In short
Muscenone is a Firmenich macrocyclic musk ketone with a rich, natural, slightly animalic musk character.
What Muscenone smells like
Muscenone (Firmenich) has a nitro-musk-type odour reminiscent of musk ketone, with a slight animal undertone that Firmenich calls natural; it is very powerful, acting as an enhancer at low dose and as a musk above it. Boix Camps, quoted on a forum, called the delta form animal and strongly musky, like the most animal part of deer musk. A supplier notes it is a macrocyclic ketone with no nitro group despite its nitro-like smell; a forum perfumer finds it not especially similar to muscone.
- Leading note
- Nitro-like musk
- Supporting facets
- Animalic, warm
- Faint facets
- Powdery
- Character
- Powerful, warm, diffusive
What makes Muscenone distinctive
The old nitro-musk smell from a modern macrocycle: sweet, warm and slightly animal.
Concentration and dilution
An enhancer at low dose; a full musk above it, in Firmenich's description.
Where the descriptions disagree: Sources disagree on whether it is 'nature identical'; Firmenich describes it as a molecule not found in nature.
How Muscenone is used
Used as a powerful musk and fragrance enhancer in fine fragrance.
Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Muscenone differs from similar materials
- Musk Ketone
- Firmenich describes Muscenone as reminiscent of musk ketone, with a slight animal undertone. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Muscone
- A related but different molecule; a forum perfumer finds the two not especially similar. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Cosmone
- Cosmone also recalls the nitro musks, with ambergris and warm powdery facets; Muscenone is more animal.
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
Strong; a little goes a long way.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Musky / Animalic
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 82356-51-2
- Molecular formula
- C16H28O
- Molecular weight
- 236.39 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 2-methylcyclopentadec-2-en-1-one
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 57353762, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
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
-
Exaltone
Aroma chemical · Musky / Animalic — musky, animalic, warm
-
Galaxolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Floral — musky, clean, sweet, floral
-
Isoambrettolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Fruity — musky, powdery, fruity, soft
Muscenone is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Cosmone, Hedione HC and Muscone.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 43 published formulas
Muscenone is an ingredient in 33 perfume formulas, 9 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Muscenone
Is Muscenone natural or synthetic?
Muscenone is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Muscenone?
82356-51-2. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Muscenone?
Muscenone is used in 43 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Anise Ink, Apple Cellar and Banana Bread. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 57353762, checked 19 October 2026.
- The Good Scents Company — Muscenone (with Firmenich's description) — odour database.
- De Hekserij — Muscenone (Firmenich) — distributor's description.
- Basenotes — musk discussion (forum, quoting Boix Camps) — published perfumery reference.
- 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.