Oceanol

What Oceanol smells like

Fraterworks describes Oceanol, an IFF captive until 2024, as closely related to Veramoss but marine where that is dusty: a striking briny saltiness recalling sea spray drying on coastal rocks, an iodine-rich seaweed character over a fluffy, almost powdery texture, darker and more mineral than the melon aquatics, and a seldom-discussed orange-flower nuance. IFF's own sheet gives a fresh, ozonic marine top note that settles into earthy, mossy and woody dry-down notes, for watery marine accords and for leather and dark-wood fragrances. The Fragrance Foundry finds it close to Veramoss in smell and structure, with a slight swampy-marine facet.

Leading note

Briny seaweed

Clear facets

Mineral

Supporting facets

Powdery

Faint facets

Orange flower

Character

Diffusive, tenacious

• marine
• briny
• seaweed
• powdery
• mineral

What makes Oceanol distinctive

A mossy molecule turned towards the sea.

How Oceanol is used

Used in marine accords and in modern chypres to give an airy, oceanic alternative to oakmoss.

Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend); fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).

How Oceanol differs from similar materials

Maritima

Maritima is colder and metallic, sea spray and wet stone; Oceanol is brinier and seaweed-led, powdery and mossy.

Red Seaweed CO2 Extract

Red seaweed CO2 extract is a natural, rounded sea note with a gourmand side; Oceanol is brinier and iodine-rich.

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

A very powerful powder, usually handled as a dilution.

Identity and classification

Type

Aroma chemical

Origin

Synthetic

Odour family

Aquatic / Chypre

Note position

Heart to base note

Physical form at room temperature

Solid

Also known as

Methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylbenzoate, Seamoss

CAS number

33662-58-7

Molecular formula

C9H10O4

Molecular weight

182.17 g/mol

IUPAC name

methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylbenzoate

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 118521, 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 classify it (166 reports): H317 may cause an allergic skin reaction (29.5% of reports); H302 harmful if swallowed (24.1% of reports); H315 causes skin irritation (24.1% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (24.1% of reports); H335 may cause respiratory irritation (24.1% of reports). 77 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. A skin sensitiser classification concerns handling the neat material and the dose in a finished product; the IFRA Standards, where they apply, set the limits. 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

• Methyl Atrarate

  Aroma chemical · Chypre / Woody — mossy, earthy, woody, phenolic

• Calone

  Aroma chemical · Aquatic / Metallic — marine, watermelon, ozonic, watery

• Oakmoss Absolute

  Absolute · Chypre / Green — mossy, earthy, inky, forest floor

Oceanol is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Red Seaweed CO2 Extract.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 7 published formulas

Oceanol is an ingredient in 5 perfume formulas and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

• Sea Salt Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “Oceanol (33662-58-7)”

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

• Bleached Driftwood

  RUŌOD House Original · listed as “Oceanol 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Harbour Rope

  RUŌOD House Original · listed as “Oceanol 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Low Tide Library

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Oceanol 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Pearl Brine

  RUŌOD House Original · listed as “Oceanol 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Salt Lantern

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Oceanol 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Salt Skin Accord

  RUŌOD House Accord · listed as “Oceanol 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

Further reading

• Aquatic and Marine Notes in Perfumery

  The materials behind aquatic, marine and ozonic perfumes — Calone, watery aldehydes, dihydromyrcenol — and how to build and dose an aquatic accord.

Questions about Oceanol

Sources

• PubChem — compound 118521, checked 24 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• Fraterworks — Oceanol — distributor's description.
• PubChem — methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylbenzoate (CID 118521) — odour database.
• IFF — Oceanol — manufacturer's description.
• The Fragrance Foundry — Oceanol (IFF) — distributor's description.
• Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.