How to achieve a dry woodsy base? & ingredient list

I am looking to create a deep, dry woodsy base for a fragrance. I am having trouble finding a combination of a fixative and a wood that doesn't end up just a bit too sweet.

I have the following ingredients:

• Acetal (Natural)
• Acetophenone (Phenyl methyl ketone)
• Adoxal (Givaudan)
• Aldehyde C-10 (Decanal)
• Aldehyde C-11 Undecylenic
• Aldehyde C-12 MNA
• Aldehyde C-16 Strawberry
• Aldehyde Supra (Firmenich)
• Algenone (Synarome)
• Allspice EO
• Allyl Amyl Glycolate
• Alpha Pinene (Natural)
• Amyl Cinnamic Aldehyde
• Amyl Salicylate FFC (Givaudan)
• Amber Xtreme (IFF)
• Ambroxan 10%
• Amyl Salicylate
• Animalid
• Aniseed EO
• Aquamate (aka marine formate)
• Basil EO
• Benzaldehyde 50% in BB
• Benzoin EO
• Benzoin (Styrax tonkinesis) 50% alc
• Benzyl Acetate (Natural)
• Benzyl Benzoate
• Benzyl Salicylate
• Bergamot EO (bergaptene reduced)
• Bergamot Mint EO
• Birch (Sweet) EO
• Birch Tar (Rectified) 10% in BB
• Bornafix (IFF) (aka woody propanol)
• Borneol Crystals
• Cade EO (rectified)
• Calone 10% DPG (Firmenich)
• Caraway EO
• Carbinol Muguet
• Cardamom EO
• Caryophyllene oxide (1% in PG)
• Cashmeran
• Cassia EO
• Cedar Leaf EO (aka northern white cedar)
• Cedarwood atlas EO
• Cedarwood virginia EO
• Cedrene
• Cedryl Acetate (EOA)
• Cedryl Methyl Ether (aka Cedramber)
• Cinnamic Aldehyde FCC (aka Cinnamaldehyde)
• Cis-3 Hexenyl Tiglate
• Citronellol
• Civette Synthetic (Firmenich)
• Clementine EO
• Coranol (Firmenich)
• Coriander Seed Russia
• Coumarin 10% (DPG)
• Cuir Vitessence
• Cyclal C
• Cyclemax (IFF) (aka cuminal acetaldehyde)
• Cypress EO
• Damascone Alpha
• Damascone Beta
• Dihydro Eugenol
• Dihydro Ionone Beta (Givaudan)
• Dihydro Myrcenol
• Dimethyl benzyl carbinol
• Dimetol (aka freesia heptanol)
• Ebanol (Givaudan) (aka sandal pentenol)
• Elemi (Philippines) oil (aka canarium...)
• Ethyl Maltol Crystals
• Ethyl Safranate (Givaudan)
• Ethyl Salicylate
• Ethyl Vanillin
• Ethylene Brassylate
• Exaltolide Total (aka omega pentadecalactone)
• Fir Needle EO
• Floralol (IFF)
• Floralozone
• Galaxolide (Musk G)
• Geosmin 1%
• Geraniol (95)
• Geranyl Acetate
• Grapefruit (Pink) EO
• Green Mandarin EO
• Habanolide (Firmenich) (aka 12-musk-decenone)
• Hedione (Firmenich) (aka methyl dihydrojasmonate)
• Helional (IFF) (aka ocean propanal)
• Heliotropin Replacer 20% (in BB)
• Hexenyl Cis-3 Acetate (Natural)
• Howood EO
• Indolene 50 (IFF)
• Iris - Key Accord
• Iso E Super (IFF)
• Isobutavan (aka vanillyl isobutyrate)
• Isobutyl Quinoline (10% in BB)
• Jamarosa EO
• Jasmine - Key Accord
• Labdanum EO (aka cistus)
• Lavandin EO
• Lavandin Grosso (France), EO
• Lavender EO
• Lemon EO
• Lemongrass EO
• Lime EO
• Lime (Persian) EO
• Linalool
• Linalyl Acetate
• Methyl Diantilis (Givaudan) (aka dianthus ethone)
• Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra
• Methyl Ionone Beta Couer (aka beta-methyl ionone)
• Muguet Aldehyde 50% in DEP (IFF)
• Musk ketone
• Norlimbanol (aka Karmawood, Timberol; timber propanol)
• Oakmoss Givco 214/3
• Orange (Sweet) EO
• Orcinyl 3 10% (TEC)
• Palmarosa EO
• Patchouli EO
• Pepper (Black) EO
• Peppermint EO
• Petitgrain EO
• Phenethyl Acetate
• Pineapple Essence (Natural)
• Rosalina EO
• Rose Givco 217 (Revised)
• Rosemary EO
• Safraleine (aka saffron indenone)
• Sandela 85 IPM
• Sanjinol (aka dartanol)
• Santaliff (IFF) (aka sandal butenol)
• Spruce Hemlock EO
• Suederal LT
• Sylvamber (aka patchouli ethanone)
• Tobacco Abs. 5% in TEC
• Tonka Bean Absolute 50% Alc
• Vanilla Oleoresin EO
• Velvione (aka must amberol)
• Vetiver EO
• Veramoss (IFF)
• Vertofix aka Vertofix Coeur (Methyl cedryl ketone)
• White Musk - Key Accord
• Ylang Ylang EO

I am about to place another order for ingredients. Is there another ingredient(s) I should purchase which may be more effective? Something that would have a "drying" effect on woodsy notes?

I am also open to any non-woodsy suggestions for ingredients. I only began DIY back in February, so still very fresh to this art.

aldambre. Cedroxyde. Z11. with that i can see you have, virginia cedarwood, vertofix, isobutyl, oakmoss, very trace of vetiver and birch tarch helps for the dryness. this ingredients would contribute for a dry woody note

aplayonaccord said:

I am looking to create a deep, dry woodsy base for a fragrance. I am having trouble finding a combination of a fixative and a wood that doesn't end up just a bit too sweet.

I have the following ingredients:

• Acetal (Natural)
• Acetophenone (Phenyl methyl ketone)
• Adoxal (Givaudan)
• Aldehyde C-10 (Decanal)
• Aldehyde C-11 Undecylenic
• Aldehyde C-12 MNA
• Aldehyde C-16 Strawberry
• Aldehyde Supra (Firmenich)
• Algenone (Synarome)
• Allspice EO
• Allyl Amyl Glycolate
• Alpha Pinene (Natural)
• Amyl Cinnamic Aldehyde
• Amyl Salicylate FFC (Givaudan)
• Amber Xtreme (IFF)
• Ambroxan 10%
• Amyl Salicylate
• Animalid
• Aniseed EO
• Aquamate (aka marine formate)
• Basil EO
• Benzaldehyde 50% in BB
• Benzoin EO
• Benzoin (Styrax tonkinesis) 50% alc
• Benzyl Acetate (Natural)
• Benzyl Benzoate
• Benzyl Salicylate
• Bergamot EO (bergaptene reduced)
• Bergamot Mint EO
• Birch (Sweet) EO
• Birch Tar (Rectified) 10% in BB
• Bornafix (IFF) (aka woody propanol)
• Borneol Crystals
• Cade EO (rectified)
• Calone 10% DPG (Firmenich)
• Caraway EO
• Carbinol Muguet
• Cardamom EO
• Caryophyllene oxide (1% in PG)
• Cashmeran
• Cassia EO
• Cedar Leaf EO (aka northern white cedar)
• Cedarwood atlas EO
• Cedarwood virginia EO
• Cedrene
• Cedryl Acetate (EOA)
• Cedryl Methyl Ether (aka Cedramber)
• Cinnamic Aldehyde FCC (aka Cinnamaldehyde)
• Cis-3 Hexenyl Tiglate
• Citronellol
• Civette Synthetic (Firmenich)
• Clementine EO
• Coranol (Firmenich)
• Coriander Seed Russia
• Coumarin 10% (DPG)
• Cuir Vitessence
• Cyclal C
• Cyclemax (IFF) (aka cuminal acetaldehyde)
• Cypress EO
• Damascone Alpha
• Damascone Beta
• Dihydro Eugenol
• Dihydro Ionone Beta (Givaudan)
• Dihydro Myrcenol
• Dimethyl benzyl carbinol
• Dimetol (aka freesia heptanol)
• Ebanol (Givaudan) (aka sandal pentenol)
• Elemi (Philippines) oil (aka canarium...)
• Ethyl Maltol Crystals
• Ethyl Safranate (Givaudan)
• Ethyl Salicylate
• Ethyl Vanillin
• Ethylene Brassylate
• Exaltolide Total (aka omega pentadecalactone)
• Fir Needle EO
• Floralol (IFF)
• Floralozone
• Galaxolide (Musk G)
• Geosmin 1%
• Geraniol (95)
• Geranyl Acetate
• Grapefruit (Pink) EO
• Green Mandarin EO
• Habanolide (Firmenich) (aka 12-musk-decenone)
• Hedione (Firmenich) (aka methyl dihydrojasmonate)
• Helional (IFF) (aka ocean propanal)
• Heliotropin Replacer 20% (in BB)
• Hexenyl Cis-3 Acetate (Natural)
• Howood EO
• Indolene 50 (IFF)
• Iris - Key Accord
• Iso E Super (IFF)
• Isobutavan (aka vanillyl isobutyrate)
• Isobutyl Quinoline (10% in BB)
• Jamarosa EO
• Jasmine - Key Accord
• Labdanum EO (aka cistus)
• Lavandin EO
• Lavandin Grosso (France), EO
• Lavender EO
• Lemon EO
• Lemongrass EO
• Lime EO
• Lime (Persian) EO
• Linalool
• Linalyl Acetate
• Methyl Diantilis (Givaudan) (aka dianthus ethone)
• Methyl Ionone Alpha Extra
• Methyl Ionone Beta Couer (aka beta-methyl ionone)
• Muguet Aldehyde 50% in DEP (IFF)
• Musk ketone
• Norlimbanol (aka Karmawood, Timberol; timber propanol)
• Oakmoss Givco 214/3
• Orange (Sweet) EO
• Orcinyl 3 10% (TEC)
• Palmarosa EO
• Patchouli EO
• Pepper (Black) EO
• Peppermint EO
• Petitgrain EO
• Phenethyl Acetate
• Pineapple Essence (Natural)
• Rosalina EO
• Rose Givco 217 (Revised)
• Rosemary EO
• Safraleine (aka saffron indenone)
• Sandela 85 IPM
• Sanjinol (aka dartanol)
• Santaliff (IFF) (aka sandal butenol)
• Spruce Hemlock EO
• Suederal LT
• Sylvamber (aka patchouli ethanone)
• Tobacco Abs. 5% in TEC
• Tonka Bean Absolute 50% Alc
• Vanilla Oleoresin EO
• Velvione (aka must amberol)
• Vetiver EO
• Veramoss (IFF)
• Vertofix aka Vertofix Coeur (Methyl cedryl ketone)
• White Musk - Key Accord
• Ylang Ylang EO

I am about to place another order for ingredients. Is there another ingredient(s) I should purchase which may be more effective? Something that would have a "drying" effect on woodsy notes?

I am also open to any non-woodsy suggestions for ingredients. I only began DIY back in February, so still very fresh to this art.

Click to expand...

Superambers, such as norlimbanol, karanal, hydroxyambran, ambrocenide, etc, can be used to confer tenacious dry woody effects.

Cedarwood Texas / Virginia. Vetiver. Oakmoss.


AmberXtreme, Cedroxyde, Norlimbanol/Timberol and ambrocenide are all very dry or dusty wood materials.

Important will be the fixateur. Silvanone Supra or Juniper Lactone to me is a musk that fits will with dry masculine woodiness

What combinations have you tried so far?

Were I to try a dry woody accord, This would be on my list to start with:
Norlimbanol
Palisandrol
Cedar Virginia ( a very good one)
Mahoganate

perfumer86 said:

aldambre. Cedroxyde. Z11. with that i can see you have, virginia cedarwood, vertofix, isobutyl, oakmoss, very trace of vetiver and birch tarch helps for the dryness. this ingredients would contribute for a dry woody note

Click to expand...

Thank you! I purchased aldambre, cedroxyde, and Z11.

How do you typically dose aldambre? I am finding very little data online about typical use.

High amounts of Cedar Virginia/Atlas, moderate amounts of Patchouli Oil, Cashmeran and Santaliff, a tiny bit of Norlimbanol or Ambrocenide and some Iso E Super to soften things up.

Definitely use some Vetiver.

Vertenex, Cedar Virginia, Boisambrene Forte and an addition of Amyl Salicylate can create a dry wood accord

You asked for a dry woody base.
Vertenex it's top-middle. But I still want to tell you that it has a powerful dry sawdust effect (pronounced dusty-powdery texture), amplified somehow by its bitter green and woody odor.

There are different kinds of dry wood. My kind is Virginia Cedarwood + Guaiacwood.

Virginian Cedar for sure. Would you consider getting some buddha wood? It's slightly smokey, slight smell of varnish and slightly sweet (but not in a resinous way like atlas), quite sticky and long lasting without being bold and IMO nicely dry.