4-Tricyclodecylidene butanal (CAS 30168-23-1) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient

ByThe Good Scents
Woody · Balsamic

4-Tricyclodecylidene butanal

CAS 30168-23-1

Origin
synthetic
Note
Base
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is 4-Tricyclodecylidene butanal?

4-Tricyclodecylidene butanal is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add woody, amber-like depth to perfumes. Consumers encounter it in high-end personal care products and fine fragrances. This molecule matters because it provides long-lasting warmth and complexity, often serving as an alternative to restricted natural ambers.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
✓ IFRA approved within limits
⚠ Potential sensitizer – use proper dosing
CAS
30168-23-1
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Balsamic
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 4-Tricyclodecylidene butanal Smell Like?

Opens with a sharp, woody-green edge reminiscent of freshly split cedar planks. As it evolves, the scent develops into a warm, slightly sweet amber character with hints of dried tobacco leaves. The dry-down reveals a persistent musky-woody foundation that lingers on skin for hours, behaving like a more diffusive version of traditional amber materials.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Ambre Sultan(Serge Lutens, 2000)

Used here to amplify the resinous amber core while adding modern woody freshness. Provides diffusion missing from natural ambergris.

Tobacco Vanille(Tom Ford, 2007)

Blends with vanilla and tobacco absolute to create a warm, slightly smoky dry-down that persists through base notes.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

4-(Octahydro-4,7-methano-5H-inden-5-ylidene)butanal

SMILES: O=CCCC=C1CC2CC1C1CCCC21

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

A synthetic aldehyde with a complex tricyclic structure. The molecule’s rigidity contributes to its stability and longevity in fragrance formulations. Produced through Diels-Alder reactions followed by selective oxidation, this material represents modern perfumery’s ability to engineer precisely controlled olfactory properties.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointNot publicly available
DensityNot publicly available

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Base
Volatility
Very low (8+ hours)
Blending
Good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%Amber accord foundation
Home Care0.5-1%Up to 2%Provides long-lasting woody warmth

Classic Accords

Tip: Use with ionones to soften the woody edges and create more rounded amber effects.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ambroxan CAS 6790-58-5

When seeking more transparent ambery effects with less woody character.

2
Norlimbanol CAS 70788-30-6

For situations requiring even stronger woody diffusion and tenacity.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA. Listed on IFRA Transparency List.

RIFM Assessment

Under review by RIFM. Preliminary data suggests moderate skin sensitization potential at high concentrations.

Sustainability

Synthetic production avoids harvesting of endangered ambergris sources. Manufacturing process optimized for minimal waste. No known ecological accumulation concerns at current usage levels.

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References

  1. IFRA Transparency List (2023) IFRA
  2. PubChem Compound Summary PubChem

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 30168-23-1

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight204.31 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)2.8🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point288 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0002 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point150.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.958💻 Calculated
SMILESC1CC2C(C1)C3CC2CC3=CCCC=O🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteBase💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score6.8 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Functional Groupsaldehydealkene💻 RDKit
Data Sources & Attribution
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.

Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID7051977

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 204.313 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 1.076 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 295.077 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 59.886 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 143.501 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.584 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 186.991 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.78 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 3.78 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 3.78 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 7.42 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 8.395 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 45.978 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 131.831 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 17.07 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 3 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 62.556 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 24.799 Å^3📊 OPERA

Data Sources:

🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.

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