L-Carvone vs D-Carvone — Mirror-Image Isomers, Two Different Industries
Same molecule. Same chemical formula. Two opposite mirror-image structures (chirality) — and two completely different organoleptic profiles, FCC / FEMA roles, and downstream industries. Here’s the spec-sheet comparison for B2B flavour, F&F, oral-care and pharma buyers, supplied direct from our Delhi-NCR aromatic-chemicals plant.
L-Carvone (Levo)
- Spearmint-note organoleptic profile — cool, sweet, herbal
- Optical rotation: levorotatory (−60° to −62°)
- FEMA 2249 · FCC compliant · oral-care & gum approved
- Primary use: spearmint flavour, toothpaste, mouthwash, gum
- Pharma chiral building-block for synthesis routes
- Substitutes / extends natural spearmint oil
D-Carvone (Dextro)
- Caraway / dill organoleptic profile — warm, spicy, bread-y
- Optical rotation: dextrorotatory (+60° to +62°)
- FEMA 2250 · FCC compliant · bakery / food-flavour approved
- Primary use: caraway flavour, bakery, savoury, dill flavour
- Bio-based sprout-suppressant for potato storage
- Substitutes / extends natural caraway & dill oil
Side-by-side spec comparison
| Parameter | L-Carvone (Levo) | D-Carvone (Dextro) |
|---|---|---|
| IUPAC name | (S)-(+)-2-methyl-5-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one | (R)-(−)-2-methyl-5-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one |
| CAS | 6485-40-1 | 2244-16-8 |
| FEMA | 2249 | 2250 |
| Chirality | S (levo, −) | R (dextro, +) |
| Organoleptic | Spearmint, cool, sweet, herbal | Caraway / dill, warm, spicy, bread-y |
| Specific gravity (20°C) | 0.957–0.961 | 0.957–0.961 |
| Refractive index (20°C) | 1.4970–1.5000 | 1.4970–1.5000 |
| Optical rotation | −60° to −62° | +60° to +62° |
| Assay (GC) | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Primary industry | Oral care, gum, pharma chiral | Bakery, savoury flavour, potato sprout suppression |
| Common pack | 25 kg HDPE drum | 25 kg HDPE drum |
| Pricing tier | Premium (oral-care grade) | Standard food-flavour grade |
When to choose L-Carvone (Levo)
Toothpaste & mouthwash
Spearmint-note formulations rely on L-Carvone as the primary cooling-flavour molecule alongside menthol.
Chewing gum
Spearmint and “fresh-mint” gum recipes are built around L-Carvone — long-lasting note in the bolus.
Pharma chiral synthesis
Single-enantiomer building-block for pharma intermediates and active-ingredient synthesis.
Spearmint oil extension
Used to extend / blend with natural spearmint oil for cost-optimised flavour bases.
When to choose D-Carvone (Dextro)
Caraway-flavoured bakery
Rye breads, pretzels, sausage seasonings, kümmel cordials.
Dill flavour formulations
Pickle seasonings, dill-flavoured snacks, savoury sauce bases.
Potato sprout suppression
Bio-based alternative to chlorpropham in long-term potato storage — D-Carvone vapour treatment.
Caraway oil extension
Cost-optimised flavour extension of natural caraway / dill oil.
What’s common between L- and D-Carvone from our plant
Both isomers ship from the same Delhi-NCR aromatic-chemicals facility with the same QC architecture:
- ≥98% GC assay per lot · GC-MS chromatogram attached to COA
- NABL third-party testing on retain-sample reference
- Optical rotation measured per lot to verify chirality (critical for both grades)
- FEMA + FCC documentation; allergen statement; country-of-origin certificate
- REACH / EFSA / FDA awareness — paperwork pack on request
- 25 kg HDPE / 200 kg MS drum packaging; FCL for repeat buyers
- Sample programme: paid, 100% credit-back against bulk order in 60 days
Buyer FAQ — most asked questions on this pair
Q: Can I substitute L for D, or vice-versa?
No — they smell and taste completely different despite the identical molecular formula. The chirality flip is the entire reason these molecules exist as two separate FEMA numbers.
Q: Why does optical rotation matter to my QC team?
Optical rotation is the only physical parameter that reliably distinguishes L from D in routine QC. Most other parameters (RI, SG, assay) are identical. We measure per lot and attach the reading to every COA.
Q: Are these synthetic or natural?
Both grades are typically synthesised from limonene oxidation chemistry. Natural-equivalent grades (ex-spearmint or ex-caraway oil) are available on prior confirmation — different pricing tier.
Q: Minimum order?
25 kg HDPE drum entry. Drum and FCL pricing tiers on /pricing-tiers/.
Q: Are you the manufacturer or a trader?
Manufacturer-direct. The supplier-to-suppliers brands (you may have heard of) source from facilities like ours. Skip the middlemen.
Get bulk pricing on L-Carvone (Levo) or D-Carvone (Dextro)
One RFQ — both quotes back the same working day. Sample plan with full credit-back if you want to qualify first.