Okoumal® (Givaudan) AC

Usage of Okoumal® in Fine Perfumery (CAS 131812-67-4)

💠 Role in perfume design

Application	Description
Fixateur	Enhances shelf life by anchoring volatile top and heart notes
Base note enhancer	Provides a soft wood-musk drydown with warmth and elegance
Versatile base	Combines perfectly with amber, sandalwood, patchouli, white musk, Iso E Super
Gender neutral	Ideal in skin-like scents, clean amber creations and luxurious wood perfumes.
Clean beauty proof	Biodegradable and compatible with natural/luxury formulations

🌿 Example of fragrance families

Fragrance family	Contribution of Okoumal®
Musk	Provides silky smooth musk base
Woody	Softens raw wood notes
Amber	Provides clarity and diffusion
Floral-woody	Supports floral chords with warmth and depth

Fragrance profile

• Character: Woody, musky, ambery, powdery
• Fragrance type: Dry, warm and clean
• Experience: A gently fresh opening with a sensual and long-lasting base. Similar to white musk or ambrette notes, but with a warm woody underpinning.

Fragrance Duration & Fragrance Strength

• Scent Duration: Very long-lasting – up to several days in dry applications
• Odor intensity: Medium to strong, depending on dosage and base formulation

Application in Perfumery

• Categories: Suitable for fine fragrance, skin care perfumes, wax perfumes and scented candles
• Olfactory role: Used as a fixative as well as a soft wood-musk accent in the base
• Combines well with: Iso E Super, Ambrox, Exaltolide®, Sandalwood, citrus notes and florals

 

It is quite normal that you cannot smell Okoumal (CAS 1000190-38-7) very well.
It is a synthetic woody aroma molecule with a very subtle, dry, woody-amber profile. Many perfumers describe it as low-impact or muted, especially compared to more powerful wood molecules such as Iso E Super or Ambroxan.

Why it can be hard to smell

• High odor threshold: You need relatively much to perceive it.
• Subtle character: It is designed as a background amplifier and not a dominant note.
• Individual sensitivity: Some people are less sensitive to certain molecules (such as Iso E Super anosmia). Okoumal belongs to that group where sensitivity varies greatly.
• Role in perfumery: It is mainly used to add dryness and diffusion to wood accords, not to shine solo.

💡 Tips to review Okoumal

• Smell it diluted: Try a 10% solution in ethanol – pure is often barely perceptible.
• Compare next to other molecules: Put it next to Iso E Super or Timberol; you’ll notice that Okoumal is drier and less radiant.
• Use in blends: It comes into its own when combined with cedarwood, vetiver or patchouli.
• Don’t worry if you barely smell it: Many perfumers rely on the effect in the mix rather than the solo impact.

👉 Summary: It is normal for your Okoumal not to smell strong. It is a subtle molecule and its value lies in how it supports and shapes woody accords, not in its own intensity.

Details

• Made by Givaudan, one of the world’s leading aroma specialists
• Biodegradable and versatile in natural and synthetic formulations
• Alternative to animal musk notes or ambrettolide
• Little color and excellent stability.

 

Okoumal® is under no restrictions according to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards up to and including the 51st adaptation.