✦ Powerful woody-amber aroma chemical (OTNE) from IFF, in the Iso E Super family
✦ Smooth, velvety cedar-amber note with soft musk and ambergris warmth
✦ Acts as a base note, fixative, and diffusion booster in any composition
✦ Makes other notes "smell more like themselves" and adds radiant volume
✦ Exceptional tenacity and substantivity on skin, fabric, and blotter
✦ Used in countless modern fine fragrances and functional products worldwide
✦ Fully synthetic, vegan, and cruelty-free

Timbersilk is IFF's trade name for an OTNE-type woody-amber molecule, part of the same family as the legendary Iso E Super introduced in the early 1970s. The molecule became one of the most widely used fragrance ingredients ever created, defining the "transparent woods" style that dominates modern perfumery. It is produced synthetically and exists as a multi-isomer mixture.

What makes Timbersilk special is its isomeric balance. It is engineered with a higher proportion of the most potent isomers than standard Iso E Super, giving it a stronger initial impression, superior diffusion, and a distinctive shimmering effect. It adds fullness and subtle strength while staying smooth and never harsh, which is why it is treasured as both a soloist and a blender.

Bio Shop Pakistan supplies fragrance-grade Timbersilk suitable for fine fragrance, attar and mukhallat blending, perfume oils, soaps, candles, and functional fragrance applications.

SCENT DESCRIPTION: A smooth, warm, woody-amber accord with a velvety softness that feels almost weightless. Dry cedarwood sits at the core, wrapped in soft ambergris warmth and a clean musky transparency. The effect drifts in and out with a radiant, shimmering quality rather than sitting heavy. It is gentle, refined, and endlessly wearable.

NOTE POSITION: Base
FRAGRANCE FAMILY: Woody · Amber
FACETS: woody · ambery · velvety · cedar · transparent
TENACITY: Very High — 48+ hours on blotter
SILLAGE: Medium to High — diffusive yet skin-close radiant aura

Chemical Name : 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-Octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)ethan-1-one (and isomers)
CAS Number : 54464-57-2 ; 68155-66-8 ; 68155-67-9 (EC 915-730-3)
Synonyms : OTNE, Iso E Super type, Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Molecular Formula : C16H26O (MW 234.38)
Purity % : Typically >95% — verify with supplier CoA
Appearance : Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Threshold : Very low — verify with supplier
Solubility : Soluble in alcohol and oils; insoluble in water
Specific Gravity : Approx 0.96 — verify with supplier
Flash Point : Approx 111°C — verify with supplier CoA
Type : Synthetic

Fine Fragrance ★★★★★
A core workhorse in modern perfumery. Adds body, radiance, and a smooth woody-amber drydown. Equally effective as a soloist or a backbone for complex accords.

Attar & Oriental Blending ★★★★☆
Blends seamlessly into oud, sandalwood, and amber bases. Extends trail and smooths sharp edges in mukhallat and dehn al oud compositions.

Functional Fragrance ★★★★★
Excellent stability and substantivity in detergents, fabric softeners, and cleaners. Clings to fabric and lasts through wash cycles.

Cosmetics ★★★★☆
Stable and low-discoloration in lotions, creams, and washes. Subject to IFRA limits for leave-on skin products.

Home Fragrance ★★★★☆
Reliable in candles and reed diffusers. Provides a warm woody base that supports brighter top notes.

Typical inclusion in the fragrance compound:

EDP : 5 to 20%
EDT : 3 to 15%
Body Lotion : Per IFRA category limit — verify CoA
Shampoo/Body Wash : 0.5 to 3%
Candle : 5 to 30%
Reed Diffuser : 5 to 25%
Soap : 1 to 5%

⚠️ OTNE is a restricted material under recent IFRA Standards (skin sensitization endpoint). Category-specific maximums apply, especially for leave-on products.
⚠️ Do not rely on the ranges above as safety caps. Verify exact per-category IFRA 51st Amendment limits at ifrafragrance.org and against your supplier IFRA certificate.
⚠️ Some users experience partial anosmia to OTNE — avoid overdosing to compensate, as it can flatten a composition for others.

Method 1 — Base and fixative
Use as a foundation to anchor and extend a composition. Even small amounts improve tenacity and roundness.

Method 2 — Diffusion booster
Add to lift and amplify other materials. It increases radiance and makes florals and woods "smell more like themselves."

Method 3 — Minimalist skin scent
Use near-solo or with a touch of musk and ambroxan for a clean, modern woody-amber skin scent.

BEST PAIRINGS
Sandalwood → Rounds and extends creamy woods
Cedarwood → Reinforces the dry woody backbone
Vetiver → Adds earthy depth and smooths edges
Ambroxan → Amplifies radiant ambery diffusion
Patchouli → Grounds and enriches the base
Hedione → Adds airy lift and transparency
Rose/Florals → Boosts volume and shimmer
Musks → Blends seamlessly and extends the trail

AVOID
No strict incompatibilities, but easy to overuse. Excess can dull a blend and mute brighter notes.

I treat Timbersilk as the salt of my palette — it rarely shouts, but almost everything tastes better with it in. It lends transparency and a velvety lift that fills the space around the other notes without crowding them, which is exactly why so many modern woody and ambery scents lean on this molecule.

ADVANCED TIP: For a clean contemporary skin-scent base, blend Timbersilk with Ambroxan at roughly 4:1, then add a small touch of a white musk. For a fresh green effect, try equal parts Timbersilk, Hedione, and Stemone to build a bright blackcurrant-leaf accord.

Physical State : Liquid (colorless to pale yellow)
Skin Safety : Restricted by IFRA for leave-on use; dilute and follow category limits
Eye Contact : Avoid; rinse thoroughly if exposed
Ingestion : Not for ingestion; keep away from food
Ventilation : Use in a well-ventilated area
Storage : Cool, dark place, tightly sealed, away from sunlight
Shelf Life : 2+ years when stored correctly
Container : Glass or HDPE; avoid reactive metals
Flammability : Combustible liquid; keep from heat and flame

Q: Is Timbersilk the same as Iso E Super?
A: They are very close, both OTNE-type woody ambers sharing the same key isomer. Timbersilk has a stronger initial impression and slightly more diffusion.

Q: Can I wear Timbersilk on its own?
A: Yes. It makes a smooth, radiant woody-amber skin scent, though some people are partly anosmic to it.

Q: Why does it make my other notes smell better?
A: It adds transparency and volume around other materials, helping them project and "smell more like themselves."

Q: Is it vegan and cruelty-free?
A: Yes. It is fully synthetic with no animal-derived content.

Q: How does it compare to natural sandalwood?
A: It is woodier and more transparent than sandalwood, without the creamy milkiness, but far more affordable, stable, and tenacious.