RUŌOD Lab

Vertofix

Aroma chemical · Woody / Leather

woody, vetiver, leathery, warm — base note.

Aroma illustration for Vertofix: grass with tangled roots and stitched leather swatches, for its vetiver and leathery notes. It illustrates smell associations, not the material or its source.Skeletal formula of Vertofix (Methyl cedryl ketone), C17H26O, drawn from PubChem's 2D record. Stereochemistry is not shown.
Aroma View: an illustration of what Vertofix smells like (vetiver, leathery), drawn by RUŌOD Lab — not its appearance or its source.Skeletal formula drawn by RUŌOD Lab from PubChem's 2D record (CID 16220111). Stereochemistry is not shown; the coloured background is decoration.
Images

By the RUŌOD Lab TeamRevision 1Updated

In short

Vertofix (methyl cedryl ketone, acetyl cedrene) is made from cedarwood oil. It gives a warm, woody-vetiver and leathery note and is a classic woody fixative.

What Vertofix smells like

Vertofix (IFF; methyl cedryl ketone, acetyl cedrene) is a dry woody material reminiscent of cedarwood: Fraterworks calls it dry cedar with nuances of musk and leather; a perfumery reference a dry wood and amber with aspects of cedar, musk, leather and vetiver. An older review of cedarwood derivatives describes the active acetyl cedrene isomer as a powerful woody, musk-ambergris odour. Suppliers find it dull alone but valuable as a base and fixative that shapes a composition without imposing itself.

Leading note
Dry woody amber
Supporting facets
Musky, leathery
Faint facets
Vetiver, smoky
Character
Dry, warm, tenacious
  • woody
  • vetiver
  • leathery
  • warm

What makes Vertofix distinctive

A cedar made warmer and darker: dry wood with musk, leather and an ambergris-like glow.

How Vertofix is used

Used as a woody base and fixative in woody, amber, leather, masculine and functional compositions.

Typical role: fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes); backbone (used in large proportions as a structural material of an accord).

How Vertofix differs from similar materials

Cedryl Acetate
Cedryl acetate is lighter and sweeter; Vertofix is a stronger, drier wood with musk, leather and amber.
Cedrol
Cedrol is fainter and plainer; Vertofix is stronger, with musk, leather and amber.
Cedramber
Cedramber leans more towards ambergris; Vertofix is a dry cedar with musk and leather.

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

Stable and long-lasting.

Identity and classification

Type
Aroma chemical
Origin
Semi-synthetic
Odour family
Woody / Leather
Note position
Base note
Physical form at room temperature
Liquid
Also known as
Methyl cedryl ketone, Acetyl cedrene
CAS number
32388-55-9
Molecular formula
C17H26O
Molecular weight
246.4 g/mol
IUPAC name
1-[(1R,2R,5S,7R)-2,6,6,8-tetramethyl-9-tricyclo[5.3.1.01,5]undec-8-enyl]ethanone

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 16220111, 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 (1,858 reports): H410 very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (99.8% of reports); H400 very toxic to aquatic life (92.7% of reports); H317 may cause an allergic skin reaction (91% of reports). 1 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

  • Vetiver Oil

    Essential oil · Woody / Green — earthy, smoky, woody, rooty

  • Cedarwood Oil (Virginia)

    Essential oil · Woody / Aromatic — woody, dry, pencil shavings, clean

  • Iso E Super

    Aroma chemical · Woody / Amber — woody, velvety, amber, cedar

Vertofix is also suggested as a partner on the pages for alpha-Cedrene and Cedryl Acetate.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 33 published formulas

Vertofix is an ingredient in 24 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 Vertofix

Is Vertofix natural or synthetic?

Vertofix is semi-synthetic: it is made by chemically modifying a natural raw material.

What is the CAS number of Vertofix?

32388-55-9. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.

Which published formulas use Vertofix?

Vertofix is used in 33 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Apple Cellar, Asphalt Peony and Bitter Bridle. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.

Sources

Your own records, next to the reference

Keep your own record of Vertofix — supplier, cost, stock, dilutions and where it is used — in RUŌOD Lab's material library.

The material library All materials