Citral
Aroma Chemical Top Note CAS 5392-40-5
Strong, fresh lemon with a sharp, sweet citrus character and a soft lemongrass, fatty aldehydic facet. Powerful, it builds lemon, verbena and citrus accords.
Odor profile
| Note | Top Note |
| Descriptor 1 | Citrus |
| Descriptor 2 | Lemon |
| Descriptor 3 | Verbena |
| Odor Impact1 | 270 |
| Impact Level | Medium |
| Tenacity1 | 5 h |
| Tenacity2 | 12 h |
1 Source: PerfumersWorld
2 Source: The Good Scents Company
Both tenacity figures are blotter life. The two labs use different evaluation protocols, so the numbers are not directly comparable — read them as two independent readings, not as a contradiction.
Identification
| CAS Number | 5392-40-5 |
| INCI Name | Citral |
| Category | Aroma Chemical |
| Formula | C10H16O |
| Mol. Weight | 152.23 |
| IUPAC Name | (2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal |
| InChIKey | WTEVQBCEXWBHNA-JXMROGBWSA-N |
Synonyms
3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal, Geranial, dimethyl-2,6-octadienal, Lemarome N, Neral, Geranial 9tra-citral), Neral(c-b-citral), Citralia, Hesperitraal, Lemarome, (Z)/(E) citral, (Z+E) citral, citral (ex Litsea), citral 10% dpg, citral E.Q., citral EOA synthetic food/grade, citral ex lemon natural, citral ex litsea, citral ex litsea natural, citral ex litsea natural isolate, citral extra, citral extra FCC (natural), citral extra natural, citral FCC, citral FCC natural, citral FCC synthetic, citral FF, citral FG, citral lemarome N (Givaudan), citral N, citral nat, citral natural, citral natural (ex litsea), citral natural ex lemongrass, citral natural ex litsea, citral R synthetic, citral spain, natural isolated constituent, citral super FCC (natural), citral synthetic, citral synthetic FCC
Physical and chemical data
| Boiling Point | 228.9 °C |
| Melting Point | -10.0 °C |
| Flash Point | 101.7 °C |
| Density | 0.891 |
| Refractive Index | 1.486 |
| Vapor Pressure | 5 mmHg at 194 °F ; 1 mmHg at 143.1 °F; 760 mmHg at 442 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| LogP | 3 |
| Solubility | In water, 1.34X10+3 mg/L at 37 °C |
| Appearance | Citral appears as a clear yellow colored liquid with a lemon-like odor. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Toxic by ingestion. Used to make other chemicals. |
Regulatory status
IFRA maximum concentrations
| Category | Use | Limit in the finished product |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Lip products, toys | 0.11 % |
| Category 2 | Deodorants, antiperspirants | 0.032 % |
| Category 3 | Eye products | 0.10 % |
| Category 4 | Fine fragrance | 0.60 % |
| Category 5A | Body lotion | 0.15 % |
| Category 5B | Face cream | 0.15 % |
| Category 5C | Hand cream | 0.15 % |
| Category 5D | Baby creams, oils | 0.051 % |
| Category 6 | Oral care, mouthwash | 0.35 % |
| Category 7A | Rinse-off hair products | 0.20 % |
| Category 7B | Leave-on hair products | 0.20 % |
| Category 8 | Intimate and baby wipes | 0.051 % |
| Category 9 | Soap, shampoo, rinse-off | 1.2 % |
| Category 10A | Household care, hand contact | 1.2 % |
| Category 10B | Aerosol air fresheners | 4.2 % |
| Category 11A | Intended skin contact | 0.051 % |
| Category 11B | Minimal skin contact | 0.051 % |
| Category 12 | No skin contact, candles | Not restricted |
| IFRA Amendment | 49 |
| Restriction Type | Restriction |
| Critical Effect | Dermal Sensitization And Systemic Toxicity |
Restricted components
| Component | Share |
|---|---|
| D-Limonene | 0.1 % |
IFRA regulated substances contained in this material. The interactive index derives the effective maximum concentration per category from them.
EU allergen declaration
| Substance | Share |
|---|---|
| Limonene | 0.1 % |
Substances that must be named in the ingredient list under Annex III of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Where a range was given, the upper bound is shown.
All figures on this page are guide values collected from public reference works and supplier declarations. They differ between batches, origins and qualities. The data sheet of your own supplier is always the authoritative document for the material you actually use.