ionone

[ahy-uh-nohn]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a light-yellow to colorless, slightly water-soluble liquid that is either one or a mixture of two unsaturated ketones having the formula C 13 H 20 O, used chiefly in perfumery.

ionone

/ ˈaɪəˌnəʊn /

noun

1. a yellowish liquid mixture of two isomers with an odour of violets, extracted from certain plants and used in perfumery

2. either of these two isomers. Formula: C 13 H 20 O

Word History and Origins

Origin of ionone¹

First recorded in 1890–95; formerly trademark

Example Sentences

Ionone, a ketone first prepared by Tiemann, and having when diluted a pronounced violet odour.

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Irone, which has the perfume of violets, was isolated in 1893 from a ketone contained in orris-root; and ionone, another ketone which has a very closely similar odor of fresh violets and was isolated after some years' further work, is largely used in the preparation of violet perfume.

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Irone and ionone are closely similar in composition to oil of turpentine which when taken into the body is partly converted into perfume and gives a strong odor of violets to the urine.

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