Karanal (Givaudan) AC
Karanal – Dry Wood meets Amber Power
Karanal is a powerful, synthetic fragrance ingredient developed by Givaudan, known for its dry, woody amber character with subtle floral nuances.
CAS number : 117933-89-8
Appearance : Colorless to light yellow liquid
Fragrance strength : Medium to strong (up to 400 hours on fragrance strip)
Fragrance group : Woody – Amber – Floriental
Applications: Used in the fragrance industry for men’s perfumes and as an important component in dry woody amber accords
Developer: Karen J. Rossiter, at Quest International, which was acquired by Givaudan
Synonyms: Amber Dioxane
From € 5,75 incl. btw
1st Class Quality Products
All fragrances are selected with care
Delivery from stock
We supply everything from our own stock, unless otherwise stated on the product itself.
⚠️ Legal notice – Restriction on use of Karanal
Important: Karanal has been included on the list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under the European REACH regulation since August 27, 2023.
This means that the use of Karanal in finished cosmetic products is no longer permitted within the EU.This raw material is offered exclusively for educational purposes and professional use outside the cosmetics industry. Use in consumer products such as perfumes, creams or other cosmetic formulations is excluded.
Although IFRA does not impose restrictions on Karanal, EU law prevails and is binding on all market participants. Customers themselves are responsible for complying with applicable regulations and properly informing end users.
Karanal – a dry amberwood note with floral finesse and long-lasting power.
Karanal is a polycyclic acetal with a unique molecular structure and odor character.
Fragrance profile
- Character : Dry, woody, ambery, slightly dusty Translation Management
- Nuances : Mahogany, resinous, floral note (lily-like)
- Style : Radiant, persistent and refined
Use in Perfumery
- Building block for dry amber accords without sweetness
- Reinforces wood structures in fougère , orientals and florientals
- Adds substantivity to base notes in both niche and commercial perfumes
- Excellent for unisex compositions with a modern, dry character
Related Molecules
These substances are often used as alternatives or complements in dry amber-woody compositions :
Name Fragrance profile Comments Ambermax™ Dry, ambery, woody Very powerful, comparable substantivity; also from Givaudan Cephalis Woody, amber, tobacco-like Warmer and slightly sweeter than Karanal Okoumal™ Dry wood, amber, resinous Less floral nuance, but comparable diffusion Ambrofix™ Amber, wood, musky More persistence and softness Vertofix Coeur Cedarwood, dry, slightly smoky Can be combined well with Karanal for wood structure Norlimbanol Woody, dry, powerful Extreme noun, often used in fougères and masculines Boisiris Iris-like wood, dry and powdery More floral elegance, also from Givaudan
📋 IFRA Recommendations for Karanal
| Category | Application type | Maximum concentration (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lip products | 0.05% |
| 2 | Deodorants, antiperspirants | 0.05% |
| 3 | Facial products (creams, makeup) | 0.05% |
| 4 | Alcoholic perfumes | 0.05% |
| 5A | Body lotions, leave-on products | 0.05% |
| 5B | Hand creams | 0.05% |
| 5C | Baby products (leave-on) | 0.05% |
| 6 | Oral care | Not allowed |
| 7A | Hard soap, shampoo | 0.05% |
| 7B | Bath products, shower gel | 0.05% |
| 8 | Baby products (rinse-off) | 0.05% |
| 9 | Household sprays | 0.05% |
| 10A | Detergents (liquid, powder) | 0.05% |
| 10B | Fabric softeners | 0.05% |
| 11A | Candles, fragrance diffusers | 0.05% |
| 11B | Air fresheners (solid) | 0.05% |
| 12 | Outdoor products (paint, insect spray) | 0.05% |
⚠️ Regulatory status
Karanal has been included on the ECHA 's SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) list since August 2023, which means that its use in cosmetics may be restricted or prohibited within the EU.
Always check the current IFRA standard and REACH status for your application.
The IFRA recommendation for Karanal (CAS 117933-89-8) is still valid in 2025, but with an important caveat:
⚠️ Regulatory status as of October 2025
- Karanal is included on the ECHA 's SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) list , which means that its use in cosmetics is restricted or permitted under certain conditions within the EU.
- Under the Cosmetic Products Regulation, Annex III – updated May 2025 (EU 2025/877) , substances such as Karanal must comply with strict concentration limits and labelling obligations .
- The IFRA 51st Amendment remains in force and sets a maximum recommended concentration of 0.05% in all product categories, unless otherwise specified by national regulations or retailer compliance requirements.
There are several well-known (often vintage or now reformulated) perfumes in which Karanal has played a role—primarily due to its dry, amber-woody character with floral nuances.
Although Givaudan rarely confirms formulations publicly, there are well-documented cases and industry literature that mention the use of Karanal.
| Perfume | Brand | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gucci Pour Homme | Gucci | 2003 | Karanal was key to the dry amber base; now discontinued or reformulated |
| Une Rose | Frédéric Malle | 2003 | Created by Edouard Fléchier; Karanal supports the woody-amber base |
| Fahrenheit | Dior | 1988 | Possibly used in the original formula for dry diffusion; not officially confirmed |
| Roma Uomo | Laura Biagiotti | 1992 | Dry amber-woody base likely supported by Karanal |
| Kenzo Jungle Homme | Kenzo | 1998 | Karanal contributes to the spicy, woody structure |
| Armani Attitude | Giorgio Armani | 2007 | Dry leather-amber accord where Karanal fits well |
| YSL M7 | Yves Saint Laurent | 2002 | Oud-based composition possibly enhanced by Karanal as a diffusion booster |
Related products
Polysantol® (Firmenich) AC
Bacdanol® (IFF) AC
Cedramber (IFF) AC
