RUŌOD Lab

Kephalis

Aroma chemical · Amber / Woody

amber, woody, tobacco, warm — base note.

Aroma illustration for Kephalis: glowing amber resin, a cut log and dried tobacco leaves, for its amber, woody and tobacco notes. It illustrates smell associations, not the material or its source.Skeletal formula of Kephalis, C14H24O2, drawn from PubChem's 2D record. Stereochemistry is not shown.
Aroma View: an illustration of what Kephalis smells like (amber, woody, tobacco), drawn by RUŌOD Lab — not its appearance or its source.Skeletal formula drawn by RUŌOD Lab from PubChem's 2D record (CID 118292). Stereochemistry is not shown; the coloured background is decoration.
Images

By the RUŌOD Lab TeamRevision 1Updated

In short

Kephalis is a trade name for a woody-amber ketone with a warm, tobacco-like character. It is used to add volume and warmth to amber and woody bases.

What Kephalis smells like

Kephalis (Givaudan) is reminiscent of wood, amber, tobacco and some green herbs, in De Hekserij's description, presented as a versatile amber note typically used at a few to several percent of a composition; like many such materials it can be dull or even unpleasant on its own and is meant to be blended. Few detailed descriptions were found. Fraterworks describes a rich, warm woody-amber character with distinct tobacco facets, subtle herbal and honeyed nuances, cedar-like qualities and a slightly smoky background, giving depth, warmth and substantivity as a base note and rich undertones in floral accords; it quotes Givaudan's use of it as a long-lasting heart and base note.

Leading note
Warm woody amber
Supporting facets
Tobacco
Faint facets
Green herbs
Character
Warm, dry, blending
  • amber
  • woody
  • tobacco
  • warm

What makes Kephalis distinctive

A woody amber with a tobacco-leaf side and a breath of green herbs.

How Kephalis is used

Used as an amber note in woody, tobacco, oriental and masculine compositions.

Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes); blender (smooths the joins between other materials).

How Kephalis differs from similar materials

Okoumal
Okoumal is drier and more musky, with snuff and a velvety texture; Kephalis is warmer, with a green-herb side.
Tobacco Absolute
Tobacco absolute is the natural cured leaf; Kephalis is a synthetic woody amber with a tobacco side.

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.

Identity and classification

Type
Aroma chemical
Origin
Synthetic
Odour family
Amber / Woody
Note position
Base note
Physical form at room temperature
Liquid
Also known as
4-(1-Ethoxyvinyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexanone
CAS number
36306-87-3
Molecular formula
C14H24O2
Molecular weight
224.34 g/mol
IUPAC name
4-(1-ethoxyethenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexan-1-one

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 118292, 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. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (1,612 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (83.5% of reports); H411 toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (83.4% of reports). 266 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. 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

  • Ambroxan

    Aroma chemical · Amber / Woody — amber, ambergris, woody, mineral

  • Iso E Super

    Aroma chemical · Woody / Amber — woody, velvety, amber, cedar

  • Tonka Bean Absolute

    Absolute · Gourmand / Powdery — coumarinic, hay, almond, sweet

  • Labdanum Absolute

    Absolute · Amber / Leather — amber, balsamic, leathery, animalic

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 15 published formulas

Kephalis is an ingredient in 11 perfume formulas and 4 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

Further reading

Questions about Kephalis

Is Kephalis natural or synthetic?

Kephalis is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.

What is the CAS number of Kephalis?

36306-87-3. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.

Which published formulas use Kephalis?

Kephalis is used in 15 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Agar Lantern, Anise Ink and Cured Leaf. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.

Sources

Your own records, next to the reference

Keep your own record of Kephalis — supplier, cost, stock, dilutions and where it is used — in RUŌOD Lab's material library.

The material library All materials