Isovaleric Acid Aroma Chemical | Sharp Cheesy & Animalic Note

Product Name

Isovaleric Acid

CAS No.: 503-74-2

🟢 Difficulty: Advanced

⏳ Lasting: Medium–High

🌸 Note: Top / Heart

Description

Isovaleric Acid, also known as 3-Methylbutanoic Acid, is a highly potent short-chain fatty acid with a distinctive sharp, sour, sweaty and cheesy odor. Although its neat odor can be unpleasant, it is a valuable material when used carefully and at very low concentrations.

In perfumery, Isovaleric Acid is primarily used to introduce animalic, sweaty, fermented, cheesy and naturalistic nuances. It can be useful in recreating certain natural materials and adding realism to animalic or earthy fragrance accords.

Because of its very strong odor impact, Isovaleric Acid should be handled and diluted carefully. Small changes in concentration can significantly alter the character of a fragrance.

Odor Profile

• Sharp

• Sour

• Cheesy

• Sweaty

• Animalic

• Fatty

• Fermented

• Rancid-like

• Pungent

Recommended Formulation Level (Educational guideline only)

Isovaleric Acid is extremely powerful and should generally be used at trace levels.

• Trace: 0.001–0.01%

• General use: 0.01–0.1%

• Higher levels: only for deliberately strong animalic/fermented effects

These are educational formulation guidelines, not IFRA limits. Always check the applicable safety documentation and regulatory limits for the intended application.

Works Well With

• Isobutyraldehyde

• Isovaleraldehyde

• Isobutyl Quinoline

• Indole

• Skatole

• Civet-type Materials

• Castoreum-type Materials

• Birch Tar

• Patchouli Oil

• Vetiver Oil

• Labdanum

• Animalic Bases

Common Applications

• Fine Fragrance

• Attars

• Animalic Accords

• Leather Accords

• Naturalistic Accords

• Earthy Fragrances

• Fermented Effects

• Specialty Perfume Bases

• Experimental Perfumery

Perfumers' Tip

Isovaleric Acid is a classic trace-dose material. A tiny amount can add realism and complexity to animalic, leather or earthy accords, while excessive use can quickly overwhelm the entire composition with a sharp cheesy or sweaty odor. It is best evaluated in a highly diluted solution before being added to a perfume concentrate.