Anisic Aldehyde Aroma Chemical
CAS# 123-11-5

Anisic Aldehyde, commonly known in the fragrance industry as p-Anisaldehyde or Aubepine, is a historically significant material in perfumery. Although it occurs naturally in the essential oils of anise, fennel, and vanilla, it is produced commercially mainly in synthetic form from anethole or by oxidation of p-cresyl methyl ether. The emergence of Aubepine in the late 19th century marked a major turning point, as it enabled perfumers for the first time to successfully recreate the scent of hawthorn blossom, a flower that cannot be naturally extracted. In physical form, it is a clear to pale yellow liquid that may crystallize in cold temperatures, and it belongs to the floral fragrance group with a distinctly powdery character.

Description

The scent of Anisic Aldehyde reveals the sweet, warm character of hawthorn blossom interwoven with subtle nuances of anise and vanilla. Acting as a middle-to-base note, as well as a blender and modifier, it has a strong odor impact, good diffusion, and impressive substantivity, lasting around 100 to 200 hours on a blotter. In fragrance creation, it is a key material for building lilac, heliotrope, and mimosa notes, while also adding sweetness and a pronounced powdery effect. Perfumers often combine Anisic Aldehyde with Heliotropin, Coumarin, Ionones, oakmoss, and vanilla to create accords with greater depth. Because it is prone to oxidation, it is often diluted in DPG or DEP with an antioxidant added.

Applications

In terms of application, this material is used in fine fragrance, scented candles, leave-on cosmetics, rinse-off products, and soap. However, Anisic Aldehyde is strictly regulated by IFRA due to its potential to cause skin sensitization, and its use level in fine fragrance is often limited to below 0.3%. Storage requires particular care: the container must be kept tightly closed, stored in a cool, dry place, and protected from air exposure in order to prevent oxidation into odorless Anisic Acid crystals. Classic powdery masterpieces such as Après l’Ondée and L’Heure Bleue by Guerlain bear the unmistakable imprint of this material. Its importance is also clearly recognized in Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, where Steffen Arctander describes Aubepine as having the rich, sweet floral odor characteristic of hawthorn. He regarded it as an essential component in floral accords and also emphasized the risk of oxidation and white sediment formation if it is not stored properly.