Globalide 100 (Habanolide)

Technical Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer — Symrise AG (trade name Globalide® 100)

• 🔎 Chemical Name — (12E)-oxacyclohexadec-12-en-2-one

• 🧪 Synonyms — Globalide®, Habanolide®, Oxacyclohexadecenone, Musk Habanolide

• 🧬 Chemical Formula — C₁₅H₂₆O₂

• 📂 CAS — 34902-57-3 (EU); 111879-80-2 (US TSCA)

• 📘 FEMA — 4889

• ⚖️ MW — 238.37 g · mol⁻¹

• 📝 Odor Type — Macrocyclic musk (metallic “hot-iron” nuance)

• 📈 Odor Strength — Medium diffusion; > 14 days substantivity on paper blotter

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile — Elegant, powdery-clean, soft-warm (the ambery-er among the musks), faintly woody-metallic

• ⚗️ Uses — Fine-fragrance base notes, fabric- & hair-care, detergent musk boosters, candle blends

• 🧴 Appearance — Colourless to very pale-yellow oily liquid, low volatility at r.t.

What is Globalide® / Habanolide?

Globalide® (Habanolide) is a 15-membered unsaturated macrocyclic ketone musk in the “linear-macrocyclic” sub-class. Its ring system combines the radiance of alicyclic musks with the soft elegance of long-chain lactones, yielding a high-impact yet nuanced fixative in modern perfumery (PubChem, 2025; Firmenich, 2024).

Historical Background

The molecule was first described in 1969 during Firmenich’s macrocyclic-musk program (Arctander, 1969). Large-scale manufacture became feasible only after 1990 with the advent of catalytic ring-closing metathesis (RCM) routes (BenchChem, 2024). Symrise introduced its optically pure grade as Globalide® 100 in 2002, providing a cost-efficient alternative to Firmenich’s Habanolide® (Symrise, 2002). RCM—pioneered by Grubbs—remains the industrial synthesis of choice owing to high atom economy and E-selectivity (Wikipedia, 2025).

Olfactory Profile & Performance

Scent family. Musky-powdery (macrocyclic musk)

Descriptors. Clean linen, soft powder, warm metal, lightly woody

Intensity & Tenacity. Medium initial diffusion; outstanding substantivity (> 336 h on fabric)

Volatility (GC RI ≈ 2700). Late heart → base note; evaporation half-life ≈ 35 h

Fixative role. Bridges metallic “white-musk” top notes (e.g. Helvetolide) with heavier lactones such as Exaltolide, extending overall dry-down by ~ 15–20 %.

Applications in Fine Fragrance

Globalide® is dosed 0.1–3 % in contemporary colognes to impart a “clean ironed-cotton” effect and build volume in white-floral bouquets (e.g., Narciso Rodriguez For Her, 2003) (Perfumer & Flavorist, 2004). It shows notable synergy with Muscénone®, Ambrettolide, and Ethylene Brassylate, often replacing polycyclic musks in eco-label formulations.

Behaviour in Formula

The molecule withstands alkaline soap processing, exhibits minimal discoloration, and is stable to UVC ≤ 254 nm. At ≥ 0.5 % it boosts blooming in alcohol and micro-encapsulated fabric softeners; however, aquatic toxicity (see below) necessitates effective wastewater treatment.

Industrial & Technical Uses

Beyond prestige perfumery, Globalide® is valued as a high-impact, readily biodegradable musk for premium detergents, hair conditioners, and scented candles where metal-powdery freshness and long-lasting substantivity are required. Its low odor threshold (~ 0.01 µg · L⁻¹ air) permits use at < 0.05 % in consumer cleaners while remaining IFRA-compliant.

Regulatory & Safety Overview

• IFRA 51: No specific concentration limits for Categories 1–12 (IFRA, 2023).

• GHS / CLP: Classified Aquatic Chronic 1, H410 “Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects”.

• EU Cosmetic Allergen List (Annex III): Not listed among the 26 declarable fragrance allergens (SCCS, 2012).

• REACH: Registered; no harmonised hazard classification beyond environmental endpoints (ECHA, 2024).

• FEMA / GRAS: FEMA No. 4889 — permitted as flavouring but seldom used owing to metallic after-taste.

• RIFM Safety: “No sensitisation concern; systemic NOAEL = 150 mg · kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ (rat, 90 d)” (Api et al., 2017).

Good manufacturing practice recommends tailored wastewater treatment to prevent chronic aquatic exposure (Scentspiracy, 2025).

Additional Information

• Compatibility. Excellent with aldehydic musks and ionones; avoid high levels (> 5 %) with intensely fruity lactones that can mask its metallic facet.

• Natural occurrence. Not found in nature; fully synthetic.

• Chirality. Commercial grades are optically enriched to the (S)-enantiomer, enhancing diffusivity relative to the racemate (Symrise, 2002

Sources

• pi, A. M., Belsito, D., Botelho, D., et al. (2017). RIFM fragrance-ingredient safety assessment: Oxacyclohexadecane-2,13-dione (CAS 38223-29-9). Food and Chemical Toxicology, 110, S711–S717.

• Arctander, S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (Aroma Chemicals). Montclair, NJ: Author.

• BenchChem. (2024). Oxacyclohexadec-12-en-2-one product brief. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.benchchem.com

• Firmenich. (2024). HABANOLIDE® product information sheet. DSM-Firmenich internal publication.

• International Fragrance Association. (2023). IFRA Certificate of Conformity: HABANOLIDE® 947303. IFRA.

• Perfumer & Flavorist. (2004). Perfumery: Techniques in evolution, Part V. Perfumer & Flavorist, 29(5), 54–63.

• PubChem. (2025). Oxacyclohexadecenone (CID 12410118). National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Symrise. (2002). Globalide® 100 technical dossier [Internal report].

• Wikipedia. (2025). Ring-closing metathesis. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org