Caramel Furanone is the trade name most consistently used across fragrance and flavor suppliers for sotolone (also called sotolon, fenugreek lactone, or sugar lactone), chemically 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, CAS 28664-35-9 — a related but chemically distinct compound from the similarly named strawberry furanone, Furaneol. It is a naturally occurring furanone lactone found in fenugreek seeds, lovage, molasses, roasted coffee, aged rum, sake, and sherry, and also forms through Maillard-type reactions in cooked and cured foods; it is produced synthetically for commercial use. Its odor is exceptionally potent and famously concentration-dependent: in very dilute solution it reads as intensely sweet caramel, maple syrup, burnt sugar, brown sugar, and cotton candy, with a lingering base-note tenacity, while at higher concentrations the same molecule shifts toward fenugreek, curry, and spiced, almost savory facets. Because so little is needed to register, and because the character can tip from appetizing to harsh or curry-like with only a small increase in strength, perfumers and flavorists work with it in trace amounts — often as pre-diluted solutions at well under one percent — to build caramel, maple, brown-sugar, coffee, and praline effects in gourmand fragrance compositions and to round out dessert-type flavor accords. Some suppliers note it is intended primarily for flavor use with specific guidance or restrictions when applied in fine fragrance, so recommended use levels and any regulatory limits should be checked against current supplier and IFRA documentation before formulating with it. — researched, 2026-09-02.
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.