Indole

Aroma Chemicals

Indole

Indole is a powerful perfumery material known for its contrasting nature—dirty at strength, yet exquisite in traces. it is essential for creating realistic, intoxicating floral fragrances, lending richness and complexity that pure floral notes cannot achieve alone.

Aroma ChemicalBaseCAS: 120-72-9

Odor Strength

High

Odor Type

Animalic

Functional Profile

How perfumers typically use Indole in their compositions.

Accent

26 formulas

0.0%0.4%2.7%

Modulate

23 formulas

0.0%0.2%1.1%

Enhance

9 formulas

0.2%0.4%0.5%

Build

2 formulas

1.6%3.3%5.0%

Common Formula Contexts

Fragrance styles and categories where Indole appears most often.

Floral Bouquet

19 formulas

0.0%0.7%5.0%

Fresh Citrus

7 formulas

0.0%0.2%0.6%

Complex Composition

3 formulas

0.4%0.7%1.1%

Oriental Amber

3 formulas

0.0%0.0%0.1%

Woody Aromatic

1 formulas

0.1%0.1%0.1%

TGSC Descriptions

Mosciano, Gerard P&F 26, No. 3, 80, (2001): Pungent, floral, slightly naphtha and mothball like with a fecal and animalic musty character

Luebke, William tgsc, (1982): Animal floral moth ball fecal naphthelene

Other Descriptions

Indole

Moellhausen: Penetrating, animal, faecal

PerfumersWorld: Strong moth ball naphthelene erogenic-floral animal narcotic-floral jasmine slightly musk fecal
Blends-well-with - +phenyl acetic acid +mimosa

Pell Wall Perfumes: Animalic, floral-heady, faecal, naphthelene / moth-balls
Arctander writes extensively about this material; here are a couple of extracts: “extremely diffusive and powerful odor, almost tarry-repulsive and choking when concentrated, but in concentrations lower than 0.1%. or in compositions, it shows powerful floral notes and pleasant radiation. good tenacity, in spite of the volatility at room temperature.”