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Aldehyde C-10 (Decanal)

Q: Is Aldehyde C-10 (Decanal) natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Found in citrus peel oils (up to 3%). Also produced synthetically. Synthetic preferred for consistency..

POPULAR AND WEIRD / aldehydic · waxy · citrus

Category	POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	aldehydic · waxy · citrus
Origin
Volatility	Top Note
Botanical	N/A - synthetic molecule
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	High ,recommend smelling in a 1.00 % solution or less
Producing Countries	Manufactured globally (also found naturally in citrus oils)
Pyramid	Top

Waxy, orange-peel, fatty-floral. Decanal (C10) is the workhorse citrus aldehyde: the sharp-waxy smell of fresh orange rind and backbone of classic aldehydic perfumes.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Waxy, orange-rind, sharp-clean. Like scoring an orange peel with your fingernail. A metallic-clean lift settling into waxy-fatty warmth. The Goldilocks aldehyde.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sharp waxy-orange burst, metallic-clean

After a few hours

Orange-rind waxiness, fatty warmth

After a few days

Faint waxy-citrus residue

The Full Story

Decanal (CAS 112-31-2) is a ten-carbon straight-chain aldehyde, up to 3% of orange peel oil. It provides sharp, metallic-clean lift in the top note and waxy-orange character in the heart.

Less sharp than octanal (C-8), less fatty than dodecanal (C-12). Balanced between sharp and waxy.

One of the key aldehydes in the revolutionary compositions of the 1920s.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Did You Know?

Did you know?

The aldehydic revolution in perfumery began in 1921. Before that, aldehydes were considered chemical impurities. Deliberate use of C-10, C-11, and C-12 created a new olfactory category overnight.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Found in citrus peel oils (up to 3%). Also produced synthetically. Synthetic preferred for consistency.

Molecular Formula	C10H20O
CAS Number	112-31-2
Botanical Name	N/A - synthetic molecule
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	DECANAL · N-DECANAL · ALDEHYDE C-10
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	High ,recommend smelling in a 1.00 % solution or less
Lasting Power	224 hour(s) at 100.00 %
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Boiling Point	207.00 to 209.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	181.00 °F. TCC ( 83.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.82400 to 0.83200 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.42700 to 1.43400 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point	17.00 to 18.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

In Perfumery

Top-note modifier and classic aldehydic building block. CAS 112-31-2. Provides metallic-clean lift and waxy orange character. Essential in classic aldehydic florals.