Cashmeran (often listed as Cashmiron, CAS 33704-61-9, chemical formula C14H22O) is a synthetic aroma chemical prized in perfumery for its warm, musky-woody scent with hints of spice, amber and pine. It is a fixative-style ingredient used to add depth and long-lasting warmth to fragrances, cosmetics and scented products. It is intended for external, fragrance use only and is not food-grade.
What Cashmeran actually smells like
People describe Cashmeran as soft, velvety and slightly powdery, with a woody-musky core wrapped around a subtle floral-spicy freshness. It sits comfortably in the base of a fragrance and gives that cosy, skin-like "cashmere" impression that its name hints at. A little goes a long way, and the note lingers well after brighter top notes have faded.
The Azlok material is supplied as a colourless to pale-yellow liquid with a stated shelf life of around three years when stored well.
Common uses
- Fine fragrance: a base and fixative note that blends beautifully with woods, amber, vanilla and white musks.
- Functional fragrance: used in scented soaps, body products and cosmetic bases where a soft, clean warmth is wanted.
- Candle and reed diffuser blends: adds a comforting, long-lasting woody-musk backbone to home fragrance formulas.
- Accords: a popular building block for musk, amber, suede and modern "skin scent" accords.
How to use it in a blend
Cashmeran is powerful, so it is almost always used at low percentages within a fragrance concentrate. Many perfumers work with it at roughly 1–5% of the fragrance oil (not the finished product), adjusting to taste. Because it is so tenacious, resist the urge to overdose it early in a formula.
- Dilute a small amount in perfumer's alcohol or a suitable carrier to 10% so you can dose it accurately.
- Add it drop by drop into your base accord and smell after each addition.
- Let the blend mature for a few days—Cashmeran often rounds out and softens as it settles.
- Balance it with citrus, floral or aromatic top notes so the finished scent does not feel too heavy.
Safety and handling
This is a concentrated aroma chemical, so treat it with respect:
- For external, fragrance use only. Do not ingest.
- Always dilute before applying anything to skin, and follow recognised fragrance usage limits (IFRA guidance) for the product type you are making.
- Patch-test finished, diluted products before wider use.
- Avoid direct contact with eyes; work in a ventilated space and wash hands after handling.
- Keep well away from children and pets, and store away from open flames.
- Refer to the COA and MSDS for the batch you receive.
Buying and storage tips
Azlok offers Cashmeran in sizes from 50 gm up to 10 kg, so you can start with a small quantity to test in your formulas before scaling up for regular production. For hobby perfumers, the 50 gm or 100 gm packs are usually plenty because the material is used in tiny amounts.
- Store in a cool, dark place in a tightly closed, non-reactive bottle.
- Keep it away from heat, sunlight and strong odours that could contaminate it.
- Label diluted stocks with the date and concentration so your formulas stay repeatable.
- Used and stored properly, it holds up well within its stated three-year shelf life.
FAQ
What is Cashmeran used for?
It is an aroma chemical used mainly in perfumery and scented products. It contributes a musky, woody, slightly spicy-amber note and acts as a long-lasting base and fixative.
Is Cashmeran a natural musk?
No. It is a synthetic aroma molecule (CAS 33704-61-9) created for fragrance use. It gives a musky-woody impression but is not derived from animal musk.
How much Cashmeran should I use in a perfume?
It is typically used at low levels within the fragrance concentrate—often around 1–5%—and adjusted to taste. Always dilute for testing and follow IFRA limits for your finished product type.
Can Cashmeran be applied directly to the skin?
Not undiluted. It must be blended and diluted into a finished fragrance or cosmetic base within safe usage limits, and you should patch-test the final diluted product first.
How should I store Cashmeran?
Keep it in a tightly sealed bottle in a cool, dark place, away from heat, sunlight and children. Stored well, it stays usable within its roughly three-year shelf life.