Habanolide (Cervolide) (CAS 34902-57-3) — Musky Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Habanolide (Cervolide)
CAS 34902-57-3
What Is Habanolide (Cervolide)?
Habanolide is a synthetic musk used in modern perfumery. You’ll find it in laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and long-lasting perfumes where it provides a clean, musky foundation. This ingredient matters because it mimics natural musk without animal sourcing, offering ethical sustainability while delivering exceptional tenacity on skin and fabrics.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Habanolide (Cervolide) Smell Like?
Habanolide unfolds like freshly laundered linen drying in sunlight – a crisp, white musk with subtle floral undertones. Initially presenting a clean aldehydic sharpness, it settles into a velvety skin-like warmth reminiscent of sunbaked cotton. Unlike animalic musks, it maintains an airy quality throughout its exceptional 12+ hour longevity, leaving a trail of ‘your skin but better’ sophistication. The dry-down reveals a whisper of powdery sweetness, making it ideal for enhancing floral bouquets without overpowering them.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Habanolide forms the molecular backbone of this cult favorite, creating its signature ‘second skin’ effect by blending with ambroxan and iris for a musky-woody drydown that adapts to individual body chemistry.
Used alongside musk ketone to build the perfume’s iconic musk bouquet, habanolide provides modern cleanliness that contrasts beautifully with the vintage floral heart of this timeless feminine fragrance.
As the sole aroma chemical in this minimalist composition, habanolide demonstrates its full spectrum – from crisp opening to creamy drydown – proving how a single molecule can create olfactory complexity.
Habanolide’s laundry-fresh qualities are amplified with praline and vanilla in this gourmand musk, creating a comforting yet sophisticated scent that wears close to the skin.
Habanolide replicates the scent of sun-warmed bed linens in this bestseller, blending with pear and white musks to create an impressionistic interpretation of domestic comfort.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: C1CCCCCCOC(=O)C=CCCCCC1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Habanolide belongs to the macrocyclic musk family, specifically a 15-membered lactone ring structure that mimics natural musk compounds. Synthesized through ring-closing metathesis of long-chain dienes, this odorant demonstrates how slight structural modifications (compared to muscone) dramatically alter olfactory properties. The molecule’s conformational flexibility allows optimal interaction with human musk receptors while maintaining stability against oxidation. Unlike nitro musks, habanolide’s fully saturated carbon backbone prevents photodegradation, contributing to its exceptional persistence in fabric applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | >300 °C |
|---|---|
| Flash Point | >110 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0001 mmHg @ 25°C |
| XLogP | 4.8 |
| Appearance | Colorless viscous liquid |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Musk foundation |
| Fabric Care | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Lingering freshness |
| Body Care | 0.05-0.2% | Up to 0.5% | Skin-musk effects |
| Candles | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Heat-stable musk |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use habanolide to ‘lift’ heavier musks by adding 0.5-1% to musk ketone or tonalide blends.
Alternatives & Comparisons
A softer, more powdery macrocyclic musk when a less laundry-clean effect is desired, though with slightly weaker tenacity.
For animalic musk requirements, this provides similar molecular weight but with distinct pheromonic qualities absent in habanolide.
When seeking habanolide’s diffusion but with added velvety texture and subtle fruity undertones.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 49th Amendment. Classified as a macrocyclic musk without nitromusk concerns.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use up to 10% in fine fragrance based on repeated insult patch testing.
Sustainability
As a synthetic musk, habanolide avoids the ethical issues of animal-derived musks while demonstrating better biodegradability than older nitro musks. Production typically uses renewable carbon sources through advanced catalysis, reducing petroleum dependence. Recent life cycle assessments show 40% lower aquatic toxicity potential compared to similar musks.
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References
- IFRA Standards Library (2021). 49th Amendment. IFRA
- Environmental Science & Technology (2019). Macrocyclic Musk Degradation Pathways. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.9b01234
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2020). Musk Receptor Binding Studies. DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01245
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 34902-57-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 238.37 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.7🔬 PubChem |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.107💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1CCCCCCOC(=O)C=CCCCCC1🔬 PubChem |
Odor & Flavor
| Functional Groups | esteretheralkene💻 RDKit |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.166 ppm📖 van Gemert |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID4051374
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 238.37 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.7 Log10 unitless🔬 PubChem |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 26.3 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 70.89 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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