What Is Sclarene 80%/Dpg?
Sclarene 80%/Dpg is an aroma molecule supplied at roughly eighty percent purity diluted in dipropylene glycol, a neutral solvent that makes the material easier to handle and dose. The molecule itself is a bicyclic diterpene first isolated in the late 1970s when chemists explored the transformation of natural sclareol from clary sage. While the starting feedstock can come from a plant source the finished ingredient is classed as synthetic because it undergoes several chemical steps before reaching the market.
Production follows a fairly standard aroma chemical route that combines fractional distillation with catalytic rearrangement, keeping process complexity and cost in the mid range compared with other woody specialties. The result is a clear colourless liquid that flows easily at room temperature and blends without visible trace in oil or alcohol bases.
Perfumers regard Sclarene as a specialist building block rather than a mass volume workhorse. It shows up in niche fine fragrances and select functional products where a dry woody backbone is needed. Prices tend to sit in an affordable bracket for creative work which encourages experimental use while still being economical for larger scale toiletries.
What Does Sclarene 80%/Dpg Smell Like?
This ingredient sits solidly in the woody family. Off a blotter the very first impression is a crisp dry wood shaving effect quickly joined by a cool camphor note that suggests freshly split cedar. Within minutes a faint metallic shimmer appears, giving the aroma a modern edge rather than a rustic feel.
As it develops the camphor brightness calms and an amber nuance emerges, providing gentle warmth that softens the earlier sharpness. There is also a subtle clean musk vibe that does not read as overtly musky yet rounds the profile and hints at the molecule’s fixative talent.
Sclarene behaves as a base note ingredient. It lifts slowly, anchors blends for hours and holds other volatiles in place. Projection is moderate so it does not overwhelm a composition but its tenacity is impressive, persisting on a blotter for several days before fading to a faint woody whisper.
How & Where To Use Sclarene 80%/Dpg
Sclarene is one of those pleasantly easy materials that behaves itself in the lab. It pours cleanly, dissolves fast in alcohol or oil and does not cling stubbornly to glassware so weighing and cleaning are fuss free.
Perfumers reach for it when a fragrance needs a dry woody backbone that feels contemporary rather than rustic. It excels in cedar, cashmeran or ambery wood accords where a touch of camphor brightness and a faint metallic glow add lift and modernity. Layer it with iso-e super for airy radiance or with Ambrofix and musk ketone when you want extra warmth and depth without making the base feel heavy.
Usage is typically low. Between 0.05 % and 0.5 % is enough for most fine fragrances, while functional products such as soaps or detergents may run up to 1 % thanks to its strong substantivity. Pushing beyond that, say 2 % or even 3 %, can create a bold signature wood note that edges into stylised pencil shavings territory. Above 4 % the camphor facet dominates and can mask florals or citruses so overdosing is best kept for experimental niche work.
Perception shifts with concentration. In trace amounts it behaves like a musk booster giving soft backbone and diffusion. At moderate levels the woody dry core comes forward and the amber warmth is more apparent. High doses emphasise the metallic sparkle and camphor bite delivering a cool industrial edge.
No special prep is needed beyond the usual 10 % dilution for skin or blotter evaluation. The neat material is already in DPG so it blends smoothly but if you plan to measure very small amounts make a 1 % pre-solution for accuracy. Keep pipettes dedicated because the scent lingers.
Safety Information
Working with any aroma chemical calls for sensible precautions and Sclarene is no exception.
- Always dilute before smelling: Prepare a 10 % or weaker solution in alcohol or DPG and waft the blotter toward the nose rather than inhaling directly.
- Never sniff from the bottle: Concentrated vapours can overwhelm the senses and may irritate mucous membranes.
- Ventilation: Blend and evaluate in a well-ventilated space to limit airborne build-up of volatile compounds.
- Protective gear: Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses to avoid skin or eye contact that could cause local irritation.
- Health considerations: Some aroma chemicals can trigger irritation or allergic responses. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Short exposure to low levels is generally considered safe but prolonged or high-level exposure should be avoided.
Sclarene is regarded as non-hazardous yet responsible practice demands that you review the latest supplier safety data sheet and follow any updates. Always confirm you are within current IFRA guidelines for the intended product category and adjust your formula if those limits change.
Storage And Disposal
When stored correctly Sclarene 80%/Dpg stays in good shape for around two to three years before the aroma starts to flatten. Cool temperature slows oxidation so a refrigerator set between 4 °C and 8 °C is ideal, though a shelf in a cool dark cupboard works fine if space is tight.
Keep the material in amber glass or high quality HDPE with a tight polycone cap. These conical liners create a firm seal that blocks air and moisture far better than the rubber bulbs on dropper bottles. If you prepare bench dilutions use the same cap style and top up the bottle whenever possible. A full container leaves little headspace which means less oxygen to react with the liquid.
Store away from heaters, windows and direct sunlight. Temperature swings can pull air in and out of the bottle and speed up degradation. Label everything clearly with the ingredient name, dilution strength, date made and any hazard icons from the safety data sheet. Good labeling saves confusion and keeps your workspace compliant.
For disposal first check local regulations. Although Sclarene is classed as non hazardous it is not readily biodegradable, so avoid tipping large quantities down the drain. Small rinse residues can usually go with plenty of running water if your municipality allows. For bigger volumes, absorb the liquid onto vermiculite or kitty litter, seal the waste in a bag and send it to a chemical collection point. Empty bottles should be triple rinsed before recycling or discarding.
Summary
Sclarene 80%/Dpg is a handy woody base note supplied in a user friendly DPG solution. It smells of dry wood shavings touched with cool camphor warm metal and a hint of amber making it an effortless fit in cedar, ambery wood, cashmeran or even musky accords. Tiny amounts act like a musk booster while higher doses carve a sharp modern wood signature that lasts for days.
Fans like it for the strong impact, straightforward handling and reasonable cost compared with some other specialty woods. It stands up well in soaps detergents and fine fragrance although extreme pH or prolonged heat can thin the scent over time so watch stability tests. All told it is a fun material that rewards experimentation across many styles while asking only basic care in storage and sensible low level dosing in finished products.