Shisolia®
Aldehydic, green, and herbal—Shisolia® translates the essence of Perilla frutescens into a captive molecular form. This Givaudan captive captures the aromatic soul of East Asian shiso leaves for perfumery.
Character
How it smells
The aldehydic-green, herbal essence of shiso in molecular form.
Shisolia® recreates perillaldehyde—the dominant aroma compound in shiso oil—at consistent concentrations of 40-55% for predictable perfumery use.
Origin
Switzerland (Givaudan development)
Perilla frutescens has grown across East Asia for millennia, appearing prominently in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese culinary and medicinal traditions. Ancient texts describe the herb as both a flavoring agent and a preservative, with aromatic leaves woven into dietary practices long before perfumery existed as a discipline.
Traditional medicine practitioners valued perilla for its purported digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. The plant remained primarily culinary until perfumers began exploring its aromatic potential in the twentieth century.
Steam distillation of fresh leaves revealed perillaldehyde as the signature compound, inspiring fragrance chemists to develop synthetic alternatives that capture this character consistently. Givaudan's Shisolia® emerged as part of this effort, bringing East Asian botanical heritage into modern perfumery's molecular vocabulary.
Wears it best
Fragrances featuring Shisolia®
Good to know
Questions, answered
The essentials on Shisolia® in perfumery: how it smells, where it comes from, and how it behaves on skin.
What is Shisolia®?
Shisolia® is a captive aroma chemical by Givaudan that replicates the scent of shiso leaves. It offers consistent aldehydic, green, and herbal olfactory properties derived from a synthetic recreation of perillaldehyde.
What does Shisolia® smell like?
It smells green, herbal, and aldehydic with characteristics reminiscent of fresh Perilla frutescens leaves. The dominant note is perillaldehyde at 40-55% concentration, delivering the distinctive shiso aroma in molecular form.
Is Shisolia® natural or synthetic?
Shisolia® is a synthetic captive ingredient created by Givaudan. It mimics natural shiso oil without relying on seasonal crop harvests, ensuring reproducible quality and sustainable supply.
What perfumes use Shisolia®?
As a captive ingredient, Shisolia® appears in formulations proprietary to Givaudan clients. Its green-aldehydic profile suits modern, fresh, and aromatic fragrance constructions across multiple product categories.
What is perillaldehyde?
Perillaldehyde is the primary aroma compound in Perilla frutescens, constituting 40-55% of shiso leaf essential oil. It delivers the characteristic green, herbaceous, and slightly aldehydic scent.
Is Shisolia® safe for cosmetic use?
Givaudan develops captives under IFRA compliance and global cosmetic safety regulations. Formulators should reference current IFRA standards and ingredient specifications for specific usage guidelines.
How does Shisolia® differ from natural shiso oil?
Natural shiso oil varies by harvest season, geography, and extraction batch. Shisolia® provides consistent perillaldehyde levels and predictable olfactory performance without botanical cultivation variables.
What fragrance families pair well with Shisolia®?
Its green-aldehydic character complements aromatic, fougère, and fresh fragrance families. Shisolia® works alongside herbs like basil and mint, citrus materials, and woody or musky bases.
