✦ Lyral (HICC) is a synthetic aroma chemical with an intensely fresh, transparent muguet lily-of-the-valley character, historically one of the most-used florals in professional perfumery.
✦ Delivers a clean, watery, green-floral effect that lifts and illuminates entire compositions at very low concentrations.
✦ One of the most potent muguet materials ever synthesized — active and diffusive at trace levels.
✦ Featured historically in iconic fragrances including Davidoff Cool Water and Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey.
✦ IMPORTANT: Prohibited by IFRA (49th Amendment, 2020) and banned in EU cosmetics since 2019 due to high sensitization potential.
✦ Supplied strictly for olfactory reference, historical research, and professional laboratory study — not for finished consumer products.
✦ Vegan and synthetic — no animal-derived components.

Lyral, chemically known as Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC), is a synthetic fragrance aldehyde developed during the mid-20th century. It rapidly became one of the most widely used muguet materials in professional perfumery, prized for its remarkable diffusion, luminous freshness, and strong longevity. For several decades it served as a cornerstone ingredient in aquatic, floral, and fougère fragrance construction across both luxury and mass-market segments.

What made Lyral truly exceptional was its ability to project a convincingly natural lily-of-the-valley quality with outstanding sillage at very low usage levels. Its transparent, almost watery freshness suited the modern clean fragrance aesthetic perfectly. However, extensive clinical research identified it as a significant contact allergen causing sensitization reactions. This led to progressive restriction by IFRA and ultimately its prohibition from finished consumer products by both IFRA and European regulatory bodies. Today it stands as an important historical reference point in the development of synthetic muguet chemistry.

Bio Shop Pakistan supplies cosmetic-grade Lyral suitable for professional olfactory reference study, historical fragrance reconstruction, and controlled laboratory blending exercises by trained formulators and researchers.

SCENT DESCRIPTION: Lyral opens with a radiantly fresh, clean muguet character that is almost transparently green and airy in its initial impression. At its heart lies a convincing lily-of-the-valley accord with a faint aldehydic lift that gives compositions a luminous, watery brightness not easily replicated by other materials. A subtle powdery undertone develops through the dry-down, lending a soft skin-close warmth to the overall profile. Despite its structural simplicity, it creates an unmistakable sense of clean freshness with a precision that made it a benchmark for an entire generation of perfumers.

NOTE POSITION: Mid-Base

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: Floral · Fresh · Aquatic

FACETS: Muguet · Green · Watery · Powdery · Aldehydic

TENACITY: High — 6 to 10 hours on blotter

SILLAGE: High — projects strongly even at very low concentrations, exceptional diffusion

Chemical Name : Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde
CAS Number : 31906-04-4
Synonyms : HICC · Lyral · 4-(4-Hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde
Purity : 97% min
Appearance : Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Threshold : Approximately 0.02–0.06 ppm
Solubility : Freely soluble in ethanol and fixed oils; insoluble in water
Specific Gravity : 0.948–0.958 at 25°C
Flash Point : 98°C (208°F)
Type : Synthetic

Fine Fragrance ★★★★☆
Lyral was historically a foundational ingredient in fine fragrance for its muguet and aquatic character. Due to IFRA prohibition, it cannot be incorporated into any finished consumer fragrance today. It retains high value for olfactory education and as a reference standard when developing compliant muguet accords using modern permitted materials.

Attar and Oriental Blending ★★☆☆☆
Its fresh aquatic character creates an interesting contrast against the warm resinous base of oriental compositions. While technically intriguing in experimental blends, the IFRA prohibition makes it entirely unsuitable for finished attars or any product intended for skin application or commercial sale.

Functional Fragrance ★☆☆☆☆
Completely restricted for use in all rinse-off and leave-on functional product categories due to sensitization risk and current IFRA guidelines. Not suitable for shampoos, body washes, or detergent formulations in any commercial context.

Cosmetics ★☆☆☆☆
Prohibited in EU cosmetics since August 2019 under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Not recommended for any finished cosmetic formulation including creams, lotions, or skincare of any kind due to its well-documented sensitization potential.

Home Fragrance ★★☆☆☆
IFRA also restricts Lyral in most home fragrance applications. Limited experimental use in fully non-skin-contact research contexts may be considered. Always verify current IFRA and local regulatory status rigorously before considering any application.

⚠️ CRITICAL REGULATORY NOTICE
Lyral (HICC) is listed on the IFRA Prohibited List effective from the 49th Amendment (2020), continued through the current 51st Amendment. Use in any finished consumer fragrance product is not permitted under IFRA guidelines. The EU has banned its use in cosmetic products since August 2019. The following historical rates are provided strictly for educational and reference purposes.

Application : Historical Rate (Reference Only — NOT FOR USE)
EDP : 0.5–2.0% — NOW PROHIBITED
EDT : 0.3–1.5% — NOW PROHIBITED
Body Lotion : 0.1–0.5% — NOW PROHIBITED
Shampoo/Body Wash : 0.05–0.2% — NOW PROHIBITED
Candle : 0.5–2.0% — NOW PROHIBITED
Reed Diffuser : 1.0–5.0% — NOW PROHIBITED
Soap : 0.1–0.5% — NOW PROHIBITED

IFRA 51st Amendment Status
All Categories : PROHIBITED — no permitted use level in consumer products

⚠️ Do not use Lyral in any finished product intended for sale or consumer use. For laboratory reference and olfactory study only.

Method 1 — Olfactory Reference Study
Dilute Lyral at 1–10% in DPG or IPM and evaluate on blotters alongside permitted muguet alternatives such as Floralozone, Lilybelle, and Mugetanol at identical dilutions. This is the primary legitimate application — training your nose to understand what made Lyral influential and how modern replacements compare structurally and sensorially.

Method 2 — Historical Formula Reconstruction
For researchers reconstructing vintage formulas that originally included Lyral, use it at minimal concentrations in sealed laboratory conditions. Document its olfactory contribution precisely and use the findings to guide substitution with compliant materials. This is strictly a laboratory-study exercise, not for any finished product.

Method 3 — Accord Benchmarking
Create a 10% dilution reference muguet accord using Lyral as the benchmark core. Compare sequentially with permitted muguet builds using Hedione, Citronellol, Linalool, and Floralozone to identify which combination most closely approximates the Lyral profile within a compliant formulation.

BEST PAIRINGS (Historical and Research Reference Only)

Hedione → Amplifies freshness and adds jasmine transparency throughout
Iso E Super → Contributes woody diffusion and warm skin-close depth
Galaxolide → Creates a classic clean musk anchor beneath the floral
Linalool → Softens the overall profile and adds natural floral smoothness
Citronellol → Enhances the rosy-green facets of the muguet character
Dihydromyrcenol → Reinforces aquatic and clean fabric freshness effectively

AVOID
Do not use in any consumer-facing product intended for skin contact, rinse-off, leave-on, or home fragrance commercial sale. Do not incorporate into finished products of any category.

I have worked with Lyral for years as a reference material, and there is no question that it represents one of the most elegant muguet solutions ever synthesized by the fragrance industry. Its ability to diffuse a perfectly transparent, watery lily-of-the-valley accord through an entire composition was unmatched in its era — you could feel it lifting a blend from within, giving it that characteristic 90s aquatic brightness that defined an entire fragrance generation. Iconic compositions like Davidoff Cool Water and countless flankers owe much of their freshness architecture to this single molecule. Today its use in finished products is no longer permitted, but as an olfactory reference it remains absolutely invaluable — it is the benchmark against which all modern muguet replacements must be measured, and no serious perfumer's reference collection should be without it.

ADVANCED TIP: Build a structured comparison panel using Lyral at 10% in DPG placed alongside Floralozone, Lilybelle, Mugetanol, and Hydroxycitronellal at equal dilutions. Evaluate them sequentially on individual blotter strips, then blend each separately with Hedione at a 1:1 ratio and re-evaluate. The Hedione interaction reveals precisely what is gained and lost in each substitution scenario, training you to make far more accurate and deliberate material choices when constructing compliant muguet accords for commercial work.

Physical State : Liquid
Skin Safety : High risk — classified skin sensitizer. Avoid all skin contact. Prohibited in consumer products.
Eye Contact : Irritant. Flush immediately with clean water for 15 minutes. Seek medical advice without delay.
Ingestion : Do not ingest under any circumstances. Seek immediate medical attention if swallowed.
Ventilation : Use only in well-ventilated laboratory environment or under fume hood. Avoid prolonged inhalation.
Storage : Store in cool dry place away from heat sources and direct light. Ideal temperature 15–25°C.
Shelf Life : 24 months from date of manufacture if stored correctly in sealed container.
Container : Store in original amber glass or HDPE container, tightly sealed at all times.
Flammability : Flash point 98°C. Combustible liquid. Keep away from open flame and ignition sources.

Q: What is Lyral and what was it used for?
A: Lyral is a synthetic muguet aroma chemical historically used in fine fragrances to create lily-of-the-valley freshness. It was one of the most widely used floral ingredients in perfumery for several decades before being prohibited.

Q: Why is Lyral prohibited?
A: It was identified as a significant contact allergen causing sensitization in a meaningful portion of users. IFRA added it to the prohibited list in the 49th Amendment (2020) and the EU banned it in finished cosmetics in 2019.

Q: Can I use Lyral in candles or incense since they are not skin products?
A: IFRA prohibits Lyral across consumer product categories including home fragrance. Always verify current IFRA status and local regulations before considering any application, even non-skin-contact uses.

Q: What are the best permitted alternatives to replace Lyral in a formula?
A: Floralozone and Lilybelle offer the closest aquatic-muguet character. Blending Citronellol with Hedione and a trace of Hydroxycitronellal (within its permitted limits) also approximates the profile effectively within IFRA-compliant formulations.

Q: How does Lyral compare to Hydroxycitronellal as a muguet material?
A: Both target the muguet accord but with distinct profiles. Hydroxycitronellal is softer, more powdery, and rosy while Lyral is cleaner, fresher, and more aquatic with stronger diffusion. Hydroxycitronellal remains permitted at restricted levels across categories; Lyral is fully prohibited. At equivalent concentrations Lyral was significantly more potent and projective.