In short
Polysantol is a Firmenich synthetic sandalwood material known for its strength and naturalness.
What Polysantol smells like
Polysantol is a powerful, diffusive sandalwood, in a specification sheet; a vendor describes a rich, creamy sandalwood with herbal, tropical-fruit and slight milky, lactonic nuances, and a forum perfumer calls it elegant and very powerful. A glossary groups it as the milky component of synthetic sandalwood bases, and finds it woodier but less lactonic than Sandalore. IFRA restricts it.
- Leading note
- Powerful creamy sandalwood
- Supporting facets
- Milky, lactonic
- Faint facets
- Herbal, tropical fruit
- Character
- Powerful, diffusive, elegant
What makes Polysantol distinctive
A powerful, elegant sandalwood synthetic: creamy and diffusive at low doses.
Where the descriptions disagree: Glossaries disagree on whether Polysantol or Sandalore is the milkier.
How Polysantol is used
Used at low levels for a natural-seeming sandalwood in fine fragrance, within IFRA limits.
Typical role: backbone (used in large proportions as a structural material of an accord); fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Polysantol differs from similar materials
- Sandalore
- A glossary finds Polysantol woodier but less lactonic; Sandalore is creamier and broader. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Ebanol
- Ebanol brings an aromatic-musky dimension; Polysantol is the milkier, creamier one. (compared directly by a cited source)
- alpha-Santalol
- alpha-Santalol is the natural woody odorant; Polysantol is a more powerful, diffusive synthetic.
- Brahmanol
- Brahmanol, a related campholenic alcohol, is described as milder, giving body rather than impact.
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; covered by an IFRA Standard.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Woody / Musky
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- CAS number
- 107898-54-4
- Molecular formula
- C15H26O
- Molecular weight
- 222.37 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (E)-3,3-dimethyl-5-(2,2,3-trimethylcyclopent-3-en-1-yl)pent-4-en-2-ol
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 15984303, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Polysantol:
- "3,3-Dimethyl-5-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-4-penten-2-ol" — Restriction, 49th Amendment, published 2020-01
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): H315 causes skin irritation; 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 (3,264 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (100% of reports); H400 very toxic to aquatic life (99.4% of reports); H410 very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (99.4% 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
-
Ebanol
Aroma chemical · Woody / Musky — sandalwood, creamy, woody, musky
-
Sandalore
Aroma chemical · Woody / Musky — sandalwood, warm, soft, woody
-
Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album)
Essential oil · Woody / Musky — woody, creamy, milky, sweet
Polysantol is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Brahmanol and Firsantol.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 8 published formulas
Polysantol is an ingredient in 8 perfume formulas in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Polysantol
Is Polysantol natural or synthetic?
Polysantol is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Polysantol?
107898-54-4. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Polysantol?
Polysantol is used in 8 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Cherry Lacquer, Mahogany Library and Ochre Archive. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Is Polysantol covered by an IFRA Standard?
Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "3,3-Dimethyl-5-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-4-penten-2-ol" — Restriction, 49th Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 15984303, 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.
- Parchem — Polysantol — distributor's description.
- Scent.vn — Polysantol — distributor's description.
- Basenotes — sandalwood synthetics (forum) — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.