What Is Myrcene 90?
Myrcene 90 is a single aroma molecule created in the lab and supplied commercially by DSM-Firmenich, though other suppliers offer similar grades under generic names. It belongs to the family of synthetic terpenes that give many plants their lively citrus sparkle. Instead of being squeezed from fruit, the material is built through chemical conversion of renewable terpene feedstocks, yielding a highly consistent product every time.
At room temperature the ingredient appears as a clear, water-like liquid that flows easily and blends without effort into oils or alcohol. Its relatively light weight keeps it mobile and helps it diffuse quickly once added to a perfume base.
Formulators reach for Myrcene 90 in all sorts of scented goods. From fine fragrance to everyday cleaning sprays, it delivers a crisp fruity lift that is hard to replace. Because of that versatility the material is considered a staple rather than a niche specialty, so most creative labs keep it on hand.
When stored in a cool dark place with the cap tightly closed, a sealed drum or bottle will typically stay in prime condition for two to three years before the top notes begin to flatten. Prices sit in the middle of the market: not the cheapest of citrus notes yet far from luxury territory, making it attractive for high-volume consumer products as well as prestige blends.
Myrcene 90’s Scent Description
Perfumers group Myrcene 90 within the broad citrus family thanks to its bright first impression. On a blotter the material opens with a splash of fresh fruit juice that evokes ripe mango, sweet orange and a hint of green grape. Almost at once a peppery sparkle pops through, followed by a cool pine-needle nuance that keeps the sweetness in check. A soft aldehydic mist hovers over the whole picture giving the note a clean airy lift.
In the language of perfumery every aroma molecule falls mainly into the top, middle or base of a fragrance’s life. Myrcene 90 starts firmly in the top due to its quick evaporation, then slips into the early heart where its green conifer tone lingers a short while. It does not carry weight into the base, so it is usually paired with woods or musks that extend its life.
Projection is lively at first, sending a zesty halo several feet from the skin or blotter. Within two hours the volume drops to a gentle hum and by the four-to-five-hour mark only a faint woody-green trace remains. This gentle fade makes Myrcene 90 ideal for giving an immediate fruity lift without crowding the drydown.
How & Where To Use Myrcene 90
Perfumers reach for Myrcene 90 when they want a bright tropical fruit lift that still reads natural and slightly green. It slips easily into citrus top-note constructions, mango or passion-fruit accords, sparkling gin and tonic impressions or modern peppery fougères. Compared with limonene or citral, Myrcene 90 adds more pine-needle bite and a subtle spicy edge, so it shines whenever the brief calls for freshness with attitude rather than pure juiciness.
Typical dosage in fine fragrance sits around 0.2-2 percent of the concentrate, just enough to energise the opening without pushing the heart notes aside. Functional products can tolerate higher levels up to 5 percent, though many formulators stay near 3 percent to avoid a raw terpene glare. At trace levels the material behaves like a transparent mango whisper; at stronger doses its coniferous side grows louder and can dominate lighter florals.
Over-use carries two main risks. First, excessive Myrcene 90 can thin out a blend so much that the mid and base feel hollow. Second, the pine-solvent nuance may skew toward household cleaner territory, which is rarely welcome in a luxury perfume. If you need more projection try layering it with supporting notes such as aldehyde C-10, black pepper oil or thiols rather than simply increasing the percentage.
Because the ingredient evaporates quickly and has a low flashpoint, many creators pre-dilute it to 10 percent in ethanol or dipropylene glycol for accurate pipetting and safer handling. Blotter testing is advised before committing to bulk since the material’s mango facet can shift depending on the other terpenes present. No special stabilisers are required, yet a drop of antioxidant such as BHT never hurts if the formula will sit on the shelf for months.
Safety Information
Always work with diluted Myrcene 90 rather than smelling it neat. Avoid direct sniffing from the bottle, instead evaluate it on a blotter or in solution while standing in a well-ventilated space. Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses so accidental splashes do not reach skin or eyes.
Like many terpenes the material can irritate sensitive skin or trigger allergies in predisposed individuals. Pregnant or breastfeeding users should consult a medical professional before regular exposure. Brief contact with low concentrations is generally considered safe yet prolonged handling of undiluted liquid or repeated inhalation of high vapour levels can be harmful.
Myrcene 90 carries a flashpoint of 40 °C which classifies it as a flammable liquid, so keep it away from open flames and store it in tightly closed containers. In case of a spill absorb with inert material and ventilate the area. Dispose of waste according to local environmental regulations and never pour large volumes into drains.
For the most accurate and up-to-date advice always consult the Safety Data Sheet supplied by your distributor and review it periodically. Follow current IFRA guidelines to set safe usage levels in each product category and adjust your formula whenever those limits change.
How To Store & Dispose of Myrcene 90
Keep Myrcene 90 in airtight glass or aluminium bottles sealed with polycone caps. A cool dark cupboard away from radiators or windows works for daily lab use though refrigeration at 4 °C can stretch the shelf life by several extra months. If you chill the material allow it to reach room temperature before opening so moisture does not condense inside the bottle.
Fill containers as full as practical to leave the smallest possible headspace. Less air means slower oxidation and a fresher fruity top note when you next reach for the stock. Dropper bottles look convenient yet rarely give a tight seal so reserve them for short-term sampling.
Label every vessel clearly with the ingredient name batch number flashpoint and the pictograms dictated by your Safety Data Sheet. This avoids mix-ups and reminds anyone handling the bottle that the liquid is flammable at only 40 °C.
Small spills can be blotted with paper then placed in a sealed bag before disposal with household waste. For larger quantities stir the liquid into inert absorbent such as sawdust or kitty litter then hand it to a licensed chemical disposal facility. Even though Myrcene 90 is readily biodegradable responsible handling keeps concentrated solvent from overwhelming local treatment systems. Never pour unused bulk down a drain or into outside soil.
Summary
Myrcene 90 is a lab-made terpene molecule supplied by DSM-Firmenich that delivers a punchy citrus-mango opening touched with pine and pepper. Perfumers value it for lifting top notes in fine fragrance, shampoo and home care where a clean fruity sparkle is wanted without heavy sweetness.
The material flashes off quickly so it brightens the first impression then gets out of the way, leaving room for heart and base accords. It sits at a mid-market price point, stays stable for two to three years when stored well and blends with most solvents without fuss.
Use it sparingly to avoid a hollow drydown and watch the low flashpoint during production. When sourced in drum or kilo packs it comes direct from the manufacturer or bulk distributors while hobbyists can find smaller decants and generic equivalents from specialist fragrance suppliers online.