Ambroxan

Ambroxan (ambroxide) is a synthetic molecule derived from sclareol (clary sage) or, historically, from ambergris. It smells of warm amber, soft musk, and a slightly salty, almost mineral cleanliness — weightless and 'transparent' compared to labdanum or natural ambergris. Ambroxan is the defining base of the modern 'skin scent' genre: Le Labo Another 13, Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume, and Escentric Molecules Molecule 02 all rest on it. It's also the dominant base note in Dior Sauvage (heavily dosed), which is why Sauvage projects without ever feeling 'heavy.'