What Is Citronellol 950?
Citronellol 950 is a single aroma molecule first isolated from plant sources in the late nineteenth century, around 1891, when chemists were separating the many parts of natural essential oils. Today it is obtained in two principal ways: by fractionating and refining essential oils such as citronella or rose, or by a gentle chemical conversion of related natural materials like geraniol. Both routes rely on renewable feedstocks and are fully traceable, so the material is considered naturally derived, upcycled, vegan suitable and readily biodegradable.
At room temperature the ingredient is a clear liquid that can look water like or show a faint straw tint depending on purity. It flows easily and mixes well with most perfume oils which makes weighing and blending straightforward for both hobbyists and professionals.
Citronellol 950 is one of the workhorse building blocks of modern fragrance creation. It appears in a broad range of finished products from fine perfumes and soaps to fabric conditioners and candles. Because production uses abundant plant waste streams the cost is reasonable, sitting in the mid range for bulk aroma chemicals, so even mass-market formulators can include generous amounts without breaking the budget.
Perfumers appreciate its long-lasting nature on skin and fabric together with its compatibility across many formulation types. These qualities have secured its place on the standard palette of nearly every fragrance house.
What Does Citronellol 950 Smell Like?
Citronellol 950 is generally classified in the floral family. On a blotter the first impression is an assertive rose petal note that feels fresh yet slightly waxy, as if the petals still carry morning dew. Very quickly a green geranium nuance joins in, adding a crisp leafy edge that keeps the flower from seeming overly sweet. Within minutes a delicate splash of citrus appears, uplifting the profile without turning it into a fruit accord. As the blotter dries the material softens into a gentle powdery trail that lingers for hours.
To put this into the usual perfume language of top, middle and base notes, Citronellol 950 sits mainly in the heart of a composition while making a noticeable entrance in the top. Its presence in the base is weaker, yet the molecule’s high stability means traces can still be detected a day or two later, especially on fabric.
Projection starts off moderate to strong depending on dosage, sending a clear rosy aura around the wearer for the first hour or so. Longevity is impressive for a floral ingredient, routinely surpassing 48 hours on a blotter and offering solid performance on skin, laundry and candle wax alike.
How & Where To Use Citronellol 950
If you like ingredients that behave themselves at the bench this one is a pleasure. It pours easily, blends without fuss and rarely discolours or crystallises so weighing and cleanup stay simple.
Perfumers usually reach for Citronellol 950 when they want to push a realistic fresh rose or geranium note through the middle of a formula. It can stand alone to give a single-flower impression or fill out a larger bouquet with materials like phenyl ethyl alcohol, rose oxide or geraniol. Because it is less green than pure geraniol and less citrus than citronellal it bridges the gap between those facets, rounding sharp edges and adding petal softness.
In fine fragrance a common inclusion level is 1-5 % of the concentrate. This is often enough to give body to florals, lift fruity accords and provide a long-lasting floral glow in musky bases. Functional products such as liquid detergent or fabric conditioner can tolerate much higher dosages, sometimes 10-15 % or even more, because the material remains stable and cost effective. Candles and soaps also benefit from its heat and alkali resistance.
Smell perception shifts with concentration. At very low traces it shows a citrus sparkle useful for freshening top notes. As you raise the level the rosy heart becomes dominant then, past roughly 8-10 %, a light waxy facet can creep in which may or may not suit the brief. Overdosing above 20 % can start to feel heavy and slightly oily so support with crisp green notes or modern musks if you need that much power.
No special prep work is needed beyond the usual good practice of pre-diluting to 10 % in alcohol or dipropylene glycol for evaluation. The molecule is compatible with most solvents and fixatives and does not require antioxidants or chelators in normal circumstances.
Safety Information
Working with any aroma chemical calls for a few sensible precautions to keep the creative process safe and comfortable.
- Always dilute before smelling: prepare a 10 % solution in a suitable solvent and evaluate from a blotter rather than sniffing the neat liquid.
- Avoid direct inhalation: keep the bottle away from your nose and work in a well-ventilated area or near a fume hood to disperse airborne vapours.
- Wear personal protection: gloves protect the skin from potential irritation and safety glasses shield the eyes from accidental splashes.
- Health considerations: some users can experience skin sensitisation or allergic reactions. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding consult a health professional before handling any fragrance materials. Short contact with low concentrations is generally regarded as safe but prolonged or high-level exposure may be harmful.
The guidance above is only a starting point. Always review the latest supplier Safety Data Sheet for the specific batch you own, keep an eye on future updates and follow current IFRA standards for maximum permitted use levels in your chosen product category.
Storage And Disposal
When kept under the right conditions Citronellol 950 easily stays in top shape for two to three years, often longer. A quick sniff and visual check for cloudiness or off odours will tell you if it is still fresh.
Refrigeration is optional but helpful. A household fridge set around 5 °C slows oxidation and preserves the bright rosy profile. If fridge space is tight a cool cupboard or basement shelf kept under 20 °C works almost as well as long as the bottle stays out of direct sunlight and away from heaters or hot pipes.
Use bottles with airtight polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. These caps squeeze against the glass and block incoming air far better than dropper tops which can leak or wick fumes. Aim to keep each bottle as full as possible. Topping up or decanting into smaller containers leaves less headspace, cutting down contact with oxygen that can dull the scent over time.
Label every container clearly with the ingredient name, date filled, strength of any dilution and simple safety notes like “wear gloves” or “skin sensitiser”. Good labels save guessing months later and help anyone else in the studio handle the material correctly.
Thanks to its readily biodegradable nature small test quantities can go in the general waste stream after soaking into cat litter or paper towel, then sealing in a plastic bag. Larger volumes should be handed to a licensed chemical disposal service or taken to a local household hazardous waste site. Never pour leftovers down the drain because concentrated perfume oils can still upset water treatment systems.
Rinse empty bottles with a little solvent, add the rinse to your next cleaning batch and recycle the glass once odor free. A tidy workspace with clearly marked, well sealed bottles makes every project smoother and safer.
Summary
Citronellol 950 is a naturally derived floral molecule that bursts with fresh rose, soft geranium and a hint of citrus. It pours clean, lasts for days on blotter and shows up everywhere from fine perfume to laundry care. At low levels it lends sparkle, in the mid range it builds a convincing bouquet and at higher dosages it anchors floral accords while staying cost friendly.
Perfumers love how forgiving it is in blends, how well it handles heat and alkalinity and how its price lets you use it generously. Just watch for slight waxy notes if you push above ten percent and remember to store it cool and capped tight. With those small points in mind it is a fun, versatile building block that earns a permanent spot on almost every fragrance bench.