In short
Muscone (3-methylcyclopentadecanone) is the main odour molecule of natural deer musk, which is no longer used. Synthetic muscone gives a rich, warm, animalic musk.
What Muscone smells like
Muscone is the main odorant of natural musk from the musk deer, replicated synthetically; a vendor describes it as soft, sweet and exceptionally persistent, without animalic harshness. Arctander, quoted by The Good Scents Company, found Exaltone's odour very similar. A comparison source finds macrocyclic musks such as muscone more animalic than musk ketone, which is sweeter and more powdery.
- Leading note
- Soft natural musk
- Supporting facets
- Sweet
- Faint facets
- Animalic, powdery
- Character
- Soft, warm, tenacious
What makes Muscone distinctive
The musk-deer odorant itself: soft, sweet and lasting, the reference for every musk since.
How Muscone is used
Used as a fine, natural-seeming musk in fine fragrance and musk bases.
Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Muscone differs from similar materials
- Exaltone
- Arctander found Exaltone very similar, and many perfumers judged it superior in type and beauty. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Muscenone
- Muscenone is a related but different Firmenich molecule with a nitro-musk-like odour; a forum perfumer finds the two not especially similar. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Musk Ketone
- Musk ketone is sweeter, more powdery and less animalic. (compared directly by a cited source)
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
Costly; synthetic grades are racemic or enantiomerically enriched, which affects strength.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Musky / Animalic
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- 3-Methylcyclopentadecanone
- CAS number
- 541-91-3
- Molecular formula
- C16H30O
- Molecular weight
- 238.41 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3-methylcyclopentadecan-1-one
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 10947, 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 report it as not meeting the GHS hazard criteria (1,559 of 1,564 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
-
Exaltone
Aroma chemical · Musky / Animalic — musky, animalic, warm
-
Muscenone
Aroma chemical · Musky / Animalic — musky, animalic, warm, powdery
-
Exaltolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Powdery — musky, soft, powdery, animalic
-
Civetone
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Musky — animalic, musky, warm, fecal
Muscone is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Civet Absolute, Isomuscone, Skatole and Tonquitone.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 11 published formulas
Muscone is an ingredient in 11 perfume formulas in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Muscone
Is Muscone natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Muscone may be made by synthesis or obtained from natural sources, so check the supplier's specification if the distinction matters to you.
What is the CAS number of Muscone?
541-91-3. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Muscone?
Muscone is used in 11 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Agar Lantern, Beeswax Throne and Black Saddle. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 10947, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Scentspiracy — Muscone — distributor's description.
- The Good Scents Company — cyclopentadecanone (Arctander comparing muscone) — odour database.
- Basenotes — Musk elevation (forum) — 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.