What Is Florocyclene?
Florocyclene is an aroma compound created by Givaudan that belongs to the cyclene family of specialty esters. While Givaudan owns the trademarked name, equivalent propionate esters are sometimes offered by distributors under generic labels, so you may see it referenced without the brand tag in independent sourcing lists.
The material is made by reacting a cyclene core with propionic acid, giving a softer profile than its better-known cousin Jasmacyclene. The resulting liquid shows a pale yellow hue at room temperature and carries a viscosity similar to light vegetable oil, making it easy to pour or weigh in the lab.
Perfumers reach for Florocyclene when they need a floral booster that can bridge jasmine notes with fresh fruity facets. It is not as ubiquitous as classic floralizers like Hedione yet it appears in a steady stream of fine fragrance, body care and soap formulas because of its strong performance in high-pH products.
Most suppliers list a recommended shelf life of roughly two to three years when the drum is kept sealed, cool and out of direct light. Once opened the quality stays steady for at least 12 months if nitrogen blanketing or tight resealing is practiced.
Pricing lands in the moderate bracket. It is rarely considered a luxury raw material yet still commands more than everyday aroma chemicals such as benzyl acetate, mainly because of the tighter production pool and the specialized role it plays.
Florocyclene’s Scent Description
Florocyclene sits firmly in the floral family. Off a fresh blotter the first impression is a bright jasmine petal washed with juicy apple and pear tones. Very soon a green leafy nuance pops up, lending a freshly snipped stem effect that keeps the sweetness from becoming syrupy. A faint whisper of anise lingers in the background and adds a subtle coolness.
The note structure of perfume is often broken into top, middle and base. Top notes are the first flashes you smell, middle notes form the heart that defines the character and base notes are the slowest to evaporate. Florocyclene lives in the heart, arriving within minutes of application and remaining present for hours. It rarely leads the opening yet it anchors the floral body with more depth than transient top notes like citrus or light aldehydes.
Projection is medium; the material creates a gentle aura rather than a loud cloud. On a strip it continues to give detectable scent for several days, and on skin it tends to persist for four to six hours depending on concentration and the surrounding formula.
How & Where To Use Florocyclene
Perfumers pick Florocyclene when they want a soft jasmine character that does not fight with other floral notes. It shines in white flower bouquets, pear accords and green fruity themes where a gentle middle note is needed to bridge bright top notes to creamy bases. If Jasmacyclene feels too sharp or metallic Florocyclene offers a smoother option that still keeps the blend lively.
Typical use ranges from a trace to around 0.5 % in fine fragrance, creeping up toward 2 % in soaps or fabric care where some of its sweetness is lost in the matrix. The manufacturer allows up to 5 % but few formulas need that much. At low levels it whispers fresh petal realism, at higher levels the fruity anise facet grows until it can dominate and throw the balance off. Over-use may push a perfume into candy territory and can muddy top notes, so weigh it against other cyclenes and fruity boosters.
Florocyclene pairs well with hedione, cis-3-hexenyl acetate and fruity esters like allyl caproate. It also rounds out naturals such as jasmine absolute or ylang-ylang by filling gaps without adding indolic weight. In woody or musky bases a drop can lift the heart and stop the blend feeling flat.
The material is liquid and easy to handle. No pre-dissolution is needed for alcohol fragrance work though cutting it to 10 % in ethanol or DPG helps with precision weighing and smelling. In solid bases like wax melts or sticks warm the base slightly before blending to ensure even distribution.
Avoid mixing Florocyclene with strong aldehydes until you have smelled the combo on a strip because aldehydes can wipe out its gentle floral tone. Citrus notes on the other hand enliven it and stop the propionate sweetness from feeling heavy.
Safely Using Florocyclene
Always dilute Florocyclene before evaluating it. Work with a 10 % solution or lower so you can judge its true scent without overwhelming your senses. Never sniff straight from the bottle as high vapor concentration can irritate the nose and mask subtle facets.
Use the material in a well-ventilated space. Open windows or run an extraction fan to keep air moving and reduce inhalation of fumes. Wear nitrile gloves to prevent skin contact and safety glasses to shield the eyes from splashes.
Some aroma chemicals may trigger skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. If you notice redness or discomfort wash the area with mild soap and water and seek medical advice if symptoms persist. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a healthcare professional before working with any fragrance raw material.
Short encounters with low levels of Florocyclene are generally considered safe yet long exposure to concentrated vapors or liquid can stress the respiratory system. Plan your weighing and blending tasks so you spend minimal time near open containers.
Always review the latest Material Safety Data Sheet supplied by your vendor and check it regularly for updates. Follow the International Fragrance Association guidelines on maximum use levels for each product type to keep consumers and yourself safe.
How To Store & Dispose of Florocyclene
Florocyclene keeps its delicate floral profile best when protected from light and heat. A dedicated perfume fridge set between 4 °C and 8 °C is ideal but a cool cupboard away from windows or radiators will also do the job. Whichever spot you choose make sure the bottle stays tightly closed after every use to slow down oxidation.
Use bottles fitted with polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. The cone forms a pliable seal that blocks air infiltration far better than common dropper tops which can leak volatile vapors and invite moisture. If you must work from a dropper bottle transfer only the amount needed for immediate blending then return the rest to a sealed container.
Oxidation speeds up when a bottle is half empty. Top up working solutions with fresh solvent to minimise headspace or decant the remainder into a smaller vial. Date each bottle and run a quick smell check every few months so you can catch any off notes early.
Label every container clearly with the name Florocyclene its CAS numbers 68912-13-0 and 17511-60-3 concentration if diluted plus hazard symbols and first aid advice. Good labelling prevents mix-ups and lets anyone in your workspace react quickly in case of a spill.
When it is time to discard leftover Florocyclene treat it as hazardous chemical waste. The molecule is rated non biodegradable and ecotoxic so never pour it down sinks or outside drains. Small residues can be absorbed onto cat litter or vermiculite then sealed in a strong bag and taken to a household hazardous waste drop-off. Larger quantities or rinse solvents should go to a licensed disposal contractor who can incinerate the material under controlled conditions.
Wipe down benches with an ethanol-damp cloth collect the wipes in a sealed container and dispose of them with other scented waste. Keep a spill kit on hand so any accidental releases are dealt with quickly without spreading vapors through the workspace.
Summary
Florocyclene is a Givaudan developed floral molecule that gives perfumers a soft jasmine note backed by gentle green and fruity nuances. It acts as a middle note lasting several days on a blotter and brings a natural lift to white flower bouquets pear accords and fresh green themes without the sharp edge found in some related cyclenes.
The material is moderately priced and chemically stable making it attractive for fine fragrance soaps and fabric care where bloom and wet substantivity matter. Its scent is specific though so overuse can push a formula toward candy sweet territory and strong aldehydes may drown it out.
Most creators buy Florocyclene in bulk direct from Givaudan or large distributors but hobbyists can find smaller volumes from specialised resellers and generic producers offering the same CAS-listed material. Store it cool sealed and protected from light dispose of any waste responsibly and this versatile cyclene will reward you with a fresh petal tone that keeps compositions feeling polished and contemporary.