Only one out of the four possible trans isomers of the important perfumery alcohol Norlimbanol® (1) possesses a very strong amber-woody smell, the isomer 1A with (1′R,3S,6′S) absolute configuration. Its enantiomer 1B is almost odorless and devoid of amber-woody character, whereas the diastereoisomers 1C and 1D are considerably weaker and perceptible only by the most-sensitive persons. The same is true