Have you ever thought to yourself, why does my cologne or perfume smell so good? Well the list of ingredients in one fragrance can be quite extensive, however, alpha-isomethyl ionone could be one reason as to why your fragrance smells great. Alpha-isomethyl ionone is a chemical that is put into fragrances, this chemical has a floral, violet scent2 that contributes to many fragrances' sweet, fresh scents. Alpha-isomethyl ionone is a naturally occurring organic compound found in brewer's yeast1 but the chemical is synthetically made in a lab for use in fragrances.
Red, bumpy, or itchy skin are some possible side effects of exposure to alpha-isomethyl ionone although only a small percentage of people encounter these side effects.2 The chemical is also known to be toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. It is also listed as a substance that can cause allergies in certain people.3
There are no direct alternatives to alpha-isomethyl ionone as the scent is quite unique, however, other synthetic fragrant chemicals can be used such as linalool that has a floral/spice scent, camphor which has a woody aroma scent or limonene that has a citrus fruit scent. Since alpha-isomethyl ionone does not pose any serious health or environmental issues, there are not any controversies surrounding it.
Exam Questions:
What are the properties of alpha-isomethyl ionone that make the chemical desirable?
What are some of the possible side effects of applying alpha-isomethyl ionone on the skin?
What are some possible alternatives to alpha-isomethyl ionone that are used in fragrances?
References
1 alpha-isomethyl-ionone (YMDB01634). Yeast metabolome database. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2023, from http://www.ymdb.ca/compounds/YMDB01634
2 Alpha-isomethyl-ionone. The Fragrance Conservatory. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://fragranceconservatory.com/ingredient/alpha-iso-methyl-ionone#:~:text=About%20its%20safety&text=It%20has%20been%20identified%20by,bumpy%2C%20or%20itchy%20skin).
3 Alpha-isomethyl ionone. Curious Chloride. (n.d.) Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.curiouschloride.com/substances/alpha-isomethyl-ionone/
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