Clearwood Prisma
A transparent woody material that redefined what sustainable perfumery could achieve. Clearwood Prisma delivers the depth and warmth of classic woods through precision fermentation, combining patchouli-like warmth with crystalline clarity.
Character
How it smells
Where transparency meets depth in sustainable perfumery
Clearwood Prisma earned first prize at the SEPAWA 2015 awards, recognized not only for its woody, patchouli-like character but for the breakthrough science behind it.
Origin
Switzerland
The history of perfumery splits clearly at the 19th century, when organic synthesis introduced molecules that had no natural counterpart. Before that, perfumers relied on pressed flowers, distilled woods, and animal fixatives. After, they gained access to entirely synthetic aromatic compounds.
White biotechnology represents the third chapter. Clearwood arrived in 2014 as the first white biotech ingredient in the industry, challenging the assumption that natural and sustainable meant inconsistent or limited. Firmenich's research teams in Geneva spent years developing the fermentation process that could produce a woody material meeting ISO 9235 natural standards without growing a single plant.
Clearwood Prisma, released in 2024, refines this approach further, offering that transparent, crystalline woody quality that modern fragrance construction demands. The ingredient has found its place among powerhouses like Florol and Damascenone in the modern perfumer's toolkit, proving that biotech and botanical character can coexist.
Wears it best
Fragrances featuring Clearwood Prisma
Good to know
Questions, answered
The essentials on Clearwood Prisma in perfumery: how it smells, where it comes from, and how it behaves on skin.
What is Clearwood Prisma?
Clearwood Prisma is a woody base note ingredient developed by Firmenich using white biotechnology. It delivers transparent, patchouli-like warmth through precision fermentation, earning ISO 9235 natural certification.
How does white biotechnology differ from traditional extraction?
White biotechnology uses engineered microorganisms to produce aromatic molecules through fermentation. Traditional extraction requires growing and harvesting plant material, whereas biotech cultivation avoids agricultural land use and delivers consistent molecular profiles batch after batch.
Is Clearwood Prisma considered a natural ingredient?
Yes. Clearwood Prisma carries ISO 9235 natural certification, meaning it meets the international standard for identifying ingredients as derived from biological sources without synthetic chemistry.
What does Clearwood Prisma smell like?
Clearwood Prisma reads as a transparent woody material with patchouli-like depth and a clean, modern character. Its crystalline quality sets it apart from heavier traditional wood extracts.
What makes Clearwood Prisma different from patchouli oil?
Patchouli oil varies with harvest conditions and origins, while Clearwood Prisma offers consistent molecular composition through fermentation. The biotech version also provides a more transparent, less heavy woody character suited to modern transparent fragrance structures.
When was Clearwood Prisma released?
The original Clearwood launched in 2014. Clearwood Prisma represents a 2024 evolution of that platform, further refining the transparent woody quality that has made the ingredient a staple in modern perfumery.
Why did Clearwood win the SEPAWA 2015 award?
Firmenich received the SEPAWA first prize for more than its woody patchouli notes. The award recognized the breakthrough nature of producing a natural-certified ingredient through white biotechnology for the first time in perfumery history.
What fragrance families use Clearwood Prisma?
Clearwood Prisma suits woody, chypre, and oriental constructions. Its transparent character works particularly well in modern minimalist fragrances where it anchors the base without obscuring lighter top and heart notes.
