Sclareol

In short

Sclareol is a diterpene alcohol isolated from clary sage. It has a faint, soft amber-balsamic odour and is best known as the starting material for ambroxide.

What Sclareol smells like

Sclareol, extracted from clary sage, is described inconsistently. Arctander calls it practically odourless, and a natural-isolate seller finds it almost odourless in dilution, with a slight woody sweetness; a glossary describes a warm, waxy amber with a distinct tobacco-leaf undertone, and a supplier a sweet, balsamic scent. Its importance lies largely in what it becomes: it is the starting material for Ambroxan and the modern ambergris accord.

Leading note: Faint amber-tobacco
Supporting facets: Balsamic
Faint facets: Woody sweet, waxy
Character: Faint, warm, tenacious

What makes Sclareol distinctive

Nearly odourless itself, yet the source of the modern ambergris note.

Concentration and dilution

Almost odourless in dilution, in one seller's account.

Where the descriptions disagree: Arctander calls it practically odourless; a glossary describes a clear warm amber-tobacco note.

How Sclareol is used

Used as a fixative with a faint amber-tobacco warmth, and mainly as the raw material for Ambroxan and sclareolide.

Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).

How Sclareol differs from similar materials

Ambroxan: Ambroxan, made from sclareol, is the radiant ambergris; sclareol itself is nearly odourless or a faint amber-tobacco. (compared directly by a cited source)
Sclareolide: Sclareolide, made from sclareol, is described as stronger — woody, moss-like and tobacco, with amber.
Clary Sage Oil: Clary sage oil is the fragrant herb, linalyl acetate-led; sclareol is the nearly odourless diterpene extracted from the plant.

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; dissolve before use. IFRA sets a specification for it.

Identity and classification

Type: Natural isolate
Origin: Natural
Odour family: Amber / Woody
Note position: Base note
Physical form at room temperature: Solid
CAS number: 515-03-7
Molecular formula: C20H36O2
Molecular weight: 308.5 g/mol
IUPAC name: (1R,2R,4aS,8aS)-1-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3-methylpent-4-enyl]-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-2-ol

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 163263, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.

Safety and compliance

The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Sclareol:

"Sclareol" — Specification, 39th Amendment, published 2005-01

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. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory report it as not meeting the GHS hazard criteria (131 of 132 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

Ambroxan
Aroma chemical · Amber / Woody — amber, ambergris, woody, mineral
Clary Sage Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Amber — herbal, tea-like, ambery, musky
Labdanum Absolute
Absolute · Amber / Leather — amber, balsamic, leathery, animalic

Sclareol is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Clary Sage Absolute and Sclareolide.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 1 published formula

Sclareol is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula in the Formula & Accord Library.

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

Sage Ash
RUŌOD House Original

Questions about Sclareol

Is Sclareol natural or synthetic?

Sclareol is natural. It is a single molecule separated from a natural raw material.

What is the CAS number of Sclareol?

515-03-7. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.

Which published formulas use Sclareol?

Sclareol is used in 1 published formula in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Sage Ash. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.

Is Sclareol covered by an IFRA Standard?

Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "Sclareol" — Specification, 39th Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.

Sources

PubChem — compound 163263, 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.
Premiere Peau — Sclareol — published perfumery reference.
Hermitage Oils — Sclareol — distributor's description.
Foreverest — Sclareol — manufacturer'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.