Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal (CAS 40910-49-4) — Floral Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Floral · Citrus

Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal

CAS 40910-49-4

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to middle
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal?

Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in perfumery to create fresh, floral-citrus effects. You might encounter it in air fresheners, body sprays, and light floral fragrances. This material matters because it adds sparkling top notes and helps bridge citrus and floral accords in modern perfumery, contributing to fragrances’ initial freshness and lift.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
IFRA approved for use
Potential sensitizer at high concentrations
CAS
40910-49-4
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Floral · Citrus
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal Smell Like?

A bright, effervescent material with a dual personality – opening with a champagne-like citrus fizz that quickly evolves into a delicate floralcy reminiscent of lily-of-the-valley. The top note has a metallic freshness like crushed green stems, while the heart reveals a softer, almost peachy undertone. In drydown, it leaves a clean, slightly woody trail that blends seamlessly with other materials. The overall effect is like sunlight sparkling through citrus leaves with floral petals floating on a breeze – weightless yet persistent.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Eau Dynamisante(Clarins, 1987)

Used here for its energizing citrus-floral effect that complements the tonic herbal accord, creating the fragrance’s signature ‘fresh from the shower’ vitality.

L'Eau d'Issey(Issey Miyake, 1992)

Provides the initial sparkling lift in this aquatic floral, helping bridge the citrus top to lotus heart notes with its airy freshness.

Light Blue(Dolce & Gabbana, 2001)

Contributes to the Mediterranean breeze effect, adding a crisp, dewy quality to the citrus opening that enhances the fragrance’s transparency.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

1,6-Octadiene, 3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-

SMILES: CCOC(C)OC(C)(CCC=C(C)C)C=C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal belongs to the acetal class of fragrance materials, formed through the reaction of linalool with acetaldehyde in the presence of ethanol. This synthetic material doesn’t occur naturally but mimics certain fresh aspects found in citrus and white flowers. The synthesis typically involves acid-catalyzed condensation under controlled conditions to prevent polymerization. The resulting molecule has chiral centers that can influence odor characteristics, though commercial material is usually racemic.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Boiling PointApprox. 230-240 °C (estimated)
Density~0.89 g/cm³ (estimated)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Very good
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Fresh top note modifier
Functional Products0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Air freshener applications
Soaps/Detergents0.05-0.2%Up to 0.5%Light freshness booster

Classic Accords

Tip: Use at 0.1-0.5% in citrus-floral bases to add diffusion and lift without heaviness.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Floralozone CAS 67634-15-5

When more ozone-like freshness is needed with better stability in functional products.

2
Cyclogalbanate CAS 68901-15-5

For similar floralcy with added fruity nuances and superior tenacity in drydown.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No current IFRA restrictions (as of Amendment 49).

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM evaluation completed in 2008 with no significant safety concerns at current usage levels.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, this acetal has minimal environmental impact in production compared to natural alternatives. It requires no agricultural land and can be produced from renewable ethanol sources. The synthesis is atom-efficient with few byproducts, making it a relatively sustainable choice for fresh citrus-floral effects.

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References

  1. IFRA Standards Library (2021). Amendment 49. International Fragrance Association. IFRA Standards
  2. Bickers et al. (2005). Safety assessment of acetal-related fragrance ingredients. PMID 15603547

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 40910-49-4

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight226.35 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)4🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point251 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.0323 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point75 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0023💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-1.241💻 Calculated
SMILESCCOC(C)OC(C)(CCC=C(C)C)C=C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score3.3 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsfloralfreshherbal• leffingwell
Functional Groupsetheralkene💻 RDKit
Data Sources & Attribution
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.

Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID20866024

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 226.36 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.871 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 253.416 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point -61.851 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 75 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Refractive Index 1.448 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 261.289 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 4.675 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 4.675 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 4.675 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 6.56 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.043 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX
Viscosity 2.016 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 25.347 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 131.232 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 18.46 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 8 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 69.95 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 27.73 Å^3📊 OPERA

Data Sources:

🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.

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