Musk ketone, with CAS number 81-14-1, is a synthetic musk compound commonly used in perfumery. It is characterized by its sweet, musky odor, which is reminiscent of natural musk but without the ethical concerns associated with animal-derived musks. Musk ketone is often employed as a fixative in fragrance formulations, helping to enhance the longevity and depth of scents. It typically sits in the base of a formula, where it can support and round out other fragrance notes, particularly florals and orientals. In terms of safety and regulatory considerations, musk ketone is subject to various restrictions under IFRA guidelines, as it can be a potential skin sensitizer. Perfumers should be aware of these regulations when formulating with this ingredient, ensuring compliance with the latest safety standards. Overall, musk ketone serves as a versatile and valuable component in modern fragrance compositions. — AI-generated summary, 2026-09-02.
A classic nitro musk with a sweet, powdery, slightly warm character. Softer and more rounded than Musk Xylene, with a candied, almost vanillic-powder facet and a clean laundry-musk undertone. Excellent fixative that lends smoothness and volume to floral and oriental bases.AI · claude-opus-4-7
Composition, IFRA restriction figures, allergen concentrations and where this material is bought are part of Perfume Foundry’s curated library and need an account. Create one or sign in.
Other ingredients whose composition declares this material as a constituent. The percentage shown is the supplier-declared concentration in that parent.
| Ingredient | % | Range |
|---|---|---|
| ORRISODORE | — | 10–25% |
| FLEUR DE TABAC | — | 3–5% |
| POIVRE FORT | — | 1–5% |
| OEILLET 208 | — | 1–3% |
| APPLE | — | — |
Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, page 983.
Pale yellowish platelets or crystalline powder.
Sweet and very tenacious musky odor with discrete animal note, less floral than Musk Ambrette. The characteristic note is the warm and mildly animal note.
Sweet and mildly musky taste in concentra- tions lower than 40 ppm. Musk Ketone has less tendency of producing a bitter note than Musk Ambrette. Yet, Musk Ketone is not listed as G.R.A.S. by the American Federal Register.
Musk Ketone is, with Ambrette and Xylol, one of the most frequently and widely used artificial musks. It is used in perfume composi- tions often in conjunction with Musk Ambret- te as part of the fixative complex for almost any fragrance type. However, it is particularly suitable for producing the desirable “powdery” note with Methylionones, Cinna- mic alcohol, Benzylsalicylate, etc. Concentra- tions vary from about 1° to more than 10% (in rare cases) in the fragrance formulation.
The title material has been used in flavor compositions at concentrations up to 20-45 ppm (in the finished product), mainly as a fixative and sweetener in chewing gums and other types of candy. The material is included in the “Chemicals Used in Food Processing” by the National Research Council, Washing- ton, DC, 1965, but Musk Ketone is not listed as G.R.A.S. in the latest summary of the F.E.M.A. or the Federal Register.
Produced from tertiary-Butylxylene by Acetylation followed by Nitration.