What Is Sanjinol?
Sanjinol is a modern woody aroma chemical created by IFF, a leading fragrance ingredient house. Although IFF owns the trademarked name, similar molecules are sometimes offered by other suppliers under generic labels, giving perfumers alternate sourcing options.
The material is produced through a sustainable process that transforms surplus food or agricultural by-products into a high-purity fragrance ingredient. This upcycled route makes Sanjinol renewable, ultimately biodegradable and suitable for vegan claims, an attractive package for brands focused on greener stories.
At room temperature Sanjinol appears as a clear, water-white liquid with a slightly oily feel. It blends easily with most fragrance oils and dissolves well in alcohol, typical of woody synthetics.
Thanks to its sandalwood character and excellent staying power, Sanjinol shows up in fine fragrance, soaps, shampoos, fabric conditioners and even some candles. Usage has grown steadily because it offers a reliable woody backbone without the sourcing issues tied to natural sandalwood oil.
When stored in a tightly closed container away from heat and direct sunlight, Sanjinol keeps its quality for roughly two to three years. Pricing sits in the mid range for woody synthetics, so it is neither a budget material nor a luxury splurge, allowing wide adoption across product tiers.
Sanjinol’s Scent Description
Sanjinol falls squarely into the woody family. Off a perfume blotter it opens with a smooth, creamy sandalwood note that feels both natural and clean. Within a few minutes a velvety warmth emerges, carrying faint touches of coconut milk, soft cedar and a whisper of amber sweetness. The overall impression is refined rather than rustic, giving the sense of polished wood freshly cut and lightly sun-warmed.
Perfumers often talk about top, middle and base notes. Top notes are the first spark you smell, middle notes shape the heart of the perfume and base notes linger longest on skin or fabric. Sanjinol sits between the heart and the base. It starts to make its presence felt once the volatile top notes fade, then anchors the composition for many hours.
On a strip Sanjinol projects with medium strength, enough to push through a blend without shouting. Longevity is one of its standout traits: traces remain detectable after forty-eight hours and sometimes longer, giving a composition lasting woodiness long after lighter elements have vanished.
How & Where To Use Sanjinol
Perfumers reach for Sanjinol when they want a sandalwood impression that is creamy yet airy. It shines in modern woody accords where a clean linear profile is preferred over the smoky complexity of natural sandalwood oil. Used at low levels it polishes floral or citrus compositions, adding a soft wood cushion that extends wear without stealing focus.
In a classic sandalwood accord Sanjinol helps bridge top and base, linking lighter terpenic notes like copaiba or Iso E Super with deeper materials such as Javanol or woody musks. At 0.2-0.5 % of the total concentrate it offers background smoothness. Between 1-3 % it becomes a clear heart note that can replace part of natural sandalwood, trimming cost while maintaining diffusion. The manufacturer permits up to 10 % but most formulas stay below 5 % to keep balance and avoid a “pencil shavings” dryness that can appear at high loadings.
Project-focused products like fine fragrance, soap and fabric conditioner benefit most because Sanjinol’s substantivity pushes the wood tone through the entire wear cycle. In candles and deodorants its impact is moderate so higher dosage or pairing with booster materials such as Sandalore may be required. It struggles in strong acid or bleach systems, where hydrolysis dulls the scent, so consider alternative woody notes for toilet cleaners or hypochlorite sprays.
Concentration affects perception. In traces Sanjinol feels silky and slightly lactonic. As the level rises the cedar nuance sharpens, giving a drier, pencil-like facet. Beyond 6 % it can flatten a blend and compete with top notes, so stepwise trials are best. Always dilute it to 10 % in ethanol or dipropylene glycol before evaluation to avoid olfactory fatigue and to sense its true character.
No special prep is needed beyond gentle warming if the bottle has been stored in a cold room. The liquid is mobile and mixes easily with common perfume solvents. Rinse pipettes promptly because the material clings to plastic and can influence later trials. Store a working solution alongside the neat sample to speed up bench work and keep the original bottle sealed.
Safely Using Sanjinol
Dilution is key. Prepare a 10 % or weaker solution before smelling or weighing to keep vapors at a safe level. Avoid direct sniffing from the bottle because concentrated aroma chemicals can overwhelm the nose and irritate mucous membranes. Work in a well-ventilated space or under a fume hood so airborne particles disperse quickly.
Protective gear is standard practice. Nitrile gloves prevent skin contact, and safety glasses shield eyes from accidental splashes. Wipe benches after spills with a suitable solvent then dispose of the wipe in a sealed container to control odor.
While brief exposure to low concentrations is generally considered safe some individuals may experience skin irritation or sensitization. If redness or itching occurs discontinue use immediately and seek medical advice. Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a healthcare professional before handling fragrance ingredients including Sanjinol.
Extended exposure to high concentrations can lead to headaches or respiratory discomfort. Rotate tasks and take regular breaks to let the sense of smell recover and to minimize cumulative exposure.
Always consult the latest Material Safety Data Sheet supplied with your batch. Safety limits, toxicological findings and regulatory status can evolve so check for updates regularly. Adhere to current IFRA guidelines when setting usage levels in finished products to ensure consumer safety and regulatory compliance.
How To Store & Dispose of Sanjinol
Store Sanjinol in a tightly sealed glass or aluminum bottle kept in a cool dark spot away from heaters and direct sun. A refrigerator set between 4 °C and 8 °C is optional but can stretch shelf life by slowing oxidation, especially once the bottle has been opened.
Use polycone caps for both neat material and dilutions. They form a better vapor seal than droppers which often let air seep in and dry out the neck. Keep bottles as full as practical by transferring the liquid to smaller containers as you work through your stock. Less headspace means less oxygen and fewer off notes over time.
Label every container clearly with “Sanjinol,” its CAS number 28219-61-6, date filled and any safety icons recommended in the SDS. This avoids mix-ups and gives quick hazard guidance to anyone sharing the workspace.
Store working dilutions upright in plastic bins or metal lockers that limit light. Separate them from acids and strong oxidizers so accidental spills do not trigger unwanted reactions. Wipe threads after each use then recap firmly to stop crusting that can affect dosing accuracy.
When a batch reaches end of life, first consider giving it to another formulator who can use it promptly. If disposal is the only option, small hobby amounts can be mixed with cat litter or sand, sealed in a bag and placed in chemical waste according to local rules. Never pour neat Sanjinol down the drain since it can cling to pipes despite being ultimately biodegradable.
Rinse empty bottles with a little alcohol, add the rinse to your waste solvent container then recycle the clean glass where facilities allow. Follow municipal guidelines for any remaining residues to keep waterways clear.
Summary
Sanjinol is an IFF woody aroma chemical that delivers a creamy sandalwood tone with good lift and long wear. It serves as a modern substitute or extender for natural sandalwood, polishing florals, fresh woods and fabric care bases while keeping costs below precious oil levels.
Perfumers like its smooth heart impact, solid stability in most product types and renewable sourcing story. They dose it from traces up to about 5 % for fine fragrance with higher limits allowed when extra power is needed.
Keep an eye on its moderate fade in strong acid or bleach cleaners and on a slight pencil shavings edge that appears if you push the level too high. Price sits mid tier yet is justified by performance and greener credentials.
Commercial buyers can order directly from IFF or authorized distributors. Smaller labs and hobbyists will find repacked grams or generic equivalents at specialty fragrance suppliers, letting everyone explore the mellow strength of this versatile sandalwood note.