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Cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamaldehyde is an aromatic aldehyde with a warm, spicy, and sweet cinnamon scent. It is an indispensable core ingredient in oriental, spicy, and festive fragrances. Its aroma is intense and diffuses rapidly, significantly affecting the overall scent structure even in very low amounts.
Type
Woody
Warm and spicy, with a distinct cinnamon aroma, accompanied by a slightly sweet, dry, and slightly pungent aldehyde note, quickly creating a warm, rich, and rhythmic olfactory impression.
Acquisition Methods
Natural extraction or chemical synthesis
Cinnamaldehyde is naturally found in cinnamon bark essential oil and is one of its main aromatic components. Industrially, it is mainly produced by the condensation reaction of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde under alkaline conditions (Claisen–Schmidt reaction).
Basic Information
| English Name | Cinnamaldehyde |
| Common Industry Names | Cinnamaldehyde, Nacinaldehyde |
| Chemical Category | Aromatic α,β-Unsaturated Aldehyde |
| Molecular Formula | C₉H₈O |
| Molecular Weight | 132.16 g/mol |
| CAS Number | 104-55-2 |
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow transparent liquid |
Technical Data
| Boiling point | 248–250 °C |
| Melting point | −7.5 °C |
| Flash point | 71 °C |
| Density (20 °C) | Approx. 1.05 g/cm³ |
| Solubility | Easily soluble in ethanol and essential oil systems，Insoluble in water |
| Stability | Sensitive to light, air, and alkaline environments; easily oxidized or polymerized, typically requiring stabilization with an antioxidant system. |
Chemical Structure
C₉H₈O
Fragrance Characteristics
| Aroma Characteristics | A strong, spicy cinnamon aroma, warm and sweet, with a powerful, penetrating quality. |
| Fragrance Notes | Middle to Base |
| Common Pairings | Eugenol, Coumarin, Vanillin, Benzyl Benzoate, Patchouli, Clove Oil |
| Applications | Perfumes (Oriental, Spicy), Food Flavors (must comply with food-grade regulations), Daily Chemical Fragrances (Soaps, Cleaning Products), Home Furnishings, Candles, and Festive Products |
Safety and Compliance
| IFRA Guidelines | Cinnamaldehyde is a strictly limited ingredient under IFRA regulations. Its maximum permissible concentration is extremely low across various end-product categories, and formulation design must strictly adhere to the latest IFRA standards. |
| Stability | Highly reactive, readily reacting with amines and alkaline substances; unsuitable for high-pH systems. |
| Allergy Risk | Widely recognized as a fragrance ingredient with high allergenic potential, it may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions and must be compliantly labeled. |
Application Highlights
- A very small amount is all it takes to create a distinct spicy core.
- The “soul molecule” in festive, oriental, and warm fragrances.
- When paired with vanilla, clove, and patchouli, it significantly enhances body and complexity.
- Precise dosage control is required; it’s a classic example of “less is more.”