Synthetics
Hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (hca) smells like a fresh, floral, and slightly green jasmine with herbal and waxy notes.
Mosciano, Gerard P&F 19, No. 6, 53, (1994): Sweet, floral, green, citrus and fruity with powdery tropical spicy notes
Luebke, William tgsc, (1985): Fresh floral green jasmin herbal waxy
Pell Wall Perfumes: Sweet, floral-jasmine, green, citrus-fruity, powdery, spicy
According to arctander it is: “very mild, sweet-oily, slightly floral odor with a trace of hcrbaccous undertones. the odor becomes considerably more floral and lively when the material is incorporated with more volatile material in a composition… this aidehyde finds considerable use in perfume formulations for its rich floral and pleasant oily-herbaccous odor-contribution to jasmin bases, gardenia, tuberose, magnolia, etc. and in general as part of a floral theme in other fragrance types.”
Fraterworks: An unctuous floral, hexyl cinnamic aldehyde is the key building block to some of the most famous muguet bases and is found in fragrances such as eau sauvage (1966), gabrielle (2017, chanel — demonstration formula below), dolce & gabbana light blue (2001), and tom ford's tobacco vanille (2007).
When constructing a jasmine base, this material is preferred over its close relative amyl cinnamic aldehyde, owing to the fact that the hexyl version is sweeter and more floral. hexyl cinnamic aldehyde tempers the harsh character of benzyl acetate and other strong jasmine chemicals while providing a light and discreet unisex floral heart note.
At room temperature, hexyl cinnamic aldehyde is liquid but at lower temperatures it may solidify. a little heat will return it to a liquid state. importantly, hexyl cinnamic aldehyde can sour quite quickly so it is recommended that you buy small quantities often, rather than bulk amounts and refrigerate it.
Moellhausen: Aromatic, floreal