Featured Molecules: Perfume Chemistry: Jasmone, a-Damascone

Chemistry for Everyone edited by

Featured Molecules

William F. Coleman

Perfume Chemistry: Jasmone, α-Damascone, Geraniol, Civetone, and Musk Baur

Wellesley College Wellesley, MA 02481

January Featured Molecules The featured molecules for the month of January are some of the natural and synthetic molecules used to create perfumes. The chemistry of perfumes is discussed in the article “Chemistry Perfumes Your Daily Life”, found on pages 45–50. Jasmone is a natural component of jasmine and a key component for its odor; α-damascone is a natural component of rose oil; geraniol is a synthetic rose odor; civetone is a

macrocyclic musk that used to be obtained from the civet cat; and musk Baur is a synthetic molecule with a musky smell. Fully manipulable (Chime) versions of these and other molecules are available at the Only@JCE Online Web site: http://www.JCE.DivCHED.org/JCEWWW/Features/ MonthlyMolecules/2004/Jan/

civetone jasmone

α-damascone

musk Baur

geraniol

www.JCE.DivCHED.org

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Vol. 81 No. 1 January 2004

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Journal of Chemical Education

57