Nonanal dimethyl acetal (CAS 18824-63-0) — Citrus Top Note Fragrance Ingredient
Nonanal dimethyl acetal
CAS 18824-63-0
What Is Nonanal dimethyl acetal?
Nonanal dimethyl acetal is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fresh, green, and slightly waxy citrus notes to perfumes. It’s commonly found in household cleaners, air fresheners, and light floral fragrances. This versatile molecule helps create the illusion of dewy freshness in scents, mimicking natural aromas while providing superior stability in formulations compared to some natural alternatives.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Nonanal dimethyl acetal Smell Like?
Nonanal dimethyl acetal opens with a burst of crisp, waxy citrus peel – imagine freshly grated lemon zest with a faint soapy undertone. As it evolves, the scent reveals a green, cucumber-like freshness reminiscent of morning dew on grass, with subtle floral undertones. The dry-down is clean and slightly aldehydic, leaving a transparent, watery impression that blends beautifully with other fresh notes. Its relatively neutral character makes it an excellent supporting player in citrus and floral compositions, adding lift without dominating the blend.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to amplify the energizing citrus top notes while adding a subtle green freshness that complements the herbal heart. Its stability helps maintain the fragrance’s bright opening throughout wear.
Contributes to the watery, rain-soaked effect in this Jean-Claude Ellena creation, blending with ginger and cardamom to create an impression of dewy vegetation after rainfall.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCC(OC)OC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Nonanal dimethyl acetal belongs to the acetal class of organic compounds, formed by the reaction of nonanal with methanol. Acetals are prized in perfumery for their stability compared to aldehydes, resisting oxidation while gradually releasing the parent aldehyde upon exposure to skin pH. This synthetic material doesn’t occur in nature but effectively mimics certain fresh green aspects found in plant volatiles. Industrial synthesis typically involves acid-catalyzed reaction of nonanal with methanol under controlled conditions to prevent over-reaction.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
|---|---|
| Odor Threshold | Low ppm range |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Fresh top note component |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | Clean, fresh accents |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to extend the freshness of citrus top notes and prevent harsh aldehyde effects in the dry-down.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Similar green-waxy character but with heavier orange peel aspects, useful when more citrus intensity is desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not currently restricted by IFRA standards.
RIFM Assessment
Considered safe for current fragrance use levels based on RIFM evaluation.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, nonanal dimethyl acetal provides consistent quality without natural sourcing constraints. Its production requires standard petrochemical feedstocks, but relatively small usage levels in formulations minimize environmental impact compared to some natural alternatives that require extensive agricultural resources.
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References
- Bauer, K. et al. (2001). Common Fragrance and Flavor Materials. Wiley-VCH.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 18824-63-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 188.31 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.1🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 62 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.938💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCC(OC)OC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Top💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | citrusfloralfreshgreenmelon• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | ether💻 RDKit |
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: DTXSID8066424
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 188.311 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.836 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 218.464 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | -51.782 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 66.293 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.42 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 223.211 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0.001 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.247 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 2.324 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 25.891 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 133.938 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 | 9 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 56.459 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 22.382 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.
