What Is Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed?
Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed is a woody aroma ingredient developed by DSM-Firmenich. It is a special version of the original Clearwood that has been pre-diluted at 50 % with Hedione for easier handling. While DSM-Firmenich owns the trademark, other suppliers sometimes offer comparable biotech patchouli materials under different names.
The ingredient is produced through white biotechnology. Instead of farming patchouli plants and distilling the oil, a cultured micro-organism ferments sustainable sugarcane and turns it into a high level of patchoulol. This gives perfumers a steady quality and cuts the earthy off-notes that can show up in natural patchouli batches.
At room temperature Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed is a clear to pale amber liquid with medium thickness. It pours smoothly and blends well with both oils and alcohol. The scent comes ready to use so no additional dilution is needed for most work.
Since its launch in 2014 the material has become a common tool in modern fine fragrance as well as home and personal care. Brands like its soft patchouli tone and strong stability, and the ingredient meets most global regulatory standards.
When stored unopened in a cool dark spot the shelf life is roughly two to three years before the odour starts to fade. It sits in the mid price bracket for woody ingredients: more costly than basic synthetics yet far below rare naturals or captive specialties.
Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed’s Scent Description
This material lives in the woody olfactory family. Off a standard blotter it first gives a gentle creamy warmth that quickly settles into a rounded patchouli heart. The usual earthy harshness of patchouli is toned down, replaced by a smooth ambery glow and a faint oakmoss echo that keeps the profile lively.
Smell it again after a few minutes and you may notice hints of soft chocolate and damp forest floor, all wrapped in a silky veil. There is nothing rough or dusty, making it feel more polished and even slightly feminine compared with classic patchouli oil.
In perfumery we divide scents into top, middle and base notes. Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed sits firmly in the base. It appears early enough to support the heart yet its main job is to anchor the composition and extend wear.
The projection is moderate. It will radiate a gentle aura for the first few hours then pull closer to the skin while still adding depth to the overall scent. Longevity is solid: on a blotter expect the note to remain clear for more than 24 hours and in a finished perfume it can keep a woody presence well into the next day.
How & Where To Use Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed
Perfumers reach for Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed when they want patchouli depth without the rustic roughness of natural oil. It slides easily into modern woody accords, bringing a polished earthy facet that feels clean yet still rooted in nature. Because the material is already blended in Hedione FAB it integrates smoothly with floral and citrus top notes, giving them a gentle amber glow.
The ingredient shines in base constructions for chypres, gourmands, spicy orientals and contemporary fougères. It pairs especially well with rose, jasmine and ylang to create the classic patchouli plus floral sandwich that lifts bouquets in the drydown. When a formula needs the darkness of patchouli but must stay “luminous” for mainstream appeal, Prisma is often chosen over raw patchouli oil or higher terpenoid patchouli fractions.
Recommended concentration usually sits between traces and 5 percent of the finished fragrance concentrate. At 0.1 percent it lends a subtle softening veil that reads as general woodiness. Move toward 1–2 percent and the character becomes unmistakably patchouli with cocoa and damp earth nuances. Push beyond 4 percent and the note dominates, sometimes flattening lively top notes and making the perfume skew too heavy or dirty, so dosage trials are essential.
In wash‐off products such as shampoo or shower gel a level around 0.3–1 percent in the fragrance oil is typical. Scented candles tolerate higher amounts thanks to slower release, though wicks can struggle if the final candle formula is overly viscous, so small burn tests are advised.
The material arrives already diluted 50 percent in Hedione FAB, which means no additional predilution is technically required for weighing. Still, many perfumers further thin it to 10 percent in ethanol or IPM for precise pipetting and faster blending. Gentle warming to 30 °C loosens any slight viscosity before measuring, but avoid prolonged heating to protect quality.
Because Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed is rich in patchoulol it can mask delicate fruit esters if overdosed. Use restraint when the composition relies on crisp pear, apple or rhubarb effects. Conversely, its creamy amber side can round out rough cedar, vetiver or guaiac nuances, so consider it a buffering agent within complex woody bases.
Safely Using Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed
Dilution is key. Always work from a premade solution rather than smelling or handling the concentrated material. Avoid direct sniffing from the bottle. Instead waft the scent from a blotter held at a distance. Carry out weighing and evaluation in a well ventilated space or under a fume hood.
Protective gear matters. Wear nitrile gloves to prevent skin contact and safety glasses to guard against splashes. Even though Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed is considered low hazard compared with many raw patchouli oils prolonged contact can still lead to irritation.
Some individuals are sensitive to terpenoids and alcohols found in woody ingredients. Redness, itching or respiratory discomfort may occur in rare cases. Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should speak with a healthcare professional before working with aroma chemicals. Brief exposure to low concentrations used in routine fragrance compounding is generally regarded as safe, yet extended exposure to high levels can have cumulative effects.
Clean spills promptly with an inert absorbent such as silica or vermiculite then wash the area with mild detergent. Dispose of contaminated materials according to local regulations for organic chemicals. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use to minimize oxidation and vapor buildup.
For the most up to date safety data consult the Material Safety Data Sheet supplied by your vendor and review it regularly as revisions occur. Always align your formula with current IFRA guidelines to ensure the final product meets global safety standards.
How To Store & Dispose of Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed
Store Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed in a cool dark cupboard or cabinet that stays under 25 °C. A refrigerator set to 4–8 °C can stretch its shelf life by slowing oxidation but is not strictly required if the ambient space is stable and away from direct sunlight hot pipes or radiators. Sudden temperature swings will cause condensation inside the bottle so let chilled stock reach room temperature before opening.
Choose amber glass or high-density polyethylene bottles fitted with polycone caps. The conical liner forms a tight seal that blocks air and prevents the slow evaporation that can happen with rubber droppers or pipette tops. Keep each container as full as practical by transferring leftovers into smaller bottles once you decant working solutions. Less headspace means less oxygen and fewer degradation by-products that might dull the scent.
Label every vessel clearly with the ingredient name CAS number concentration if diluted and the date it was filled. Include hazard pictograms and basic PPE reminders to keep anyone who handles your materials informed at a glance. Place labels on both bottle and cap so the identity remains visible even if one part is separated during use.
For day-to-day disposal, wipe measuring tools with paper towel then seal the waste into a solvent-safe can for licensed chemical pickup. Small test batches or residue can often be mixed with cat litter or vermiculite and disposed of as hazardous household waste according to local regulations. Do not pour neat material down the sink; while patchoulol is slowly biodegradable the Hedione carrier is classed as potentially harmful to aquatic life in high concentrations. Municipal treatment plants are not designed for fragrance oils so always opt for solidification and designated drop-off points.
Rinse empty bottles with a little ethanol, let them dry, then recycle the glass or HDPE where facilities accept triple-rinsed chemical containers. If in doubt ask your waste service for the correct code before discarding.
Summary
Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed is a biotechnologically produced patchouli alcohol diluted 1:1 in Hedione FAB that brings polished woody warmth with soft amber and cocoa accents. In perfumery it acts as a modern patchouli note that is cleaner and more luminous than traditional oil giving reliable depth to chypres gourmands orientals and airy florals.
The ingredient enjoys strong popularity because it is renewable consistent in quality and easy to blend. It is stable for several years when stored properly and its mid-level cost makes it accessible for both artisan and mass-market briefs though the specific patchouli profile can overpower delicate fruits if overdosed.
Commercial quantities are available directly from DSM-Firmenich and authorized distributors while hobbyists can find smaller packs through specialist fragrance suppliers and generic aroma chemical vendors. Whether you need a subtle woody cushion or a full-bodied patchouli signature Clearwood Prisma 50 Hed is a versatile tool worth a place on the evaluator strip.