In short
Musk ketone is a nitro musk, one of the oldest synthetic musks. It has a sweet, powdery, animalic musk note that shaped many classic perfumes.
What Musk Ketone smells like
Musk ketone, a nitro musk, has an animalic musky fragrance — sweet, sweaty and powdery — in one supplier's description; another finds a highly tenacious musky odour with a discreet animal note, less floral than musk ambrette, and a comparison source markedly sweeter, more powdery and less animalic than macrocyclic musks such as muscone. Alone it can seem dull. Its use in cosmetics is restricted in the EU, and IFRA restricts it.
- Leading note
- Sweet powdery musk
- Supporting facets
- Animalic
- Faint facets
- Sweaty
- Character
- Sweet, powdery, tenacious
What makes Musk Ketone distinctive
The classic nitro musk: sweet, powdery and warm, the musk of mid-century perfumery.
How Musk Ketone is used
Used historically as a sweet powdery musk and fixative; its use is now restricted.
Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Musk Ketone differs from similar materials
- Muscone
- Muscone is the macrocyclic musk-deer odorant; musk ketone is sweeter, more powdery and less animalic. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Muscenone
- Firmenich describes Muscenone as a nitro-musk-type odour reminiscent of musk ketone, with a slight animal undertone. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Tonalide
- Tonalide is drier and woodier; musk ketone is sweeter and more powdery.
- Traseolide
- A glossary finds Traseolide the polycyclic closest to the nitro musks in character. (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
A solid. Covered by an IFRA specification and regulated in the EU; several other nitro musks are prohibited by IFRA. Check current rules before use.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Musky / Powdery
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Solid
- CAS number
- 81-14-1
- Molecular formula
- C14H18N2O5
- Molecular weight
- 294.3 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitrophenyl)ethanone
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 6669, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Musk Ketone:
- "Musk ketone" — Specification, 45th Amendment, published 2010-01
Limits differ by product category and are set out in the Standard itself; this page does not reproduce them. The list above reflects the library as read on 19 October 2026.
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): H351 suspected of causing cancer; H400 very toxic to aquatic life; H410 very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (1,915 reports): H351 suspected of causing cancer (99.8% of reports); H400 very toxic to aquatic life (99.8% 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
-
Galaxolide
Aroma chemical · Musky / Floral — musky, clean, sweet, floral
-
Coumarin
Aroma chemical · Powdery / Fougère — hay, sweet, almond, tobacco
-
Vanillin
Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Amber — vanilla, sweet, creamy
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 12 published formulas
Musk Ketone is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula, 8 accords and 3 bases in the Formula & Accord Library.
Further reading
Questions about Musk Ketone
Is Musk Ketone natural or synthetic?
Musk Ketone is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Musk Ketone?
81-14-1. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Musk Ketone?
Musk Ketone is used in 12 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Black Musk, Fougere Base and Gardenia Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Is Musk Ketone covered by an IFRA Standard?
Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "Musk ketone" — Specification, 45th Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 6669, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- IFRA — Standards Library, read 19 October 2026.
- De Hekserij — Musk ketone — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Musk ketone — published perfumery reference.
- Scentspiracy — Musk ketone — 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.