What Is Honeyflor?
Honeyflor is the trade name for the aroma chemical registered under CAS number 13894-61-6, chemically identified as methyl 3-hexenoate in its trans or 3E configuration. First catalogued for perfumery work in 1968, it was developed during a period when chemists were exploring fruity esters for their unexpected floral nuances.
The material is produced through a controlled esterification process that starts with plant-derived hexenoic acid, though the final product is classed as synthetic because the reaction takes place in a lab setting rather than in nature. Manufacturers value the reaction route for its reliability and for the high purity it yields, which in turn keeps batch-to-batch odor remarkably consistent.
At room temperature Honeyflor appears as a clear to very slightly yellow liquid with medium viscosity. It pours easily, blends smoothly with most perfumery solvents and remains stable in finished products ranging from fine fragrance to household cleaners.
In terms of market presence, Honeyflor is considered a workhorse specialty ingredient rather than an ultra-niche novelty. It is found on many creative palettes thanks to its versatility and modest cost, sitting comfortably in the mid-price tier of synthetic floral notes.
What Does Honeyflor Smell Like?
Perfumers list Honeyflor within the floral family. Off a blotter it opens with a bright leafy freshness that recalls snapped green stems, quickly revealing a lush floral body reminiscent of blooming hyacinth and ylang. Running through the heart is a soft honeyed facet that lends natural-feeling sweetness without veering into candy territory. The balance between green freshness and nectar warmth makes the note both lively and comforting.
In fragrance construction we talk about top, middle and base notes to describe how materials appear over time. Honeyflor behaves as a middle note with a slight top-note flash owing to its light molecular weight. It announces itself almost immediately after application, remains present for roughly an hour on a paper blotter and then fades without clinging to the deepest drydown.
Projection sits in the moderate range: noticeable enough to color a composition yet polite enough not to dominate. Longevity mirrors its listed tenacity, giving a clear impression for just over an hour before retreating, which allows perfumers to layer it with longer-lasting florals or supportive base materials for extended effect.
How & Where To Use Honeyflor
In day-to-day blending Honeyflor is a pleasure to handle. It pours cleanly, dissolves without fuss in alcohol or dipropylene glycol and does not cling to glassware with any stubborn residue.
Perfumers pick it up when they need to inject a flash of green freshness into a floral heart while keeping the bouquet sweet and natural. It slips neatly into hyacinth accords, modern muguet bases or any composition calling for a petal-like honey nuance that feels alive rather than syrupy.
The note excels in gourmand florals where a pastry or caramel theme risks becoming heavy. A trace of Honeyflor lifts the build, adds realistic nectar and prevents the profile from feeling baked. In crisp green florals it bridges leafy top notes with creamy ylang or jasmine mid notes, smoothing the transition so the scent reads coherent from start to finish.
Typical usage falls between traces and 1 percent for fine fragrance. In soaps, shampoos and detergents formulators may push it to 2 percent thanks to the extra robustness needed to survive processing. Beyond 3 percent the honey facet can turn sharp and slightly sweaty so testing at several dilutions is wise before committing to scale.
At very low dosage the material behaves almost like cut grass with a dewy quality. As concentration rises the floral center gains volume then, past its ideal window, the green note thins out and an acidic edge creeps in. This concentration sensitivity makes serial dilution strips helpful during formula work so the exact sweet spot is locked in early.
No special prep is required beyond the usual: keep a 10 percent solution in ethanol or DPG on hand for quick smelling, label the stock bottle clearly and store it away from light to preserve brightness.
Safely Information
Working with Honeyflor, like any aroma chemical, calls for a few common-sense precautions to protect both the user and the quality of the finished product.
- Dilute before evaluation: create a 10 percent or lower solution so you can smell the material accurately and avoid overwhelming the nose
- Avoid direct sniffing: never inhale straight from the bottle, instead waft the scent from a blotter at arm’s length
- Ventilation: blend and test in a well-ventilated space to keep airborne concentration low
- Personal protective equipment: wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to prevent accidental skin or eye contact
- Health considerations: some aroma chemicals can irritate skin or trigger allergies, brief low-level exposure is usually fine but high or prolonged exposure may be harmful, consult a doctor before use if pregnant or breastfeeding
The best practice is to review the latest material safety data sheet supplied by your vendor and check back regularly for updates. Follow any current IFRA guidelines on maximum usage to ensure your creations are both beautiful and safe.
Storage And Disposal
When kept under ideal conditions Honeyflor retains its full character for about three to five years. After that point the top freshness starts to dull but the material usually remains usable for trials if it still smells clean.
Refrigeration is not strictly required yet a spot in the back of a household fridge can slow oxidation and extend shelf life. If room is limited a cupboard that stays cool and dark works well as long as it is away from heaters or direct sun.
Choose glass bottles with tight polycone caps for both neat stock and dilutions. These caps create a compression seal that keeps air and moisture out better than standard droppers. Avoid eyedropper bottles because the rubber bulbs breathe and let oxygen creep in between sessions.
Try to keep each bottle as full as practical. A smaller headspace means less oxygen available to attack the ester and cause off notes. If your stock level drops below half transfer the remainder to a smaller container to maintain that minimal air gap.
Label every bottle clearly with the name Honeyflor, the dilution strength if applicable, the date filled and any hazard symbols or phrases pulled from the safety data sheet. Good labeling prevents mix-ups and keeps anyone who handles your shelf informed.
Unused or spent material should never be poured straight into the sink. Small hobby amounts can be soaked into kitty litter or coffee grounds, sealed in a bag then placed in household trash according to local regulations. Larger volumes belong in a chemical waste stream collected by community hazardous waste centers or professional recyclers.
The ester backbone of Honeyflor biodegrades in aerobic conditions but that process is gradual. Responsible disposal protects waterways and maintains good studio hygiene.
Summary
Honeyflor is a synthetic floral ester that gives a lively mix of green stems, blooming hyacinth and gentle honey sweetness. It slots into gourmand, green or general floral accords wherever a natural nectar lift is needed.
The note is fun to play with thanks to its easy handling and the way a tiny tweak can shift a blend from leafy to cuddly. Cost sits in a friendly mid range so you can experiment without fear of burning through the budget.
Remember it is fairly light with about an hour of blotter life, benefits from protection against air and light and can turn sharp if overdosed. Treat it well, explore different concentrations and it will reward you across everything from fine fragrance to soaps and candles.