The odor properties of the three natural musk compounds—muscone, ambrettolide, and civetone—were not tabulated by Hill and Carothers. All three possess powerful musk aromas but, in addition, each has nuances that are characteristic of the molecule and serve to differentiate the odor profiles. Maurer and Grieder (1977) note that ambrette-seed oil is higly appreciated for the “exalting» effect that it lends to perfumes and for its rich, floral musky fragrance. Ambrettolide is reported (Kerschbaum, 1927) as being responsible for this typical note. Arctander (1969) described the odor of ambrettolide as being rich, floral-musky, and sweet, as well as extremely tenacious. He also stated that dihydroambrettolide possesses a typical musky, sweet odor of great tenacity. When compared to ambrettolide, it is less floral, somewhat weaker, and lacks the radiant beauty of ambrettolide. The animal notes are slightly more perceptible in dihydroambrettolide. The recently identified (Z)-5-tetradecen-14-olide displays a powerful floral-musky note similar to the odor of ambrettolide but somewhat stronger and much less tenacious (Maurer and Grieder, 1977).
STEFFEN ARCTANDERRUTGERS – THE STATE UNIVERSITY (1969) Book
Maurer, B , and Grieder, A. (1977). Heir. Own. Acta 60, 1155.
Kerschbaum, M.(I927). Ber. 60,902, Chem. Ahstr. 21,2118(1927).