Fructone

FRUCTONE

Manufacturer: IFF

INCI Name: Ethylacetoacetate Ethylene Glycol Ketal

Synonyms: Apple ketal, Apple ester, Methyl dioxolane

Origin: Aromatic synthesis

DESCRIPTION

Fructone is a synthetic aroma chemical, among the most widely used and recognisable fruity ingredients in the perfumer’s palette. Chemically, it is ethyl 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-acetate, a compound belonging to the cyclic ketal family, obtained from ethyl acetoacetate.

Its olfactory signature combines a characteristic apple facet with accents of pineapple, strawberry and exotic fruit, supported by a slightly green component and an unusual woody nuance, described by IFF as reminiscent of sweet pine.

This combination makes Fructone particularly versatile: it does not simply represent a single fruit, but can be used as a fruity accord builder, helping to add volume, juiciness and naturalness to different types of fruit accords.

Fructone IFF was developed through the research of International Flavors & Fragrances, one of the world’s leading companies in perfumery and flavour ingredients. It appears as a clear, colourless liquid with a fresh and fruity olfactory profile, an identity that has become almost a reference for the “apple” note in the language of perfumers.

PERFUMERY

To the nose, Fructone is juicy green apple, with a sparkling, slightly ethereal side and nuances reminiscent of pineapple, pear and a touch of tropical fruit. It has a light and transparent sweetness: it is never syrupy like peach or cooked-fruit notes, but has that watery crispness that suggests freshly cut fruit. It is a top and early heart note, with moderate substantivity, appreciated particularly during the first hours of development.

Its main role is to provide fruity freshness without adding weight. In hesperidic openings, alongside bergamot, lemon and grapefruit, it adds juiciness that softens the acidity of citrus notes. In fruity and fruity-floral compositions, it works with pear, peach, lactones and white flowers, while in fresh aquatic and ozonic compositions, it provides a clean sweetness that gives the accord a more contemporary character.

With green notes (cis-3-hexenol, galbanum, violet leaf), it builds accords of unripe apple and apple leaf, while in fruity chypre and modern fougère compositions, it brings an unexpected lift to the opening. It is also excellent in pineapple and tropical accords, together with allyl amyl glycolate, ethyl acetate and other fruity esters, where it contributes to the fresher and greener component.

In formulations, it can be used at wide-ranging dosages, from refining touches to several percentage points in compositions where apple is the main focus, and particularly generously in functional fragrances.

Olfactory family: Fruity

Olfactory pyramid: Top-Heart note

COSMETICS

In cosmetics, Fructone works on immediate impact. It is the ingredient that makes a product feel fresh, light and youthful from the very first impression, with the green apple note that consumers associate with cleanliness, vitality and simplicity. It works particularly well in shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, soaps and cleansers, where apple is a classic that appeals to a broad audience, and performs especially well in products for children and teenagers, fruit and freshness ranges, and fragrances inspired by gardens and orchards.