PF
← Ingredient library
← prevnext →

Citronellal

RESTRICTION
CAS
106-23-0
EC
Material type
other
Canonical source
document derived
Formulation

Usage guidance

Suggested min
Suggested max
Cost
Stock
Compatibility tags
citrus-colognefougerefreshherbalcologne
How it behaves

Olfactory profile

Family
green
Note tendency
Top
Descriptors
freshgreencitrusywoody

A sharp, intensely lemony aldehyde with a green, slightly grassy edge and a waxy-fatty undertone. Opens bright and citrus-peel-like with a metallic sparkle, then softens into a slightly soapy, herbaceous facet reminiscent of citronella and lemongrass.AI · claude-opus-4-7

Intensity
7 / 10
Tenacity
3 / 10
Volatility
8 / 10
Reverse-composition

Contained in

Other ingredients whose composition declares this material as a constituent. The percentage shown is the supplier-declared concentration in that parent.

Ingredient%Range
Rose Absolute Centifolia1–5%
Bergamot Oil0.1–1%
Douglas Fir Needles Oil0.1–1%
Ginger Oil (Root)0.1–1%
Grapefruit Oil0.1–1%
chemicals · No. 658

Arctander monograph

Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, page 276.

G.R.A.S.FEMA 2307
freshgreencitrusywoody
MW
154.25
BP
206°C
MP
Sp.Gr.
0.85
Refractive n
Rotation
Appearance

Colorless mobile liquid.

Solubility

Very slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol and oils.

Odor

Powerful, fresh, green-citrusy, slightly woody odor, lacking in sweetness and fruitiness as compared to Citral, and more suggestive of Citronella oil, inevitably if the observer is familiar with that oil.

Flavor

Citronellal is occasionally used — in traces - in flavor compositions of the Citrus, Cherry, Fruit (tutti-frutti), Ginger Ale, Spice and other types.

Uses in perfumery

This aldehyde is rather unstable under exposure to air, daylight and alkali, and is therefore not much used as such in perfumes or flavors. Citronella oil is less expensive and more stable. It gives a more attractive picture of the Citronellal odor in its natural modification and composition.

Production

1) By isolation from Eucalyptus Citriodora oil or from Java/Formosa/Guatemala type of Citronella oil. 2) Synthetically from Pinene. 3) By dehydrogenation of Geraniol.

Document-derived

IFRA restrictions

CategoryKindMax %NotesSource
Category 1Max %0.41%
DOC
Category 2Max %0.16%
DOC
Category 3Max %0.026%
DOC
Category 4Max %0.49%
DOC
Category 5AMax %0.33%
DOC
Category 5BMax %0.051%
DOC
Category 5CMax %0.1%
DOC
Category 5DMax %0.017%
DOC
Category 6Max %0.82%
DOC
Category 7AMax %0.077%
DOC
Category 7BMax %0.077%
DOC
Category 8Max %0.017%
DOC
Category 9Max %1.4%
DOC
Category 10AMax %1.4%
DOC
Category 10BMax %2.3%
DOC
Category 11AMax %0.017%
DOC
Category 11BMax %0.017%
DOC
Category 12No restrictionNo Restriction
DOC

Compliance-support only. Values resolved from the current IFRA corpus; each row cites the document excerpt it came from. Not a substitute for a qualified safety assessor.

IFRA Annex I

Found naturally in

Natural complex substances (NCSs) in which this material typically occurs.

NCSBotanicalTypical %
Eucalyptus citriodora oilCorymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A. Johnson75%
Citrus hystrix extractCitrus hystrix DC11.7%
Lime oil. expressed folded (2-5X)Citrus aurantifolia (Christman) Swingle5%
Citronella oil, Ceylon typeCymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle4.5%
Kumquat oil, Fortunella margaritaFortunella (Lour.) Swingle3%
Lemon oil terpenelessCitrus limon (L.) Burm. f.3%
Mandarin oil, terpenelessCitrus reticulata Blanco3%
Tangerine oil terpenelessCitrus reticulata blanco3%
Orange peel oil, sweet terpenelessCitrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck2%
Orange oil, sweet, psoralen-freeCitrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck2%
Lime oil, cold pressed, furocoumarin freeCitrus aurantifolia (Christman) Swingle1.4%
Lime Oil, ExpressedCitrus aurantifolia (Christman) Swingle1.4%
Melissa oil (genuine Melissa officinalis L.)Melissa officinalis L.1.3%
Litsea cubeba oilLitsea Cubeba(Lour.) Pers.1.1%
Lemon oil cold pressedCitrus limon (L.) Burm. f.1%
Petitgrain lemon oilCitrus limon (L.) Burm. f.1%
Lemongrass oil, East IndianCymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steudel) Will. Watson0.7%
Fir balsam oleoresinAbies balsamea (L.) Mill.0.6%
Ginger Oil (Root)Zingiber officinale Rosc.0.4%
Citron oilCitrus medica L.0.2%
Meyer lemon oil. cold pressedCitrus x meyerii0.2%
Geranium oilPelargonium graveolens l'Hertier ex Aiton0.15%
Murcote oil, expressedCitrus clementina Hort. Ex Tan0.1%
Grapefruit oil, foldedCitrus paradisi Macf.0.1%
Grapefruit OilCitrus paradisi Macf.0.1%
Lemon oil, furocoumarin freeCitrus limon (L.) Burm. f.0.1%
Rose oilRosa x damascena Mill.0.1%
Tangelo oil, expressedCitrus x tangelo Ingram and Moore0.1%
Petitgrain mandarin oil terpenelessCitrus reticulata Blanco0.1%
Tangerine OilCitrus reticulata blanco0.1%
Petitgrain Bigarade OilCitrus aurantium L. spp. Amara Link0.05%
Lemon extractCitrus limon (L.) Burm. f.0.03%
Identity
Aliases · 15
5949-05-3106-23-0Citronellal106-23-0:2,3-Dihydrocitral3,7-Dimethyl-6-octenal3,7-Dimethyloct-6-enal3,7-Dimethyl-6-octenal5949-05-3:6-Octenal, 3,7-dimethyl-6-Octenal, 3,7-dimethyl-, (3S)-Citronellal ExtraI-CitronellalRhodinalRhodinal (Commercial name)
Compliance note. Restriction data is sourced directly from IFRA publications and preserved with its document excerpt. Perfume Foundry is a compliance-support tool — not a substitute for a qualified safety assessor (CPSR / PIF).