In short
Helvetolide is a Firmenich alicyclic musk with a fruity, pear-like musk character.
What Helvetolide smells like
Helvetolide (Firmenich) is a sophisticated, modern musky note with a fruity pear aspect, placed by Firmenich between ambrettolide and ethylene brassylate; Pell Wall lists musk-ambrette, rich, fruity-pear. A retailer calls it airy and musky with a pear-skin facet. Firmenich describes its sibling Romandolide as less fruity and less ambrette, with more tenacity and volume on the drydown. Both are classed as alicyclic musks.
- Leading note
- Fruity pear musk
- Clear facets
- Pear skin
- Supporting facets
- Ambrette
- Character
- Radiant, airy, rich
What makes Helvetolide distinctive
A musk with a ripe pear in it — radiant and airy, between ambrettolide and ethylene brassylate.
Where the descriptions disagree: One retailer calls it macrocyclic; most sources class it as alicyclic.
How Helvetolide is used
Used for a radiant, fruity musk in fine and functional fragrance.
Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes); lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top).
How Helvetolide differs from similar materials
- Romandolide
- Firmenich describes Romandolide as less fruity and less ambrette, with more tenacity and volume on the drydown. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Ambrettolide
- Firmenich places Helvetolide between ambrettolide and ethylene brassylate; ambrettolide is the ambrette-seed musk with red fruit. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Ethylene Brassylate
- Ethylene brassylate is softer and more powdery; Helvetolide adds a fruity pear aspect. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Ethyl Decadienoate (Pear Ester)
- Pear ester is the juicy Williams pear fruit itself; Helvetolide is a musk with a pear-skin facet.
An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Stable in most bases.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Musky / Fruity
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 141773-73-1
- Molecular formula
- C17H32O3
- Molecular weight
- 284.4 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- [2-[1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyl)ethoxy]-2-methylpropyl] propanoate
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 16063567, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. It has a harmonised EU classification (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Annex VI): H411 toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (1,608 reports): H411 toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (100% of reports). Unless it is harmonised, this is the notifiers' own classification, not a binding one.
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
Habanolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Metallic — musky, clean, metallic, powdery
-
Romandolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Fruity — musky, clean, ambrette, fruity
-
Galaxolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Floral — musky, clean, sweet, floral
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 32 published formulas
Helvetolide is an ingredient in 25 perfume formulas and 7 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Helvetolide
Is Helvetolide natural or synthetic?
Helvetolide is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Helvetolide?
141773-73-1. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Helvetolide?
Helvetolide is used in 32 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Ambrette Halo, Bleached Driftwood and Brine Blossom Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 16063567, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- The Good Scents Company — Helvetolide (with Firmenich and Pell Wall descriptions) — odour database.
- dsm-firmenich — Romandolide (comparing Helvetolide) — manufacturer's description.
- Scentspiracy — Helvetolide — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.