Talented Wahlforss received a scholarship and studied the three following years in Zürich, Hanover and Göttingen, where he earned his Master's degree.

[1] Upon his return, Wahlforss was appointed teacher of practical chemistry and laboratorian at Helsinki Technical College.

A similar study was published in United States for 12 years later, and another one in Germany at the turn of the century by researchers Wilhelm Wislicenus and Rudolf Grützner.

It is notable, that Beilstein does not mention Wahlforss's work in his famous book Handbuch der organischen Chemie, although must have been aware of it.

Possibly Wahlforss's grant applications for travelling were repeatedly rejected for this reason – apart from a period he worked in Berlin, which did not lead to any publishing.

For a long time Wahlforss did not publish anything, until in 1888 he presented the first part of series of studies, which handled castor oil oxidation products, enanthic acid in particular.

[1] While Wahlforss gained a lot professionally during his time in St. Petersburg in 1868–1869, but he also increased his alcohol consumption while in the large metropolis.

The marriage with the unknown Russian woman was possibly still in force, and this could be the reason why the couple lived for long together before marrying in 1890.

Wahlforss spent the rest of his life partly paralysed and unable to walk and speak; he had also lost his memory.