Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone

Abstract The powdery scent of orris root oil adds elegance and depth to any fragrance. However, orris root oil is one of the most expensive essential oils due to a lengthy six-year production process. If compounds with the powdery scent could be supplied by chemical synthesis at a lower cost than na...

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Main Authors: Shigekazu Yamazaki, Makoto Miyazaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08925-z
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author Shigekazu Yamazaki
Makoto Miyazaki
author_facet Shigekazu Yamazaki
Makoto Miyazaki
author_sort Shigekazu Yamazaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The powdery scent of orris root oil adds elegance and depth to any fragrance. However, orris root oil is one of the most expensive essential oils due to a lengthy six-year production process. If compounds with the powdery scent could be supplied by chemical synthesis at a lower cost than natural products, there would be a large demand. In the course of our research into the synthesis and olfactory evaluation of irone isomers, we found that (±)-β-irone, a minor component of orris root oil, has an excellent powdery aroma. In this study, we report a new synthetic method for (±)-β-irone and the results of its olfactory evaluation. The synthesis of (±)-β-irone was accomplished using commercially available 3-methylcyclohexanone as the starting material. The olfactory evaluation of synthesized (±)-β-irone was performed. (±)-β-Irone has been found to have a strong, transparent, fruity green top note, a rich violet floral heart note, and a clear, powerful, and long-lasting powdery last note with a woody odor. We considered that some part of the powdery fragrance of orris root oil originates from β-irone, and that β-irone is an excellent flavoring and fragrance material that can be used as a substitute for natural orris root oil.
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spelling doaj-art-1c15b0e9741f466dbea9dca3b67fe9132025-08-20T04:01:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-08925-zSynthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-ironeShigekazu Yamazaki0Makoto Miyazaki1Antianti Co., Ltd.Antianti Co., Ltd.Abstract The powdery scent of orris root oil adds elegance and depth to any fragrance. However, orris root oil is one of the most expensive essential oils due to a lengthy six-year production process. If compounds with the powdery scent could be supplied by chemical synthesis at a lower cost than natural products, there would be a large demand. In the course of our research into the synthesis and olfactory evaluation of irone isomers, we found that (±)-β-irone, a minor component of orris root oil, has an excellent powdery aroma. In this study, we report a new synthetic method for (±)-β-irone and the results of its olfactory evaluation. The synthesis of (±)-β-irone was accomplished using commercially available 3-methylcyclohexanone as the starting material. The olfactory evaluation of synthesized (±)-β-irone was performed. (±)-β-Irone has been found to have a strong, transparent, fruity green top note, a rich violet floral heart note, and a clear, powerful, and long-lasting powdery last note with a woody odor. We considered that some part of the powdery fragrance of orris root oil originates from β-irone, and that β-irone is an excellent flavoring and fragrance material that can be used as a substitute for natural orris root oil.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08925-z(±)-β-IroneSynthesisOlfactory evaluationOrris root oilPowdery fragrance
spellingShingle Shigekazu Yamazaki
Makoto Miyazaki
Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone
Scientific Reports
(±)-β-Irone
Synthesis
Olfactory evaluation
Orris root oil
Powdery fragrance
title Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone
title_full Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone
title_fullStr Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone
title_short Synthesis and olfactory evaluation of (±)-β-irone
title_sort synthesis and olfactory evaluation of β irone
topic (±)-β-Irone
Synthesis
Olfactory evaluation
Orris root oil
Powdery fragrance
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08925-z
work_keys_str_mv AT shigekazuyamazaki synthesisandolfactoryevaluationofbirone
AT makotomiyazaki synthesisandolfactoryevaluationofbirone