Indole Aroma Chemical | Animalic, Floral & Jasmine Fragrance Note

Product Name

Indole

CAS No.: 120-72-9

🟢 Difficulty: Advanced

⏳ Lasting: High

🌸 Note: Heart / Base

Description

Indole is a naturally occurring aromatic compound and an important material in fine perfumery, particularly for creating realistic white-floral fragrances. At very low concentrations, it contributes a beautiful warm, sensual and floral character reminiscent of jasmine and orange blossom.

At higher concentrations, however, Indole has a strong animalic, fecal and mothball-like odor. This unusual contrast is what makes it so valuable to experienced perfumers: when carefully dosed, it gives white-floral compositions depth, realism and sensuality.

Indole is especially important in jasmine, orange blossom, tuberose and natural white-floral accords. It can make synthetic floral compositions feel more natural and full-bodied.

Odor Profile

• Floral

• Jasmine-like

• Animalic

• Warm

• Sensual

• Slightly fecal

• Earthy

• Mothball-like at high concentration

Recommended Formulation Level (Educational guideline only)

Indole is extremely powerful, so it is generally used at very low concentrations.

• Trace: 0.01–0.05%

• General use: 0.05–0.5%

• Higher levels: only when specifically desired for an animalic effect

These are formulation guidelines for perfumers and are not IFRA limits. Always evaluate diluted solutions before incorporating Indole into a fragrance.

Works Well With

• Hedione

• Benzyl Acetate

• Benzyl Alcohol

• Methyl Anthranilate

• Jasmine Absolute

• Orange Blossom Absolute

• Tuberose materials

• Ylang-Ylang Oil

• Phenethyl Alcohol

• Hydroxycitronellal

• Benzyl Salicylate

• Cis-Jasmone

Common Applications

• Fine Fragrance

• Attars

• Jasmine Accords

• Orange Blossom Accords

• Tuberose Accords

• White-Flower Accords

• Animalic Accords

• Naturalistic Floral Fragrances

• Oriental Fragrances

Perfumers' Tip

Indole is a classic example of "less is more" in perfumery. At trace levels, it can transform a simple jasmine accord into something much more natural, deep and sensual. Start with a highly diluted solution and increase gradually; too much can quickly make the composition noticeably animalic or fecal.