Hedione HC (Firmenich)

Hedione HC Firmenich aka Hedione High Cis is a widely used fragrance ingredient in the perfume industry. It’s popularity stems from its ability to provide a fresh and airy scent.

Hedione® HC, a more potent, higher impact variant of Hedione, is particularly beneficial in masculine fragrances while still being versatile in its application, providing a fresh and petal-like impression.It’s versatility allows it to blend well with various other ingredients, making it a staple in many perfume formulations.

Hedione High Cis, like Hedione is often used in perfumes to enhance the longevity and diffusion of the fragrance.

It’s preference in the realm of fine fragrances is notable, although its efficacy in functional products is reduced due to its inclination to revert back to regular Hedione in acidic or alkaline environments.

According to Firmenich, Hedione High Cis embodies a unique and robust floral note reminiscent of magnolia blossoms, offering exceptional enhancement properties.

Its strength surpasses that of classical Hedione® due to its high cis concentration. Notably, this Firmenich version contains approximately 75% of the desired cis isomer, surpassing many competing products.

With its pleasant scent and performance benefits, Hedione High Cis continues to be a sought-after choice for perfumers worldwide.

The high cis predecessor; Hedione along with ISO E Super have to be two of the most widely used aroma chemicals in all of modern day perfumery.

Hedione is also known to subtly stimulate the human pheromone receptors, which may contribute to its appeal in perfumery.

The assumption that hedione is attractive was all but confirmed by a 2015 paper published in the journal NeuroImage by cell physiologists from Bochum and Dresden in Germany.

Chemists found that it activates the putative pheromone receptor VN1R1, located in the olfactory epithelium and one of five still left in humans out of hundreds that occur in other mammals.

It’s the first time that a scent has been known to activate the pheromone receptor in humans.

The scientists then analysed brain activity to find out if the scent could have an impact on the brain, comparing the results with the control scent phenylethyl alcohol, a traditional floral fragrance; it activated brain areas in the limbic system, a part of the brain associated with emotions, memory and motivation, more strongly than the control.

But even more significantly, hedione activated a specific area of the hypothalamus in women, which in turn ignites the endocrine system, promoting a response to sexual cues.

Master perfumer Arcadi Boix Camps wrote of hedione ‘the compound that without a doubt has most influenced modern perfumery and has allowed the great artists to develop their ideas with inspiration… it has become famous because it gives to compositions a delicate, fresh, smooth, radiant, warm, elegant character that blends well with all kinds of perfumes from floral-citrics to woody, chypre and oriental.’ Today, it’s fame is cemented in science as well as art, a true icon of both worlds.

For those not familiar with Hedione, the raw material would appear to have a fairly quiet odour by itself. It is a middle note molecule, almost undetectable from the bottle and best appreciated after appropriate dilution or when incorporated into a blend.

Product specification.

CAS No: 24851-98-7
Odour description (decreasing): Fresh, Clean, Sweet, Floral, Jasmine.  Diffusive & Fixative
Solvent: None
Usage: Up to 50%
Synonyms: Methyl Dihydrojasmonate HC, Methyl Dihydrojasmonate High Cis
IFRA:

Not Hazardous According To EC 1272/2008