Neral (CAS 106-26-3) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Neral
CAS 106-26-3
What Is Neral?
Neral is a citrusy fragrance molecule found in many perfumes and household products. It’s one of the key components that gives lemongrass and citrus oils their bright, fresh character. This ingredient matters because it adds naturalistic lemon notes without the phototoxicity of actual citrus oils, making it safer for skin contact in fragrances.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Neral Smell Like?
Neral bursts with a vibrant, lemony freshness that’s slightly greener and less sweet than citral. Imagine peeling a just-ripe Meyer lemon with hints of grassy undertones. The top note is intensely citrus-forward, evolving into a softer herbal character as it dries down. Unlike some citrus notes that vanish quickly, neral has moderate persistence, leaving a clean, slightly waxy lemon peel impression.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Neral contributes to the sparkling citrus opening alongside bergamot, creating the iconic fresh-herbal character of this classic masculine.
Used here to amplify the natural lemon verbena effect, neral adds depth to the citrus top notes while avoiding phototoxicity concerns.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CC(C)=CCC\C(C)=C/C=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Neral (C10H16O) is an aldehyde isomer of citral, specifically the cis-form of 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal. It occurs naturally in lemongrass, lemon verbena, and citrus oils. Industrially produced via selective oxidation of geraniol or through palladium-catalyzed isomerization of citral. The cis-configuration gives it slightly different olfactory properties than its trans-isomer geranial, with a greener, less sweet character.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 229 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.888 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.489 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Citrus top note component |
| Household Cleaners | 1-3% | Up to 10% | Freshness booster |
Classic Accords
Tip: Combine with small amounts of aldehydes C-10 or C-12 to enhance citrus freshness without soapiness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
The trans-isomer of citral, slightly sweeter and more lemon-like. Use when a rounder citrus note is desired.
Mixture of neral and geranial. Provides complete citrus profile but may require higher concentrations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA standards. Considered safe at typical usage levels.
EU Allergen Declaration
Not listed as an EU allergen.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safety at current usage levels in fragrance applications.
Sustainability
Most commercial neral is synthesized from renewable turpentine feedstocks. Synthetic production avoids the agricultural land use and seasonal variability of natural citrus oil extraction. The synthesis route typically has lower environmental impact than distillation of natural sources.
Explore Neral
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References
- Bauer et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
- Sell, C. (2006). The Chemistry of Fragrances. RSC Publishing.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorLayer 3 · Practical
- Odor Profile: citrus, fruity, herbal, lemon
- Molecular Weight: 152.23 g/mol
- LogP (XLogP): 3.00
- IFRA: RESTRICTION
- cat_1: 0.1100%
- cat_10a: 1.2000%
- cat_10b: 4.2000%
- cat_11a: 0.0510%
- cat_11b: 0.0510%
- cat_2: 0.0320%
- cat_3: 0.1000%
- cat_4: 0.6000%
- cat_5a: 0.1500%
- cat_5b: 0.1500%
- cat_5c: 0.1500%
- cat_5d: 0.0510%
- cat_6: 0.3500%
- cat_7a: 0.2000%
- cat_7b: 0.2000%
- cat_8: 0.0510%
- cat_9: 1.2000%
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 106-26-3Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 228 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0447 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 101 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0039💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.499💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CC(=CCCC(=CC=O)C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 2.3 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | citrusfruityherballemon• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | aldehydealkene💻 RDKit |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0564 ppm (n=7)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
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: DTXSID60881216
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 152.237 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.887 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 226.75 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 10.717 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 101 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.457 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 177.753 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.058 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| 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 | 0.007 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.045 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.
