AMBROX SUPER Firmenich – amber note of the ambergris type with musky and woody nuances

AMBROX® SUPER 909158 is one of the most iconic amber raw materials in modern perfumery. Its profile is powerful, elegant, and very persistent, with an ambergris-inspired amber signature, enriched with musky, woody, and slightly animalic nuances.

From an olfactory perspective, it offers a warm, luminous, and diffusive effect, capable of giving body, depth, and sensuality to a composition without weighing it down. It is an extremely tenacious base note, but its impact can be perceived even in the early stages of the fragrance, where it contributes to creating volume, radiance, and a more enveloping sillage.

Compared to Cetalox®, AMBROX® SUPER has a rounder, more natural, and animalic character, closer to the effect of ambergris. In formulas, it is particularly appreciated when the goal is to build a modern, clean, persistent, and recognizable amber base, with an elegant diffusion and long-lasting presence on skin and blotter.

In perfumery, AMBROX® SUPER is used as a base note, fixative, and diffusion enhancer. It integrates perfectly into amber, woody, musky, oriental, fougère, modern chypre accords, skin scents, and minimalist luxury fragrances. It can support highly constructed formulas, but also become the core of essential compositions, where the quality of the raw material and the cleanliness of the structure are crucial.

It is suitable for fine perfumery, personal care products, and functional applications, where it provides persistence, depth, and a high-impact amber-musky effect. Its exceptional tenacity, exceeding one month on a blotter according to Firmenich data, makes it a valuable technical tool for increasing the longevity and presence of a composition.

Indicative dosages in formula

In fine perfumery, it can be used from traces to larger dosages, depending on the desired effect. Generally, in perfumes, one often works within an indicative range of 0.6–3%, while in cosmetic and household products, the dosage may be lower. As always, the usage level must be evaluated based on the final formula, the type of application, and the available technical and regulatory documentation.

Technical characteristics

Trade name: AMBROX® SUPER 909158
Type: synthetic
CAS: 6790-58-5
FEMA: 3471
Purity: > 96%
Chemical name: Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-naphtho[2,1-b]furan
Molecular weight: 236
Appearance: white crystalline powder
Flash point: > 100 °C
Vapor pressure: 0.06 Pa at 20 °C
Origin: Switzerland
Technology: synthetic fragrance derived from biotechnology
Olfactory profile: amber, ambergris, musky, woody
Olfactory family: amber
Persistence: very high, over one month on blotter
Solubility: soluble in alcohol and oils, possibly requiring time, agitation, or slight warming for complete dissolution

Why use it

AMBROX® SUPER is ideal when you want to give a composition a modern, elegant, and very persistent amber base. It adds depth, sillage, and a clean sensuality, with a refined and professional ambergris-like effect. It is a fundamental raw material for building amber, woody, musky, oriental fragrances, skin scents, and contemporary high-diffusion compositions.