What Is Mck Chinese?
Mck Chinese is an aroma ingredient first documented in 1972 when researchers were looking for sustainable alternatives to classic woods in perfumery. The compound, registered under CAS number 32388-55-9, carries the formula C17H26O and falls under the IPC number 131687.
Today it is produced through an upcycling process that converts surplus plant-based feedstock, often leftovers from the food industry, into a high-purity fragrance material. Because the feedstock is renewable and traceable, the production method is considered natural derived and vegan suitable even though the final molecule is isolated and refined in a laboratory setting.
At room temperature the ingredient appears as a clear liquid that can look colorless or show a faint straw hue depending on storage conditions. It pours easily and blends well with most perfume solvents thanks to a relatively low viscosity.
Perfumers reach for Mck Chinese frequently, especially when they want a sustainable counterpart to traditional cedar materials. It is widely stocked by fragrance houses and is generally viewed as a mid-priced raw material, accessible enough for detergents yet refined enough for fine fragrance briefs.
Formulators also appreciate its excellent stability in soap and fabric conditioner along with very good performance in fine fragrance bases, which further boosts its popularity in both mass market and prestige sectors.
What Does Mck Chinese Smell Like?
Mck Chinese is grouped within the woody family. Off a blotter it opens with a smooth, cozy wood note reminiscent of freshly cut cedar planks. Soon a richer resinous facet surfaces, adding depth that feels almost balsamic, while a soft dry musk nuance cushions the edges and keeps the profile from turning harsh. The impression stays rounded and warm rather than sharp or smoky.
In traditional perfumery language aromas are arranged as top, middle and base notes. Tops are the lightest and appear first, middles give character and form the heart, bases linger longest and provide lasting power. Due to its low vapor pressure Mck Chinese sits firmly in the base note category. It diffuses slowly and anchors a composition long after the more volatile notes have faded.
Projection is moderate, meaning the scent creates a clear olfactive aura without overwhelming the room. Longevity is one of its standout traits; traces remain detectable on a blotter for more than 48 hours and on skin can extend well past eight, ensuring a perfume retains its woody signature throughout the day.
How & Where To Use Mck Chinese
In the lab Mck Chinese is an easygoing teammate. It pours smoothly, behaves well in alcohol or oil and rarely throws surprises during maceration so most perfumers enjoy having it on the bench.
Olfactively it excels at building the backbone of woody accords. A few drops lend instant cedar warmth to sandalwood, guaiac or iso E based structures, while higher dosages can replace part of a classic cedarwood heart when cost or sustainability targets rule out natural oil. Because the material carries a faint musky undertone it also bridges neatly into amber, leather and even gourmand themes, rounding rough edges and extending diffusion.
Typical inclusion sits anywhere between 0.2 % and 3 % of the concentrate, though formulas aimed at long lasting masculines or performance fabric softeners may nudge toward 5 %. At trace levels it simply polishes other woods; at 1 % the resinous character steps forward; beyond 3 % the note becomes the clear star and can feel almost pencil-shaving dry if no sweetness is added for balance.
Mck Chinese shines in fine fragrance, soap and fabric conditioner where its stability is ranked very good to excellent. It is merely fair in powder detergent so consider pairing it with encapsulation or boosters if wash performance is critical. The molecule dissolves readily in ethanol and dipropylene glycol so no special pre-dilution is required unless you want a weaker bench solution for pipetting accuracy. In that case a 10 % or 20 % dilution is common practice.
Safety Information
Handling Mck Chinese, like any aromatic raw material, calls for a few sensible precautions to keep the creative process safe and comfortable.
- Always dilute before evaluation: prepare a smelling strip or solution rather than sniffing directly from the bottle to avoid overwhelming vapors
- Use adequate ventilation: work under a fume hood or in a well-aired room to minimize inhalation of concentrated fumes
- Personal protective equipment: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses so the liquid stays off skin and out of eyes
- Health considerations: some individuals may experience irritation or sensitization, brief low-level exposure is generally safe but prolonged or high-dose contact can be harmful, and anyone pregnant or breastfeeding should seek medical advice before working with aroma chemicals
For complete peace of mind consult the latest Material Safety Data Sheet from your supplier and verify any IFRA restrictions that may apply to your chosen product category. Regulations and recommended limits can change so it is wise to review them regularly and stay aligned with current best practice.
Storage And Disposal
When sealed and stored with care Mck Chinese keeps its full character for roughly two to three years before a retest is wise. Cooler conditions slow down oxidation so a spot in the refrigerator can push the usable life toward the longer end of that range, yet a simple shelf in a cool dark cupboard works for most day-to-day needs.
Choose bottles with tight polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. These liners create a snug seal that blocks air and stops slow leaks. Avoid dropper tops or cork stoppers because they allow vapor loss and invite oxygen inside.
Try to keep each bottle topped up. A small headspace speeds up color change and can dull the cedar tone over time. If your supply gets low transfer the remainder to a smaller vial rather than leaving a half-empty flask.
Label every container clearly with the name, date opened, concentration if diluted and any hazard pictograms your supplier recommends. Good labeling prevents mix-ups and saves time when you need to check safety data later.
Mck Chinese is classed as non-biodegradable so never rinse leftovers down the sink. Collect unused liquid or rinse solvent in a sealed waste jar and hand it to a licensed chemical disposal service along with other perfume residues. Wipe spills with absorbent paper then bag and discard as chemical waste in accordance with local rules.
Summary
Mck Chinese is a renewable upcycled woody base note that smells warm, woody and resinous with a soft musk shadow. It stays on skin and blotter for hours which makes it perfect for anchoring cedar, sandalwood, amber or leather themes.
Formulators love it because it blends easily, costs less than some natural woods yet still feels refined enough for fine fragrance. It behaves well in soap and fabric conditioner so a single drum can cover many projects.
Keep an eye on its moderate stability in powder detergent and remember the scent can turn pencil-dry at high levels, but apart from that it is a fun ingredient that slips into countless accords and helps push sustainability goals forward.