Vanillin
Aroma Chemical Base Note CAS 121-33-5
Sweet, warm and creamy vanilla with a soft balsamic, lightly chocolate facet. Tenacious and comforting, it is the heart of gourmand, oriental and amber compositions.
Odor profile
| Note | Base Note |
| Descriptor 1 | Gourmand |
| Descriptor 2 | Vanilla |
| Descriptor 3 | Powdery |
| Odor Impact1 | 60 |
| Tenacity1 | 400 h |
| Tenacity2 | 400 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 | 121-33-5 |
| INCI Name | 4-hydroxy- 3-methoxybenz- aldehyde |
| Category | Aroma Chemical |
| Formula | C8H8O3 |
| Mol. Weight | 152.15 |
| IUPAC Name | 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde |
| InChIKey | MWOOGOJBHIARFG-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
Synonyms
Vanillaldehyde, 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, Protocatechu aldehyde methylether, Methyl protocatechuic aldehyde, Lioxin, benzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-, 4-formyl-2-methoxyphenol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-m-anisaldehyde, p-hydroxy-m-anisaldehyde, p-hydroxy-m-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-meta-anisaldehyde, para-hydroxy-meta-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-methoxy-4-formyl phenol, 2-methoxy-4-formylphenol, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, naturalline, protocatechualdehyde-3-methyl ether, rhovanil, V-flavor (vanillin) ex-eugenol, vanillic aldehyde, nat. vanillin, p-vanillin, para-vanillin, vanillin (ex-clove), vanillin (ex-clove) natural, vanillin (natural), vanillin EEC natural, vanillin ex 4-methylguaiacol natural, vanillin ex catechol, vanillin ex clove, vanillin ex clove natural, vanillin ex eugenol, vanillin ex eugenol EEC natural, vanillin ex eugenol FCC natural, vanillin ex eugenol natural, vanillin ex ferulic acid natural, vanillin ex lignin, vanillin ex lignin synthetic
Physical and chemical data
| Boiling Point | 285.0 °C |
| Melting Point | 82.8 °C |
| Flash Point | 153.0 °C |
| Density | 1.056 |
| Vapor Pressure | 1 mmHg at 225 °F (NTP, 1992) |
| LogP | 1.2 |
| Solubility | In water, 1.102X10+4 mg/L at 25 °C |
| Appearance | Vanillin appears as white or very slightly yellow needles. |
Regulatory status
EU allergen declaration
| Substance | Share |
|---|---|
| Vanillin | 100 % |
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.