously.