In short
Indolarome, also sold as Indoflor, is a synthetic acetal used in place of indole. It gives an indolic, animalic note with civet and leather nuances.
What Indolarome smells like
Retailers and databases agree on an animalic, indolic character. Scentspiracy describes Indoflor as an indolic, earthy and leathery note that imitates indole and skatole at trace levels; another supplier describes a jasmine-indolic note with creamy depth and soft animalic warmth; a patent lists it among indole substitutes with an animalic, floral, leathery, civet-like profile. Sources differ on whether the faecal, skatole side or the creamy jasmine side leads.
- Leading note
- Indolic
- Clear facets
- Civet
- Supporting facets
- Leathery, jasmine
- Faint facets
- Earthy
- Character
- Animalic, tenacious
What makes Indolarome distinctive
An indole note built for stability: described as more colour-stable than indole, so it can carry the animalic heart of a white flower without darkening it.
Where the descriptions disagree: Some sources stress the faecal, skatole-like side; others stress a creamy jasmine side.
How Indolarome is used
Used as an indole replacement in white floral and muguet accords and in animalic bases, at trace to low levels.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Indolarome differs from similar materials
- Indole
- Indole is the natural-occurring heterocycle with a mothball edge in neat form; Indolarome is a synthetic acetal reported to give a similar indolic, civet-like note while discolouring less.
- Skatole
- Skatole is the frankly faecal benchmark; Indolarome imitates the indole-skatole note at trace levels but is used more for the floral-indolic effect.
Each difference compares the published descriptions of the two materials. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Suppliers list CAS 18096-62-3; PubChem gives the name Indolarome to the cis-fused isomer (CAS 2276-41-7), the same structure with its ring fusion specified.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Animalic / Floral
- Note position
- Heart to base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Indoflor, 4,4a,5,9b-Tetrahydroindeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxine
- CAS number
- 18096-62-3
- Molecular formula
- C11H12O2
- Molecular weight
- 176.21 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 4,4a,5,9b-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-d][1,3]dioxine
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 87453, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 24 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory report it as not meeting the GHS hazard criteria (1,542 of 1,578 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
-
Indole
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, indolic, floral, narcotic
-
Jasmine Absolute (Grandiflorum)
Absolute · Floral / Animalic — jasmine, floral, indolic, fruity
-
Hedione
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — jasmine, transparent, citrus, airy
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 10 published formulas
Indolarome is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula, 8 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Indolarome
Is Indolarome natural or synthetic?
Indolarome is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Indolarome?
18096-62-3. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Indolarome?
Indolarome is used in 10 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Blood Accord, Gardenia Accord and Hyacinth Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 87453, checked 24 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Scentspiracy — Indoflor (Symrise) — distributor's description.
- Fraterworks — Indolarome — distributor's description.
- The Good Scents Company — tetrahydroindenodioxin — odour database.
- PubChem — 4,4a,5,9b-Tetrahydroindeno(1,2-d)-1,3-dioxin (CID 87453) — odour database.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.