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Galaxolide – HHCB
Galaxolide – HHCB
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- Long-Lasting Scent
- No Harmful Chemicals
- Imported from France
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Galaxolide (INCI: HHCB / Hexamethylindanopyran) is one of the most widely used synthetic musks in the global fragrance industry. Recognized for its clean, fresh, powdery musk character with subtle floral and woody undertones, Galaxolide forms the backbone of countless commercial perfumes, personal care products, and fine fragrance formulations. It is an essential ingredient for any perfumer seeking to build a modern, long-lasting musk accord.
What is Galaxolide?
Galaxolide is a polycyclic synthetic musk — a colorless to very pale yellow, slightly viscous liquid with a distinctly smooth and diffusive scent profile. Unlike nitro musks, polycyclic musks like Galaxolide are considered safer for cosmetic use and have become the industry standard for musk ingredients in modern perfumery and personal care formulation.
Its soft, clean profile makes it highly versatile — it functions equally well as a standalone musk base, a fixative, or a blending enhancer across virtually all fragrance families.
Scent Profile
- Primary character: Clean, fresh, powdery musk
- Secondary notes: Subtle floral warmth, soft woody undertone
- Dry down: Smooth, skin-close, long-lasting
- Diffusion: Moderate to high — excellent projection and sillage
- Longevity: Outstanding — one of the most persistent musk materials available
Key Benefits & Properties
- Superior Longevity — Galaxolide is known for exceptional tenacity on skin and fabric, making it one of the most effective fixatives in perfumery
- Clean Musk Profile — delivers a universally appealing fresh, powdery musk character that works across all demographics and fragrance categories
- Excellent Fixative — anchors and extends the life of top and middle notes in a fragrance blend
- Outstanding Blending Versatility — harmonizes seamlessly with florals, woods, orientals, aquatics, and citrus accords
- Industry Standard — used in a vast majority of commercial perfumes, fabric softeners, personal care products, and fine fragrances worldwide
- Professional Grade Purity — consistent batch quality for reliable formulation performance
Applications in Perfumery & Formulation
Fine Fragrance & Attar Galaxolide is a foundational ingredient in EDP, EDT, cologne, and attar formulation. It provides the clean musk base that most modern fragrances are built upon, giving depth, warmth, and longevity to the overall accord. It pairs beautifully with rose, jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver, ambergris, and all citrus and fresh notes.
Personal Care & Cosmetics One of the most common applications of Galaxolide outside of fine fragrance is in personal care products — body lotions, creams, shower gels, shampoos, and conditioners. Its excellent stability in rinse-off and leave-on formulations, combined with its broad consumer appeal, makes it a go-to musk for cosmetic product development.
Fabric & Home Fragrance Galaxolide performs exceptionally in fabric softeners, laundry detergents, and home fragrance applications including candles, reed diffusers, and room sprays. Its tenacity on textiles is particularly notable.
Body Mists & Roll-Ons At moderate concentrations, Galaxolide imparts a clean, freshly-laundered musk quality to body mists and roll-on fragrances that is highly desirable for everyday wear applications.
Typical Usage Rate
| Application | Recommended Usage Level |
|---|---|
| Fine fragrance (EDP/EDT) | 3% – 15% |
| Attar / concentrated oil blend | 2% – 10% |
| Body lotion / cream | 0.2% – 1% |
| Shower gel / shampoo | 0.2% – 0.5% |
| Body mist / cologne | 1% – 5% |
| Fabric softener / laundry | 0.1% – 0.5% |
| Candle / home fragrance | 2% – 10% |
Always conduct stability testing in your specific formulation. Observe IFRA guidelines for applicable product categories.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | HHCB |
| Full Chemical Name | Hexamethylindanopyran |
| Common Trade Name | Galaxolide |
| CAS Number | 1222-05-5 |
| Appearance | Colorless to very pale yellow liquid |
| Odor | Clean, fresh, powdery musk |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohol and DPG; practically insoluble in water |
| Grade | Perfumery / Professional Grade |
| IFRA Compliance | Refer to current IFRA standards for usage limits by category |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Galaxolide smell like? Galaxolide has a clean, fresh, and powdery musk scent — often described as the classic "clean laundry" or "fresh skin" musk. It is universally appealing and one of the most recognizable musk profiles in modern perfumery.
Can Galaxolide be used in skin-contact products? Yes, Galaxolide is approved for use in cosmetic and personal care products within IFRA-recommended concentration limits. Always verify the current IFRA guidelines for your specific product category before formulation.
How is Galaxolide different from natural musk? Natural animal musk is no longer commercially available due to ethical and regulatory restrictions. Galaxolide is a synthetic polycyclic musk developed to replicate the clean, skin-close warmth of natural musk in a safe, sustainable, and consistent form.
Does Galaxolide work well with DPG? Yes — DPG is one of the most compatible carriers for Galaxolide. Diluting Galaxolide in DPG before incorporating it into a formula ensures even distribution and allows for precise concentration control.
Why Choose CosmetiHub?
At CosmetiHub, we stock professional-grade aroma chemicals for serious perfumers, cosmetic formulators, and indie fragrance brands. Our Galaxolide is supplied at consistent perfumery-grade purity, ensuring reliable scent performance and formulation stability across every batch.
Recommended for professional perfumers, cosmetic manufacturers, indie fragrance brands, attar makers, and advanced DIY formulators.
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