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Citral Aroma Chemical
CAS# 5392-40-5

Fruity, Citrus, Sweet, Herbal, Fresh

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Citral is a bright, high-diffusion citrus material that bursts with crisp lemon peel, verbena leaf, and a hint of lemongrass green. The first impression is a pure, slightly cool lemon that quickly softens into a sweet-clean lemon facet, radiating clarity on skin as well as in the air.

Chemically, citral is a mixture of the two isomers neral and geranial (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal), famed for bringing “light” to top notes. It pairs beautifully with other citrus (lemon, lime, bergamot), tea notes, verbena, green herbal nuances, and sheer florals such as jasmine or neroli, sharpening contours and modernizing the accord.

In perfumery, citral acts like a top-note booster: even a small amount makes citrus accords sparkle, lifts floral hearts, and trims heaviness from balsamic or resinous bases. In home fragrance, candles, and sprays, it imparts a clean, uplifting character-ideal for Lemon Clean, Verbena Fresh, Herbal Citrus, or Tea–Citrus themes.

Suggested use: in fine fragrance concentrates, typically 0.05–1% to retain fresh-lemon brightness without harshness; in air-care and diffusion systems, 0.1–0.5% depending on solvent system and desired throw. Citral is dose-sensitive and can easily dominate softer notes, so consider a layered build: citrus core (lemon/lime/bergamot) → citral for lift → smoothing with ionones/floralozone or herbs (rosemary, lemongrass).

Technical notes: citral is prone to oxidation; store tightly closed, away from light and heat, and add an appropriate antioxidant when needed. It dissolves well in ethanol and most aromatic solvents; test compatibility with waxes for candles. Citral is a known allergen; please follow current IFRA/GHS limits and labeling guidance for your specific application.

Technical standards

Physical appearance Transparent liquid Conform
Color Colorless to pale yellow Conform
Specific Gravity @20˚C 0.88 → 0.895 0.886
Refractive Index @20˚C 1.48 → 1.495 1.488
Neral ≥ 45.0% 48.3%
Geranial ≥ 45.0% 49.8%
Purity ≥ 95.0% 98.1%

Solubility @25˚C

Solvent Solubility (g/L)
ethanol 519.12
methanol 439.24
isopropanol 392.69
water 0.61
ethyl acetate 309.74
n-propanol 380.33
acetone 283.42
n-butanol 407.01
acetonitrile 280.62
DMF 242.72
toluene 180.99
isobutanol 242.28
1,4-dioxane 716.38
methyl acetate 250.92
THF 736.07
2-butanone 288.78
n-pentanol 243.66
sec-butanol 311.27
n-hexane 141.38
ethylene glycol 57.56
NMP 239.19
cyclohexane 175.39
DMSO 195.4
n-butyl acetate 304.33
n-octanol 136.84
chloroform 780.99
n-propyl acetate 190.02
acetic acid 274.98
dichloromethane 481.15
cyclohexanone 401.2
propylene glycol 140.28
isopropyl acetate 171.27
DMAc 221.69
2-ethoxyethanol 247.32
isopentanol 292.89
n-heptane 107.52
ethyl formate 162.95
1,2-dichloroethane 277.03
n-hexanol 425.22
2-methoxyethanol 398.7
isobutyl acetate 132.04
tetrachloromethane 144.07
n-pentyl acetate 142.77
transcutol 955.77
n-heptanol 153.06
ethylbenzene 110.85
MIBK 146.69
2-propoxyethanol 427.69
tert-butanol 465.44
MTBE 316.58
2-butoxyethanol 212.11
propionic acid 211.84
o-xylene 111.62
formic acid 73.96
diethyl ether 398.13
m-xylene 131.68
p-xylene 137.19
chlorobenzene 189.36
dimethyl carbonate 54.48
n-octane 29.19
formamide 86.61
cyclopentanone 340.31
2-pentanone 249.71
anisole 192.38
cyclopentyl methyl ether 333.86
gamma-butyrolactone 315.61
1-methoxy-2-propanol 315.3
pyridine 401.35
3-pentanone 175.27
furfural 310.33
n-dodecane 17.75
diethylene glycol 218.74
diisopropyl ether 112.92
tert-amyl alcohol 326.23
acetylacetone 188.83
n-hexadecane 20.12
acetophenone 151.28
methyl propionate 176.71
isopentyl acetate 259.59
trichloroethylene 526.89
n-nonanol 124.36
cyclohexanol 328.93
benzyl alcohol 153.73
2-ethylhexanol 236.66
isooctanol 118.3
dipropyl ether 298.0
1,2-dichlorobenzene 163.45
ethyl lactate 90.66
propylene carbonate 206.76
n-methylformamide 131.7
2-pentanol 275.56
n-pentane 112.6
1-propoxy-2-propanol 358.39
1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 247.12
2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 219.16
mesitylene 88.07
ε-caprolactone 341.66
p-cymene 92.68
epichlorohydrin 397.83
1,1,1-trichloroethane 364.77
2-aminoethanol 166.26
morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 330.98
sulfolane 274.66
2,2,4-trimethylpentane 40.04
2-methyltetrahydrofuran 572.24
n-hexyl acetate 218.2
isooctane 35.83
2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 303.78
sec-butyl acetate 141.2
tert-butyl acetate 190.29
decalin 61.42
glycerin 132.67
diglyme 487.98
acrylic acid 148.49
isopropyl myristate 95.03
n-butyric acid 351.53
acetyl acetate 154.13
di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 90.29
ethyl propionate 156.17
nitromethane 260.18
1,2-diethoxyethane 337.15
benzonitrile 201.34
trioctyl phosphate 61.77
1-bromopropane 260.33
gamma-valerolactone 451.77
n-decanol 92.72
triethyl phosphate 99.59
4-methyl-2-pentanol 143.03
propionitrile 243.51
vinylene carbonate 192.0
1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 277.94
DMS 129.35
cumene 85.1
2-octanol 95.82
2-hexanone 203.78
octyl acetate 115.3
limonene 156.29
1,2-dimethoxyethane 416.12
ethyl orthosilicate 105.85
tributyl phosphate 82.52
diacetone alcohol 211.7
N,N-dimethylaniline 130.7
acrylonitrile 208.92
aniline 221.4
1,3-propanediol 238.42
bromobenzene 188.74
dibromomethane 390.58
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 476.14
2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 178.29
tetrabutyl urea 95.89
diisobutyl methanol 137.73
2-phenylethanol 189.49
styrene 128.72
dioctyl adipate 135.45
dimethyl sulfate 64.79
ethyl butyrate 223.15
methyl lactate 87.63
butyl lactate 123.42
diethyl carbonate 143.58
propanediol butyl ether 191.58
triethyl orthoformate 167.75
p-tert-butyltoluene 94.71
methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 149.04
morpholine 822.18
tert-butylamine 345.32
n-dodecanol 71.99
dimethoxymethane 201.28
ethylene carbonate 167.92
cyrene 154.54
2-ethoxyethyl acetate 185.29
2-ethylhexyl acetate 207.21
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 188.31
4-methylpyridine 344.18
dibutyl ether 207.04
2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 137.73
DEF 227.31
dimethyl isosorbide 324.02
tetrachloroethylene 302.89
eugenol 151.15
triacetin 182.09
span 80 218.34
1,4-butanediol 82.65
1,1-dichloroethane 365.7
2-methyl-1-pentanol 190.25
methyl formate 86.84
2-methyl-1-butanol 251.68
n-decane 32.69
butyronitrile 317.96
3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 151.08
1-chlorooctane 103.49
1-chlorotetradecane 43.21
n-nonane 34.12
undecane 22.79
tert-butylcyclohexane 58.44
cyclooctane 53.17
cyclopentanol 252.65
tetrahydropyran 772.79
tert-amyl methyl ether 224.63
2,5,8-trioxanonane 317.72
1-hexene 300.81
2-isopropoxyethanol 183.47
2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 66.38
methyl butyrate 204.26

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  • CAS NO.

    5392-40-5

  • OLFACTIVE FAMILY

    Citrus

  • BRAND

    BASF

Olfactory Pyramid

heart

Notes

Fruity
Citrus
Sweet
Herbal
Fresh

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
Restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 0.11 % Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 0.2 %
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 0.032 % Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 0.2 %
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 0.1 % Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 0.051 %
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 0.6 % Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 1.2 %
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 0.15 % Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 1.2 %
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 0.15 % Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 4.2 %
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 0.15 % Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 0.051 %
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 0.051 % Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 0.051 %
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 0.35 % Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

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  • You have 30 days from the date of receipt to initiate the return process.
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Certificates of Quality

  • Certificate of Analysis (COA)

    Provides information on the physical and chemical properties of the product.
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  • IFRA Certificate of Conformity

    Sets safety standards and guidelines for the product in manufacturing.
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  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

    Provides important safety guidelines for transporting, storing, and using the product.
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