Veratraldehyde (CAS 120-14-9) — Sweet Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Veratraldehyde
CAS 120-14-9
What Is Veratraldehyde?
Veratraldehyde is a synthetic aroma chemical used in perfumes and flavorings. It has a warm, vanilla-like scent with spicy and woody undertones. People encounter it in gourmand fragrances, candles, and some food flavorings. This ingredient matters because it adds depth and sweetness without being overly sugary, making it versatile in modern perfumery.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Veratraldehyde Smell Like?
Veratraldehyde opens with a warm, vanilla-like sweetness reminiscent of freshly baked cookies. As it evolves, spicy and woody nuances emerge, creating a cozy, comforting aura. The dry-down reveals a subtle balsamic quality, like aged vanilla pods mingling with faint incense. This transformation makes it ideal for adding gourmand warmth without cloying heaviness.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: COC1=CC=C(C=O)C=C1OC
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Veratraldehyde is a synthetic aromatic aldehyde, chemically related to vanillin. It is typically produced through the oxidation of veratrole or via formylation reactions. The compound’s structure features methoxy groups that influence its scent profile, making it less sweet but more complex than vanilla.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 285 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 42-44 °C |
| Density | 1.1 g/cm³ |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Adds warmth without overpowering |
| Candles | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Enhances gourmand accords |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use veratraldehyde to add warmth to vanilla or amber bases without excessive sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
More straightforward vanilla scent, suitable when a purer sweetness is desired.
Stronger and more persistent vanilla note, useful in higher-impact formulations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has assessed veratraldehyde as safe for use in current applications.
Sustainability
Veratraldehyde is synthesized from petrochemical sources, making its production dependent on fossil fuels. Efforts to develop bio-based routes are ongoing to improve sustainability.
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References
- PubChem: Veratraldehyde PubChem CID
- IFRA Standards IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 120-14-9Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 166.17 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 281.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0007 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 110 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0001💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.649💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C=O)OC🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 4.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | sweetvanillawoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | aldehydeetheraromatic💻 RDKit |
| “trope-like odor of excellent tenacity. Some observers find a haylike or Coumarin-like note in this material.”📖 Arctander | |
| Veratraldehyde has a very sweet, woody, vanilla-like odor with a warm, sweet, vanilla-like taste. This compound gets oxidized in air to odorless veratric acid.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Warm and sweet-herbaceous Vanilla-like taste in concentrations below 40 ppm. The flavor effect is similar to that of Heliotropine, but not nearly as "perfumey". Veratraldehyde is not frequently used in perfumes. The mediocre grade often offered commercially has a poor appearance and may have contrib”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 3109⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
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: DTXSID7026285
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 166.176 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.119 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 277.382 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 44.447 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 110.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.534 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 149.104 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.178 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.281 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.281 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.69 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.042 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.001 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 2.336 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 36.775 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 146.569 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 35.53 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 3 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 46.363 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 18.38 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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