At this 1% dilution, the opening is still arrestingly direct: wet clay, cold mineral, raw beetroot, and the sharp freshness of air just before rain. There is something almost metallic about it at higher doses, like the smell of a stone licked clean. As it settles, the harshness recedes into something softer, like damp soil after a storm, quiet forest undergrowth, the cool transparency of a cellar or mossy stone. On a smelling strip the character persists for well over 70 hours at full concentration, though at the trace levels used in formulation its presence is felt as naturalness rather than earthiness itself.

Geosmin is a naturalising agent and earthy modifier used at extremely low concentrations in the finished formula.

Recommended concentration: 0.01% to 0.1% in the finished compound, working from this 1% dilution. Even at these levels it is radiant and diffusive. Start lower than you think you need to and adjust slowly — it is far easier to add than to take away.

Particularly effective in:

Petrichor and rain accord constructions
Earthy, mossy, and forest floor compositions
Naturalising agent in chypre, green, and woody structures
Adding depth and realism to patchouli, vetiver, and oakmoss accords
Avant-garde and niche fragrance work where raw, unconventional materials are a feature
Incense and home fragrance where a damp, mineral earthiness is desired

Blends well with:

Earthy and woody notes like vetiver, patchouli, oakmoss, cedarwood
Green materials like violet leaf, galbanum, tomato leaf
Aquatics and cold minerals like calone, ambroxan at low levels
Resins like labdanum, cistus
Herbal materials like clary sage, geranium

Suitable for non-perfumery applications including candles and home fragrance where a raw, earthy character is desired (within IFRA limits).

This is a pre-diluted 1% solution in DPG. Even so, treat it with the same care you would the undiluted material: a drop too many is immediately apparent and difficult to correct in a formula.

Material Type: Aroma chemical (pre-diluted)
Function: Earthy / petrichor / naturalising modifier
Extraction Method: Synthetic (biosynthetic and chemical synthesis routes used commercially)
CAS Number: 16423-19-1 (racemate); also cited as 23333-91-7
FEMA Number: 4682
Origin: Synthetic
Concentration: 1% Geosmin in Di Propylene Glycol (DPG)
Odour Profile: Wet earth, petrichor, clay, beetroot, cold mineral, mossy damp
Appearance: Colourless to pale liquid
Solubility: Soluble in DPG and alcohol
Key Components: Geosmin (1%), Di Propylene Glycol (99%)
Regulatory Status: SDS and/or IFRA documentation can be supplied upon request where available.

For external use only. Do not ingest
Observe recommended usage concentrations strictly. This material is active at extremely low levels and is difficult to correct once overused in a formula
Avoid prolonged skin contact; dilute appropriately before any skin application
Keep out of reach of children and pets
Store tightly sealed in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight
Shelf life: 2 years when stored correctly