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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.

This note in Première Peau. Gravitas Capitale. Sample 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.