What Is Clearwood Prisma?
Clearwood Prisma is an advanced aroma ingredient first unveiled by Firmenich in 2020 as a concentrated evolution of their original Clearwood material introduced six years earlier. It was created through biotechnology rather than traditional distillation or petrochemical synthesis. Sugar cane is fermented by specially selected yeast strains that generate patchoulol, which is then purified and further refined to yield the more potent Prisma grade.
Although its molecular backbone can be traced back to nature, the production route takes place entirely in a controlled laboratory setting so perfumers classify it as a biotech ingredient rather than strictly natural. The result is a pale solid at room temperature that softens quickly when warmed, making it easy to weigh and melt into fragrance bases.
Clearwood Prisma has become a staple for perfumers working on both prestige fine fragrances and everyday functional products because it delivers depth without the complexity of sourcing botanical patchouli oil. Thanks to the scalability of fermentation, it is considered reasonably priced for the effect it provides, sitting comfortably between commodity woods and luxury naturals.
What Does Clearwood Prisma Smell Like?
Perfumers place Clearwood Prisma in the woody family.
Off a blotter it opens with the familiar depth of patchouli yet feels noticeably cleaner than traditional patchouli oil. There is a creamy warmth that hints at amber, joined by a subtle earthy tone that evokes damp oakmoss. As the minutes pass a gentle sweetness emerges which keeps the woodiness from feeling rough. The overall profile is streamlined and modern, free from the camphor or smoky notes sometimes associated with natural patchouli.
In the perfume pyramid notes are grouped by how quickly they evaporate. Top notes appear first, middle notes form the heart and base notes linger for the longest. Clearwood Prisma sits firmly in the base where it anchors lighter materials and extends the life of the composition.
Projection is moderate to strong so a small dosage can radiate nicely from skin or fabric. Longevity is excellent, with the woody amber tone still present many hours after application, making it a reliable backbone for both fine fragrance and functional formulas.
How & Where To Use Clearwood Prisma
In short Clearwood Prisma is a joy to handle. It melts quickly, blends smoothly and behaves predictably in both alcohol and oil based systems so it makes the creative process feel effortless.
Perfumers reach for it when they want the depth of patchouli without its rustic quirks. It slides into woody ambers, modern chypres and gourmand woods with equal ease, polishing rough edges and adding a velvety base that lasts all day. In a classic sandalwood accord it can fill out the mid section, while in a floral bouquet a trace can ground airy petals and give them a more grown up signature. Whenever a formula calls for clean patchouli character that will not overshadow delicate top notes this ingredient often beats natural oils or synthetic amber woods.
Applications are broad. In fine fragrance it anchors eau de parfum concentrations at 0.5-3 percent, pushing toward 5 percent for extrait or candle bases where burn off is higher. In shampoos, liquid soaps and detergents a typical dose sits between 0.1-0.5 percent to avoid over-dominance yet still leave a plush after-scent on hair or fabric. It excels in candles where its low volatility supports throw and heat stability, though in very fresh citrus cleaners it can feel too heavy if overdosed.
Perception shifts with strength. At trace levels it gives a gentle earthy glow almost like damp moss, at one percent the creamy amber facet blooms, and above three percent the full woody patchouli core becomes obvious. Testing different dilutions on blotters helps decide which personality suits the brief.
Because it is a soft solid you may need to warm the jar in a gentle water bath or on a low hotplate before weighing. Pre-diluting to 10 percent in ethanol or dipropylene glycol saves time when making multiple trials and ensures even distribution in the concentrate.
Safety Information
Working with Clearwood Prisma is straightforward yet certain precautions and considerations must always be observed.
- Always dilute before evaluation: prepare a 10 percent solution in a suitable solvent so the odor can be assessed safely and accurately
- Avoid smelling directly from the bottle: use blotter strips or smelling jars to prevent overwhelming exposure
- Ensure good ventilation: blend and evaluate in a fume hood or well-aerated room to keep airborne concentration low
- Wear gloves and safety glasses: contact with undiluted material can cause irritation so protect skin and eyes
- Health considerations: some aroma chemicals may provoke irritation or allergic responses, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a medical professional before use, and prolonged or high-level exposure should be avoided even though brief low-level contact is generally considered safe
For complete peace of mind always refer to the latest Material Safety Data Sheet supplied by your vendor and follow any updated instructions. Adhere to current IFRA guidelines regarding maximum usage levels in each product category to maintain both legal compliance and consumer safety.
Storage And Disposal
When kept under the right conditions Clearwood Prisma remains in excellent shape for around three to five years before any noticeable drop in strength or clarity appears. Some perfumers happily stretch that window to seven years if quality checks show no change in odor.
Refrigeration is helpful but not strictly required. A cool cupboard out of direct sunlight works well as long as temperature swings are minimal. Heat and UV light are the main enemies so avoid shelving the jar near radiators windows or hot plates.
Screw-top bottles fitted with polycone caps provide the best seal for both the neat material and its dilutions. Droppers and pipette caps let air creep in which speeds up oxidation and can leave a stubborn resin ring on the neck of the bottle.
Try to use container sizes that you can keep almost full. A small headspace means less oxygen sitting on top of the liquid which helps preserve the creamy patchouli character. If you receive a large drum decant working stock into smaller amber bottles and top them off to leave as little air as possible.
Label every container clearly with the ingredient name batch number date opened and any hazard icons shown on the supplier SDS. A quick glance should tell anyone in the lab what is inside and how they must handle it.
Unused or expired Clearwood Prisma is not considered highly toxic yet it should never go straight down the sink. Small quantities can be soaked into an absorbent material such as sand or cat litter then sealed in a bag and placed with chemical waste according to local regulations. Larger volumes should be collected by an approved disposal service that handles industrial fragrance residues. The ingredient is partially biodegradable but slow in aquatic systems so responsible disposal keeps waterways clean.
Summary
Clearwood Prisma is a biotech take on patchouli that delivers a smooth woody amber vibe without the rough edges of the natural oil. It behaves as a solid that melts on cue blends like a dream and anchors everything from floral bouquets to gourmand woods.
Perfumers love it because a pinch brings depth velvet and long wear at a price that sits comfortably between commodity woods and high end naturals. It is stable in most formats from fine fragrance to detergents though heat and air will dull its radiance over time.
If you need a modern clean patchouli thread to weave through chypres woody ambers or candle bases this ingredient ticks the box and leaves plenty of creative room to play.