Geranial (CAS 141-27-5) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Geranial
CAS 141-27-5
What Is Geranial?
Geranial is a citrusy, lemon-like aroma molecule found in many essential oils like lemongrass and lemon verbena. You encounter it in citrus-scented cleaning products and zesty perfumes. This aldehyde gives bright, fresh top notes that make fragrances feel instantly uplifting and energetic. It’s prized for its ability to cut through heavier scents with a sparkling clarity.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Geranial Smell Like?
Geranial bursts with an intense, piercing lemon character—like the zest of a Meyer lemon amplified tenfold. It has a metallic sharpness in its opening that quickly mellows into a warmer, rosier citrus tone reminiscent of lemon drops. The dry-down reveals subtle herbal undertones, as if lemon leaves were crushed between fingers. Unlike simpler citrus notes, it maintains presence for hours, evolving from electric brightness to a sophisticated citrus-tea nuance.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Geranial provides the razor-sharp citrus sparkle that defines this classic cologne, cutting through the herbal heart with laser precision.
Used alongside limonene to create the photorealistic Sicilian lemon top note that made this fragrance iconic.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)=CCC\C(C)=C\C=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Geranial (C10H16O) is an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde and one of the two isomers of citral (along with neral). It’s synthesized via oxidation of geraniol or through the condensation of acetone with citronellal. The trans-configuration of its double bonds gives it a more intense citrus character than its cis counterpart neral. Industrially, it’s often produced via the dehydration of linalool followed by isomerization.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 229 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.893 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.489-1.491 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Adds piercing citrus brightness |
| Functional Fragrances | 1-3% | Up to 10% | Boosts cleaning product freshness |
Classic Accords
Tip: Stabilize in ethanol before blending to prevent polymerization.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment.
EU Allergen Declaration
Must be declared when present >0.001% in leave-on products (EU Regulation No 1223/2009).
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels with sensitization risk below threshold.
Sustainability
Most geranial today is synthesized from turpentine-derived pinene or petrochemical precursors. Emerging bioengineering routes use modified yeast strains to produce citral from sugar, offering more sustainable options. Natural extraction from lemongrass remains niche due to low yields.
Explore Geranial
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumer’s Notes
Odor: mint;lemon
MW: 152.23
LogP: 3
Odor Threshold: 0.12
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID20881217
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.237 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.889 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 228.083 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 10.717 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 99.1 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.457 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 177.753 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.139 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.058 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.058 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.01 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.005 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.044 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.373 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 25.346 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 133.582 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 48.365 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.174 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.
