Manufacture of a molecule which is of important olfactory interest for perfumers. This molecule belongs to the group of macrocyclic lactones with a musk odor. The manufacturing process consists in preparing cis-16-hydroxy-9-hexadecenoic acid or an ester of this acid, which is a precursor of cis-isoambrettolide, the latter being obtained by macrolactonization in a very high degree of purity. Use as a fragrance material.