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Karen Rossiter is an English fragrance chemist, after which the fragrance molecules karanal and rossitol are named.

Biography

Karen J. Rossiter was born in 1964 in Ashford, Kent, UK.

Education

Rossiter received her degree in chemistry in 1990 from the Royal Society of Chemistry. She completed her PhD part time through the University of Kent for her work on the Structure–activity relationship of odor molecules in the Research Department of the Fragrance Division at Quest International.

Research

Her research in Organic chemistry focused on the relationship between chemical structure and odor. Her work in compound discovery and process development led to the discovery of karanal (a woody, ambergris scent) and rossitol (a floral scent).

Importance of Karanal

Karanal was discovered by accident while designing for chemical substantivity and stability in alkaline conditions. The strong ambergris odor meant that the molecule could act as a substitute for the expensive ambergris molecules naphthofuran and Jeger's ketal. Karanal has been used in fragrances like Boss, Rive Gauche, and Malle's Une Rose. However, Karanal was classified as a Substance of Very High Concern in 2015 by the European Chemicals Agency for its persistence and bioaccumulation properties.

Mentions in popular works

Rossiter was mentioned in Luca Turin's book The Secret of Scent for her work in fragrance chemistry.

Patents

Acylation of tetralins

Perfumery Materials