Benzoin Oliffac 63B
Premium Base Ingredient for Perfumery
Benzoin Oliffac 63B is a proprietary fragrance base developed by IFF as a functional and cost-stable substitute for natural benzoin resinoid. This complex blend delivers a warm, vanillic balsamic character with powdery amber undertones and mild woody nuances. Designed for optimal solubility and diffusion, it acts as a fixative and sweetness enhancer in amber, oriental, gourmand, and floral compositions. Unlike crude benzoin gum, Benzoin Oliffac 63B is easy to formulate and remains stable across multiple applications, including ethanol-based and functional fragrance systems.
Premium Base Ingredient for Perfumery
Benzoin Oliffac 63B is a proprietary fragrance base developed by IFF as a functional and cost-stable substitute for natural benzoin resinoid. This complex blend delivers a warm, vanillic balsamic character with powdery amber undertones and mild woody nuances. Designed for optimal solubility and diffusion, it acts as a fixative and sweetness enhancer in amber, oriental, gourmand, and floral compositions. Unlike crude benzoin gum, Benzoin Oliffac 63B is easy to formulate and remains stable across multiple applications, including ethanol-based and functional fragrance systems.
Premium Base Ingredient for Perfumery
Benzoin Oliffac 63B is a proprietary fragrance base developed by IFF as a functional and cost-stable substitute for natural benzoin resinoid. This complex blend delivers a warm, vanillic balsamic character with powdery amber undertones and mild woody nuances. Designed for optimal solubility and diffusion, it acts as a fixative and sweetness enhancer in amber, oriental, gourmand, and floral compositions. Unlike crude benzoin gum, Benzoin Oliffac 63B is easy to formulate and remains stable across multiple applications, including ethanol-based and functional fragrance systems.
Technical Ingredient Overview
🏭 Manufacturer — International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF)
🔎 Chemical Name — Proprietary fragrance compound (principal constituents include benzoic acid, ethanol, vanillin & ethyl vanillin) (IFF, 2020)
🧪 Synonyms — Benzoin Oliffac 63; Benzoin Oliffac 63 DEPR 0612; Oliffac Benzoin Base 50/63; BO-63
📝 Odor Type — Balsamic-vanillic resinous base
📈 Odor Strength — Very high; odor life on blotter ≈ 400 h
👃🏼 Odor Profile — Sweet, smooth vanilla-balsam; powdery amber; mild woody undertone (FAO, 2001)
⚗️ Uses — Economical replacer for natural benzoin resinoid; fixative & sweetener in oriental, gourmand, amber and floral accords (IFF, 2020)
🧴 Appearance — Dark amber to brown viscous liquid (IFF, 2020)
What is Benzoin Oliffac 63?
Benzoin Oliffac 63 is an IFF specialty base engineered to reproduce the warm, vanilla-resinous character of natural Styraxbenzoin while eliminating handling problems (grains, insolubles) and price fluctuations typical of the crude resin. Formulated primarily with benzoic acid (~20–50 %), ethanol (~20–50 %) and trace levels of vanillin and ethyl vanillin (≤ 5 % each), the blend offers ready solubility in alcohol and excellent diffusion, making it an “easy-to-use” drop-in substitute up to 15 % of a perfume concentrate (IFF, 2020)
Historical Background
IFF first introduced its Oliffac® series of naturals-inspired bases in the early 1960s, when perfumers sought cost-effective, stable surrogates for restricted or variable botanicals (Arctander, 1969, as cited in Brechbill, 2014). Benzoin Oliffac 63 quickly gained traction as a solution to the laborious melting and filtration required for true benzoin gum. FAO trade reports from the late 1990s already describe BO-63 as a “cost-effective substitute” recommended up to 5 % of finished product (FAO, 2001). The base remains in IFF’s portfolio today, supplied globally in a di-ethyl-phthalate-removed (DEPR) version compliant with modern safety expectations.
Olfactory Profile — Performance in Formula
Family / Descriptors : Balsamic amber; sweet vanilla; faint spicy-powdery nuance
Intensity & Tenacity : blotter life ≈ 400 h
Volatility : Exhibits top-note traces; bulk evaporation curve parallels vanillin → benzoic acid, giving strong mid-to-dry-down body
Fixative Behaviour : High benzoic acid slows release of more volatile partners; improves bloom and substantivity of white florals and lactonic notes
Applications in Fine Fragrance
Amber, oriental & gourmand accords (pairs naturally with Vanillin, Ethyl Vanillin and Tonka Bean Coumarin)
Modern “amberwood” bases: combines with woody-amber ketones to enhance warmth
Floral orientals: stabilises white-flower absolutes and extends dry-down
Practical Use Levels
At 1–3 % of concentrate BO-63 lends soft vanillic sweetness; at 5–10 % it becomes the backbone of amber accords. It dissolves fully in ethanol; no filtration needed. Compatible with most aldehydes, ionones and musk ketones; avoid high-pH aqueous bases where benzoic acid may precipitate.
Industrial & Technical Uses
Beyond fine fragrance, Benzoin Oliffac 63 is incorporated (≤ 0.5 %) as a masking and fixative agent in scented candles, reed diffusers, liquid detergents and fabric conditioners because of its excellent heat stability and substantive dry-fabric note (IFF, 2020).
Regulatory & Safety Overview
EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009: Permitted; no individual allergens.
FEMA / GRAS: No FEMA number; not intended for food use.
References
Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (Aroma Chemicals). (cited in Brechbill, 2014).
Brechbill, G. O. (2014). A Reference Book on Fragrance Ingredients (p. 112). Fragrance Books Inc.
Food & Agriculture Organization. (2001). Monograph on Benzoin (Styrax spp.).
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc
International Fragrance Association.
