The Molecules Behind the Naturals: the evidence

The whole register · the page itself

The molecules behind nature’s masterworks

• sourced Rosa damascena · The rose molecule: C₁₃H₁₈O CAS 23696-85-7 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5366074, beta-Damascenone
• sourced C₈H₇N CAS 120-72-9 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 798, Indole
• sourced C₈H₈O₃ CAS 121-33-5 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1183, Vanillin
• sourced C₁₀H₁₈O CAS 78-70-6 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6549, Linalool
• sourced C₁₅H₂₄O CAS 115-71-9 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 11085337, Alpha-Santalol
• sourced Pogostemon cablin · The earthy signature: C₁₅H₂₆O CAS 5986-55-0 · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 10955174, Patchouli alcohol. National Center for Biotechnology Information
• sourced C₁₄H₂₂O CAS 79-69-6 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5371002, alpha-Irone
• sourced Citrus bergamia · The citrus backbone: C₁₀H₁₆ CAS 138-86-3 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 22311, 1-Methyl-4-Prop-1-En-2-Ylcyclohexene
• sourced C₈H₈O₂ CAS 93-58-3 · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 7150, Methyl Benzoate. National Center for Biotechnology Information
• sourced C₁₅H₂₆O CAS 77-53-2 · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 65575, Cedrol. National Center for Biotechnology Information
• sourced C₁₀H₁₈O CAS 106-24-1 (from the record) · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 637566, Geraniol
• sourced C₁₃H₁₈O CAS 23696-85-7 · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5366074, beta-Damascenone
• sourced C₁₀H₁₆ CAS 138-86-3 · PubChem Compound Summary for CID 22311, 1-Methyl-4-Prop-1-En-2-Ylcyclohexene
• unsourced Found in a great many flowering plants. High-altitude Provence lavender is prized for a high ratio of linalyl acetate to linalool — the defining character of fine, as opposed to industrial, lavender.
• sourced The principal sesquiterpene alcohol of Mysore sandalwood — the main constituent of the heartwood oil. Creamy, milky, woody-sweet. The trees take decades to mature. · Diaz-Chavez et al. (2013). Biosynthesis of Sandalwood Oil: Santalum album CYP76F Cytochromes P450 Produce Santalols and Bergamotol
• sourced Earthy, smoky complexity from hundreds of compounds, with khusimol prominent among them. · Barcellos-Silva et al. (2025). Vetiver, Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash: Biotechnology, Biorefineries, and the Production of Volatile Phytochemicals
• house interpretation Traditionally said to improve with age.
• sourced Orris roots age for years before the irones develop. Among the costliest natural materials. · Crișan (2025). The Genus Iris Tourn. ex L.: Updates on Botany, Cultivation, Novel Niches and Impactful Applications
• sourced A dominant monoterpene of citrus peels, and a large part of cold-pressed bergamot oil. · Navarra et al. (2015). Citrus bergamia essential oil: from basic research to clinical application
• house interpretation Atlas cedarwood from Morocco is valued for perfumery.
• unsourced A major part of cedar oil
• sourced Oman’s Dhofar region is famed for its Boswellia sacra. · Yamamoto et al. (2020). Roles of ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid and their interactions in frankincense resin production in Boswellia sacra Flueck
• house interpretation Bourbon geranium from Réunion Island is especially prized.
• sourced An early synthetic aroma molecule: Tiemann and Haarmann patented a synthesis in 1874, and other routes followed. · Lanfranchi et al. (2025). Transforming a Historical Chemical Synthetic Route for Vanillin Starting from Renewable Eugenol to a Cell-Free Bi-Enzymatic Cascade

Raw Material Adulteration

• house interpretation What’s sold as “sandalwood oil” is often: Australian S. spicatum (different species, different smell), synthetic santalol blends, or Indian sandalwood heavily diluted with synthetics. Buyer beware.
• unsourced Pure Lavandula angustifolia from Provence costs far more than lavandin (a hybrid).
• house interpretation GC-MS analysis is how it is caught; a “100% pure” label on its own proves little.
• unsourced A perfumer designing with “jasmine absolute” that’s actually partly synthetic indole and benzyl acetate creates a different fragrance than one using genuine Grasse jasmine.
• unsourced Difficult at low levels of adulteration
• house interpretation Large buyers commonly test the materials they receive — but smaller perfumers often cannot afford it.

from the house’s claims register and the records, checked against the pages’ own words when the site was built