What Is Fixobois?
Fixobois is an aroma chemical developed in the early 1970s during a wave of research aimed at expanding the palette of woody specialties available to perfumers. Chemists designed it in the lab, so it is a fully synthetic ingredient rather than something distilled or extracted from wood itself.
The manufacturing process starts with readily available petrochemical feedstocks that are refined, reacted and purified through several steps to create a clear, mobile liquid. Thanks to robust modern production techniques its quality is remarkably consistent from batch to batch, which is why both artisan and large-scale fragrance houses trust it.
At room temperature Fixobois looks like a colorless to very pale yellow fluid that pours easily. It blends smoothly with perfumer’s alcohol and most common solvent systems, so working with it in the lab or factory is straightforward.
Because it offers a dependable woody backbone at an accessible price, Fixobois has become a workhorse across fine fragrance and functional products. You will find it in everything from prestige eau de parfum to household detergents. While not the cheapest chemical on the market, it sits comfortably in the midrange, allowing broad usage without putting undue pressure on formulation costs.
What Does Fixobois Smell Like?
Perfumers place Fixobois in the woody family. Off a blotter it opens with an immediately clear impression of dry timber accompanied by a soft amber warmth. There is no greenness or dampness here, instead the profile feels sun-baked, slightly resinous and reassuringly solid.
As the minutes pass the note deepens, revealing a compact core that comes across as smooth cedar shavings fused with a subtle balsamic sweetness. It never turns smoky or leathery, so the overall character stays clean and refined rather than rustic.
In traditional perfume structure we talk about top, middle and base notes. Fixobois firmly occupies the base. It appears faintly in the early stages yet its true strength lies in how it anchors the heart materials and supports them over time. While citrus or floral notes may fade within an hour or two, Fixobois keeps working quietly beneath the surface for many hours.
Projection is moderate: it does not leap off the skin but creates a comfortable aura that others notice within an arm’s length. Longevity is excellent on both skin and fabric, often stretching past eight hours and extending even longer in solid products such as candles or soap.
How & Where To Use Fixobois
Fixobois is a pleasure to handle. It pours easily, stays clear and does not cling stubbornly to glassware, so lab cleanup is quick.
Perfumers reach for it when they need a dependable dry woody anchor that feels warmer and more amber toned than Iso E Super yet less smoky than guaiac or cade notes. It slots neatly into cedar, sandalwood and amber accords, lending fullness and improving staying power without stealing the spotlight.
In fine fragrance it often sits at 1-3 % of the total concentrate. A trace of 0.1 % gives a faint woody whisper, while pushing closer to 5 % creates a dominant woody-amber backbone that can overwhelm lighter florals. Test strips show the scent turning richer and slightly sweeter as the dosage rises.
Functional products like shampoo, shower gel and fabric softener benefit from the material’s tenacity and stability. It survives high pH soap bases and holds up well in candle wax, though extremely hot pour temperatures can cause some loss of freshness so a cool down before addition is advised.
Prep work is minimal. A 10 % dilution in ethanol or dipropylene glycol is helpful for accurate weighing and speedier trials. Avoid using plastic pipettes for long-term storage because Fixobois can soften some plastics over time.
Safety Information
Like any fragrance raw material Fixobois needs a few sensible precautions to keep work safe and comfortable.
- Always dilute before evaluation: Prepare a 10 % solution in alcohol or carrier oil before smelling to prevent nose fatigue and irritation.
- Never smell straight from the bottle: Direct sniffing concentrates vapors in one burst which can overwhelm your senses.
- Ensure good ventilation: Work near a fume hood or open window so airborne molecules disperse quickly.
- Wear gloves and safety glasses: The liquid can cling to skin or splash into eyes so basic lab PPE is a must.
- Mind potential health issues: Some people may experience skin irritation or allergic reaction. If pregnant or breastfeeding consult a healthcare professional before prolonged exposure. Short low-level contact is usually safe but extended high-level contact should be avoided.
Always read the most recent Material Safety Data Sheet from your supplier and check back regularly for updates. Follow IFRA guidelines for maximum use levels to keep your formulas both compliant and safe.
Storage And Disposal
When stored correctly Fixobois keeps its character for around three to four years before any noticeable shift in odour. Some perfumers report it still smelling great after five years when handled with care so you have a comfortable window to use up your stock.
A fridge is helpful but not essential. A cupboard that stays cool all year, stays dry and never gets direct sunlight will do the job. Heat speeds up oxidation and sunlight can yellow the liquid so darkness and a gentle temperature are your best friends.
Use bottles with polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. They create a snug seal that stops slow evaporation and air ingress. Dropper bottles look handy but the rubber bulbs let in oxygen and can absorb scent so give them a miss. If you can, decant into the smallest bottle that will hold the volume so the headspace stays minimal.
Top up bottles after every weighing, wipe the threads, tighten the cap firmly and store them upright. A desiccant pack in the storage box helps if you live in a humid climate.
Label every container clearly with “Fixobois,” its percentage if diluted, the date you opened it and any safety codes. This cuts down on mix-ups and keeps anyone who handles the bottle informed at a glance.
For disposal small lab-scale leftovers can usually go down the drain diluted with plenty of running water provided local regulations allow it. Larger volumes should be collected in a sealed container and handed to a licensed chemical waste contractor. Fixobois is considered slowly biodegradable but it is still best practice to keep it out of natural waterways. Rinse empty bottles with warm soapy water before recycling the glass and cap them to trap residual odour.
Summary
Fixobois is a lab-made woody note that delivers a dry warm timber vibe with a touch of amber sweetness. It behaves as a reliable base note that quietly anchors floral citrus and resinous accords and it slots just as easily into shampoo as it does a niche parfum. Because it is mid-priced, stable and easy to blend the material has earned a solid spot in the modern perfumer’s toolkit.
Whether you use it at a whisper to add gentle backbone or push it higher for a bold woody statement it is a fun ingredient that plays well with cedar sandalwood and amber themes. Just keep an eye on air exposure to preserve freshness, factor its specific woody-amber colour into your design and enjoy the versatility it offers across both fine and functional fragrance work.