In short
Tonalide (AHTN) is a polycyclic musk with a sweet, powdery, slightly woody musk note, long used in functional fragrance.
What Tonalide smells like
Tonalide (AHTN) is a polycyclic musk with more powdery softness and less sweetness than Galaxolide, anchored by a light amber-woody undertone, in a supplier glossary; another source calls it sweet woody-musky with considerable tenacity, and another musky-sweet, slightly mineral or crystalline, with dry, woody, ambery and dusty facets. It is often associated with clean-laundry accords.
- Leading note
- Powdery musk
- Supporting facets
- Woody, amber, sweet
- Faint facets
- Mineral, dusty
- Character
- Powdery, dry, tenacious
What makes Tonalide distinctive
The drier polycyclic musk: powder and amber-wood where Galaxolide is sweet and floral.
How Tonalide is used
Used as a powdery musk base in functional and fine fragrance.
Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Tonalide differs from similar materials
- Galaxolide
- Galaxolide is sweeter and cleaner; Tonalide is drier and more powdery, with an amber-woody base. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Traseolide
- Traseolide is warmer and more golden, closer to the old nitro musks; Tonalide is drier and more powdery.
- Musk Ketone
- Musk ketone is sweeter and more powdery, with a discreet animal note; Tonalide is drier and woodier.
- Celestolide
- A glossary finds Celestolide less powdery than Tonalide, clean and sweet with a slight fruity-floral note. (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; dissolve before use. Its use in cosmetics is restricted in the EU, so check market rules.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Musky / Powdery
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Solid
- Also known as
- AHTN
- CAS number
- 21145-77-7
- Molecular formula
- C18H26O
- Molecular weight
- 258.4 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1-(3,5,5,6,8,8-hexamethyl-6,7-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethanone
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 89440, 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 classify it (1,807 reports): H410 very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (97.9% of reports); H302 harmful if swallowed (97.7% of reports); H400 very toxic to aquatic life (90.7% of reports). 38 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. 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
-
Ethylene Brassylate
Aroma chemical · Musky / Powdery — musky, powdery, sweet, soft
Tonalide is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Celestolide and Traseolide.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 14 published formulas
Tonalide is an ingredient in 5 perfume formulas, 8 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Tonalide
Is Tonalide natural or synthetic?
Tonalide is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Tonalide?
21145-77-7. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Tonalide?
Tonalide is used in 14 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Banana Bread, Blackberry Accord and Carnation Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 89440, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- Premiere Peau — Tonalide — published perfumery reference.
- Scentspiracy — What is Tonalide? — distributor's description.
- EvitaChem — Tonalid — 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.