What Is Maceal?
Maceal is an aroma chemical created by the Swiss flavour and fragrance house Givaudan, though comparable versions may be offered by other suppliers under alternate trade names. It sits in the family of speciality ingredients that perfumers reach for when they need an instant burst of fresh realistic greenery.
At room temperature Maceal is a clear colorless liquid, easy to pour and blend. It is produced through a straightforward synthetic route that keeps the process efficient and repeatable, which means batch‐to‐batch odour consistency is excellent.
Usage in modern perfumery is fairly widespread. You will find it in green florals, leafy colognes, herbaceous fougères and even in functional products such as soaps and detergents where a crisp top note is required.
The ingredient is durable in storage terms. When kept tightly sealed in a cool dark place it comfortably retains its character for three to four years before any noticeable drop in strength occurs.
Cost wise Maceal falls in the mid range for synthetic materials. It is not bargain basement cheap yet it is far from a luxury extract so creative perfumers can employ it generously without blowing the budget.
Maceal’s Scent Description
Maceal lives squarely in the green olfactory family.
On a fresh blotter it opens with a vivid cut-grass impression backed by dewy crushed leaves. Almost immediately a cool garden-herb nuance appears, suggesting parsley stalk and mint stem. Within a minute a subtle trace of warm nutmeg peeks through adding gentle spice and preventing the profile from feeling too vegetal.
In fragrance construction we talk about top, middle and base notes. Tops are the first to greet the nose, middles form the heart and bases linger the longest. Maceal is principally a top note booster, introducing sparkle that lifts a composition in the first few minutes. Even so it clings longer than many top notes, shading into the heart phase before fading.
Projection is lively in the opening giving a noticeable aura around the wearer, then it settles to a soft green whisper as it moves into the middle register. On skin or fabric the material can be detected for several hours, particularly when supported by woody or musky bases.
How & Where To Use Maceal
Perfumers reach for Maceal when a composition needs an extra splash of realistic leafy freshness. It slots neatly into green floral bouquets, modern fougères, citrus colognes and even marine themes where a forest air effect is desired. Because it sits at the top of the pyramid it works best when dosed early in the formula, ideally blended with other volatile greens such as cis-3-hexenol or galbanum to create a coherent accord.
At the recommended 10 % dilution a final dosage of 0.01 % to 0.1 % in the finished fragrance is usually enough. In light body mists or room sprays you may push toward the upper end, while fine fragrances often shine at the midpoint. Higher levels can overwhelm delicate florals and may push the note into a sharp, almost plastic territory, so incremental trials are important.
Concentration changes the perception markedly. In trace amounts Maceal supplies a subtle dew-kissed effect that lifts a blend without calling attention to itself. As the percentage rises the nutmeg nuance starts to peek through and the material takes on a crunchy bark facet that can either enrich a woody base or clash with soft musks. Once you exceed 0.2 % the note dominates most structures, masking lighter heart notes and shortening the overall dry-down.
Applications are broad. Its high bloom in soap and detergent bases lets it survive the alkaline environment where many leafy materials die off. It also performs well in candles, adding a crisp opening before the wax warms into mid notes. Alcohol-free sticks and aerosols benefit from its low volatility compared with grassy aldehydes, giving longevity without excessive loading. Where it struggles is in gourmand or heavy oriental builds where the fresh green edge can feel disconnected from the sweeter background.
Prep work is simple. Create a 10 % dilution in ethanol, dipropylene glycol or triethyl citrate so you can weigh with precision and smell safely. Give the solution a gentle roll rather than vigorous shaking to avoid frothing. When blending, add Maceal toward the end of the top-note assembly since prolonged stirring can flash off some brightness. Keep pipettes and glassware reserved for green materials to prevent cross contamination with delicate floral absolutes.
Safely Using Maceal
Dilution is key. Always prepare a working solution before evaluation so you avoid sudden exposure to the full strength material. Avoid direct sniffing from the bottle; instead waft the scent toward your nose from a blotter. Work in a well-ventilated space or under a fume hood to limit inhalation of vapors. Protective gear such as nitrile gloves and safety glasses helps prevent accidental contact with skin and eyes.
Like many aldehydic aroma chemicals Maceal can cause irritation or sensitisation in some individuals. If you notice redness, itching or respiratory discomfort discontinue use immediately and seek medical advice. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should consult a healthcare professional before working with any fragrance raw material.
Brief exposure to low concentrations is generally considered safe, yet repeated handling of undiluted material or inhalation of high airborne levels can be harmful. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use and wipe spills promptly with disposable towels that are then sealed in a waste bag.
Dispose of unwanted stock through a licensed chemical waste handler rather than pouring it down the drain, as the substance is classified as non-biodegradable and ecotoxic. Small amounts of blotter waste can be placed in a sealed trash bag to minimise vapor release.
Always review the latest Safety Data Sheet supplied by your vendor and check back regularly for updates because classification or recommended limits can change. Follow the International Fragrance Association guidelines for maximum safe use in each product category to ensure your creations remain both compliant and consumer friendly.
How To Store & Dispose of Maceal
Store Maceal in airtight glass or fluorinated plastic bottles kept in a cool dark cabinet well away from radiators or sunny windows. Refrigeration is optional but can stretch shelf life by an extra season if you have space. If you chill it, allow the bottle to warm to room temperature before opening so moisture does not condense inside.
Choose caps with polycone liners for both neat material and dilutions. They form a tighter seal than standard screw tops and stop slow evaporation that can skew your working percentages. Avoid dropper bottles because the rubber bulbs let air creep in and the small channels can trap residue that ages faster than the bulk liquid.
Try to keep each container as full as practical. The smaller the air gap the less oxygen is available to start oxidation that dulls the crisp green profile. Use amber or opaque bottles where possible to cut light exposure and jot the fill date on a piece of tape so you can monitor turnover.
Label every vessel clearly with the material name, CAS number, concentration and any hazard statements from the Safety Data Sheet. Good labelling prevents mix-ups, helps anyone sharing your space work safely and speeds disposal procedures later.
When a batch finally loses strength or you simply have more than you need, do not pour it down the drain. Maceal is non-biodegradable and ecotoxic so liquid waste must go to a licensed chemical disposal service. Collect unwanted material in a dedicated waste jar, tighten the lid then store it with other hazardous liquids until pickup.
Used blotters and pipette tips contain only trace amounts. Seal them in a plastic bag before tossing them in household trash to trap fumes. Rinse empty containers with a small splash of solvent, add the rinse to your waste jar and deface the label before recycling or discarding the bottle.
Summary
Maceal is a Givaudan-created aroma chemical that delivers a vivid burst of fresh green leaves touched with herbal spice. In perfumery it excels as an energising top note for green florals, modern fougères, citrus colognes and functional products where brightness must survive tough bases.
The material is potent yet affordable, sits comfortably in the mid-price tier and shows excellent stability across a wide pH range. Its performance shines at 0.01 to 0.1 percent of the finished fragrance, although higher levels can crowd delicate heart notes and shift the scent toward sharp bark nuances.
With careful storage in cool darkness and use of air-tight polycone caps you can expect reliable quality for up to three years. Remember that Maceal is non-biodegradable and ecotoxic so plan responsible disposal via a professional waste handler.
Commercial quantities come directly from Givaudan or their authorised distributors. Smaller volumes suitable for hobbyists and indie brands are available through specialty fragrance suppliers and generic chemical vendors, often pre-diluted for easy handling.