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Norlimbanol™

Q: Is Norlimbanol™ natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Fully synthetic — a Swiss fragrance house proprietary molecule. No natural source..

POPULAR AND WEIRD / woody · balsamic · warm

Norlimbanol™

Category	POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	woody · balsamic · warm
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic molecule
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	N/A — synthetic (manufactured by a Swiss fragrance house)
Pyramid	Base

Powerful, woody, slightly animalic. Norlimbanol is a synthetic woody molecule with massive tenacity — a persistent material in contemporary use, lasting for days.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Woody, slightly animalic-musky, dark, intensely persistent. More tenacious than Iso E Super, darker than sandalwood, less smoky than oud. A woody note that refuses to leave — still perceptible on fabric after multiple washes. Like a single, unwavering woody chord that plays beneath everything else.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Dark woody, slightly animalic, powerful

After a few hours

Same intensity, warmer, more integrated

After a few days

Still clearly perceptible — extreme tenacity defines this molecule

The Full Story

Norlimbanol is a proprietary synthetic woody molecule developed by a Swiss fragrance house, known for its extraordinary tenacity — it can persist on skin and fabric for days, making it a substantive fragrance materials available. The character is woody, slightly animal-musky, with a dark, persistent depth.

The molecule belongs to the sandalwood-cedarwood bridge territory — woody without being specifically sandalwood or cedar, but occupying a dark, persistent woody space of its own. Its substantivity (ability to cling to surfaces) makes it invaluable as a fixative.

Norlimbanol's persistence is both its strength and its challenge — overuse makes compositions feel 'stuck,' as the molecule outlasts everything else in the formula. Skilled dosage is essential.

In formulation, Norlimbanol functions as a powerful woody base note and fixative, extending the life of entire compositions.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Norlimbanol is so persistent that fabric treated with it may retain the scent through multiple machine washes — a property that makes it useful in fabric care fragrances but challenging in fine perfumery, where controlled dissipation is part of the art.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Fully synthetic — a Swiss fragrance house proprietary molecule. No natural source.

Molecular Formula	C₁₅H₃₀O
CAS Number	70788-30-6
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic molecule
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	NORLIMBANOL · NORLIMBANOL™
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	> 600 hours at 100.00%
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	270.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg (est)
Flash Point	> 212.00 °F. TCC ( > 100.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.92000 to 0.96000 @ 25.00 °C. (est)

In Perfumery

Norlimbanol (a Swiss fragrance house) is a synthetic woody base note with extreme tenacity. Functions as both a fragrance ingredient and a fixative — extends the longevity of entire compositions. Dark, slightly animalic woody character. Must be dosed carefully — excessive use makes compositions feel unnaturally persistent. Used in woody-amber, dark, and long-lasting compositions.