What Is Sandela 85%/Ipm?
Sandela 85%/Ipm is a specialty aroma chemical developed in the early 1970s to give perfumers a reliable sandalwood profile when natural sandalwood oil became harder to source. It is produced through a fully synthetic route that starts with readily available terpene raw materials. Careful distillation and purification steps raise the purity to roughly 85 percent active ingredient, then the material is pre-diluted in isopropyl myristate to make handling easier for the fragrance lab.
At room temperature the material appears as a clear, slightly syrupy liquid that pours more slowly than alcohol but far faster than honey. Because it is non crystallizing it stays mobile even in cool weather, which simplifies weighing and blending. Sandela 85%/Ipm is classed as a commodity synthetic rather than a luxury natural so its cost sits in the low-to-mid range for woody ingredients. That price point, combined with its dependable performance across applications, means it turns up in everything from fine fragrance to soaps and candles. Many fragrance houses keep it as a workhorse note that can round out formulas without blowing the budget.
The ingredient is widely stocked by global compounders and distributors so availability is rarely a concern. Perfumers value its ease of use, long shelf life and stable odor profile that stays consistent from batch to batch, unlike Indian sandalwood oil whose character can drift with harvest conditions. All these factors have made Sandela 85%/Ipm a popular choice for both mass market and prestige scent projects.
What Does Sandela 85%/Ipm Smell Like?
Perfumers file Sandela 85%/Ipm firmly in the woody family. Off a blotter it opens with a smooth, creamy sandalwood impression that feels warm rather than sharp. Within a few minutes a balsamic nuance emerges, adding a slightly sweet, resinous depth that keeps the wood from smelling dry or dusty. As the hours pass the note becomes rounder, showing a soft, almost milky facet that many describe as comforting and skin-like.
To understand where it sits in a perfume structure it helps to know the idea of top, middle and base notes. Top notes are the light, fleeting molecules you notice first. Middle notes link the opening to the drydown and often give a perfume its main theme. Base notes are the heavier materials that linger longest on skin and fabric. Sandela 85%/Ipm is a classic base note. Its molecules evaporate slowly so their presence can be detected long after the top and middle have faded.
Projection is moderate: it radiates a gentle aura rather than a loud cloud. Longevity is impressive. On a paper blotter the scent can still be smelled three weeks later and on skin it easily pushes past the eight-hour mark, particularly when layered with other fixatives. This staying power makes it a reliable anchor for compositions that need woody warmth to last all day.
How & Where To Use Sandela 85%/Ipm
This is one of those materials that makes life in the lab easier. It pours smoothly, measures cleanly and behaves just how you expect every time.
Perfumers reach for Sandela 85%/Ipm when they need a reliable sandalwood backbone. It can act as a stand-alone woody note or slot into a larger sandalwood accord alongside creamy lactones, cedarwood or a touch of incense. Because it is neutral and not overly spicy it blends well with florals like rose and jasmine and it deepens gourmands without turning them smoky.
The ingredient shines in bases and drydowns. In fine fragrance it lengthens the life of lighter woods such as Iso E Super and wraps musks in a warm glow. In soaps its high burning and damp substantivity scores help the finished bar keep a true sandalwood scent through curing and daily use. Candles and reed diffusers also benefit from its low volatility which means the aroma stays in the wax or oil until heat or airflow releases it.
Typical use starts as low as 0.2 % for a subtle creamy warmth, climbs to 5 % for a clear woody signature and can reach 15 % or more in masculine colognes or oriental blends that rely on a strong sandalwood theme. Above roughly 8 % the balsamic side steps forward and the note feels denser and slightly sweeter. At very high levels it can quiet brighter top notes so balance is key.
There are few real downsides. It will not deliver the complex spicy facets of true Mysore sandalwood and at overdosed levels it can flatten citrus openings. Otherwise it is forgiving across nearly all product types including detergent powders where many naturals fail.
No special prep is needed. A gentle warm water bath can loosen the liquid if your lab is chilly but most of the time it pours fine straight from the bottle. Pre-diluting to 10 % in ethanol or IPM makes quick blotter testing easier yet is not essential.
Safety Information
When working with any aroma material sensible precautions keep both the perfumer and the formula safe.
- Always dilute before smelling: make a 10 % or weaker solution and waft the scent toward your nose rather than inhaling directly
- Avoid smelling from the bottle: headspace can be strong and may irritate the nose or respiratory system
- Work in a ventilated space: good airflow prevents buildup of vapors during weighing and blending
- Wear gloves and safety glasses: contact with undiluted material can irritate skin or eyes so basic lab PPE is a must
- Health considerations: some people may develop skin irritation or allergy after contact, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should consult a medical professional before frequent handling, brief low-level exposure is normally safe but long or high-level exposure can be harmful
Always review the latest safety data sheet supplied by your vendor and check back regularly for updates. Follow current IFRA guidelines for maximum use levels in each product category to ensure your creations stay both beautiful and safe.
Storage And Disposal
When kept in ideal conditions Sandela 85%/Ipm keeps its full odor character for roughly five years, sometimes longer. The clock starts once the original seal is broken so jot that date on the label for easy reference.
Refrigeration is helpful but not essential. A shelf in a cool dark cabinet away from radiators or direct sun is usually enough. Big temperature swings speed up oxidation so avoid storing the bottle near lab doors or windows that heat up during the day.
Choose bottles with polycone caps for both the neat material and any dilutions. The pliable liner hugs the neck of the bottle tight and limits air exchange far better than glass droppers or plain screw tops. Dropper bottles also lose tiny amounts of perfume every time the pipette is opened which shortens shelf life.
Whenever possible decant into containers that can be filled almost to the top. A smaller headspace means less oxygen sitting over the liquid and fewer chances for the scent to turn harsh or sour over time.
Label each container clearly with the name Sandela 85%/Ipm, the dilution strength if any plus basic hazard icons or phrases recommended on the safety data sheet. That habit prevents mix-ups and keeps everyone in the workspace informed.
For disposal never pour leftover concentrate down the drain. Small residues can be mixed with absorbent material such as kitty litter, sealed in a plastic bag then discarded with household waste according to local regulations. Larger volumes should go to a licensed chemical waste handler. The ingredient is slow to biodegrade in water and its woody odor can taint wastewater so treatment at source is the safest route.
Summary
Sandela 85%/Ipm is a synthetic sandalwood note prized for its creamy woody warmth and long staying power. It behaves as an anchor in the base of perfumes, blending smoothly with florals, musks and gourmands, and it performs just as well in soaps candles and detergents.
The material offers an affordable alternative to natural sandalwood oil without the supply headaches and batch variability that naturals can bring. Stability across pH and heat is excellent although very high doses can mute bright top notes.
For hobbyists and professionals alike it is a fun tool that slots into countless accords from minimalist skin scents to rich orientals. Keep the bottle cool, sealed and well labeled, watch your usage levels and Sandela 85%/Ipm will reward you with years of reliable woody magic.