Safraleine™ (Givaudan) AC

Scent Profile: Safraleine™ is a warm, spicy, leathery base note with tobacco, woody, and saffron-like nuances.

It’s complex and vibrant, with subtle floral facets reminiscent of rose ketones.

It’s often described as saffron indenone, though it’s a synthetic molecule with no natural counterpart.

Use in Perfumery:

• Acts as a powerful base note and modifier
• Adds depth, warmth, and exotic character to leather, oriental, and spicy compositions
• Excellent in saffron accords, tobacco blends, and luxurious leather bases
• Very tenacious (lasting over 160 hours on a blotter)
• Typical use level: 0.1–3%, though even <0.5% can be impactful

Similar Aromachemicals:

• Ethyl Safranate – more floral and fruity (apple-rose), but shares saffron warmth
• Safranal – natural saffron molecule (restricted), more herbal and volatile
• Oxoisophorone – saffron-like, with a woody edge
• Methyl Cyclogeranate – woody-saffron nuance, less common
• Kephalis / Ambercore – for warm, ambery-leathery depth

Good Combinations:

• Rose ketones (e.g. Damascenone) – enhance floral warmth
• Iso E Super, Sylvamber, Timbersilk – for woody diffusion
• Labdanum, Patchouli, Frankincense – deepen resinous character
• Ultrazur™ – Givaudan suggests 30% Safraleine + 70% Ultrazur for a “green mango soap bubble” effect

 

Synonyms:
– 2,3,3-Trimethylindan-1-one
– Saffron indenone

Can be used in spicy, woody, floral and aquatic accords.