Magnolan gets a facelift
 
FYI, Neomagnolan in crystal form can expand when heated, so I used to supply it in glass but nevertheless with clear instructions about heating gently from all sides etc etc. I'm pleased to say that I've now figured out a better way, which is to basically make lots of cute nuggets out of the Neomagnolan so that you can scoop the crystals to your heart's content without risk of cracked glass or broken beakers 😊
 
 
Magnolan is definitely one of the molecules I'd take with me if I had to be stranded on a desert island: I find it so pleasing and rounded and sunny, even all by itself.
 
Part of that roundedness, it has emerged, is because magnolan actually contains *multiple* isomers which (surprise surprise) all smell fairly different. This will be no shock to those who frequent Leffingwell's insightful archives, but is definitely not obvious when smelling normal magnolan.
 
Neomagnolan, which is the rel-(2R, 4R, 4aR, 9bS) isomer, is the concentrated, fresh, grapefruit-rose part of the OG magnolan. More sheer and transparent, it both graces with lightly veiled rosiness and pierces with acerbic sourness.
 
Symrise managed to diastereomerically enrich this already loved material, removing the slightly plastic note and placing it among perfumery greats like Paradisone and Arborone.