Helional

SyntheticSYNTHETIC MOLECULESfloral · aquatic · green

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HeartPyramid

—Strength

60hTenacity

—Origins

Specimen

Definition

Helional is an aldehyde used as a perfume. Its aroma is described as watery, fresh, green, ozone, cyclamen and hay.

FLORAL GREEN AQUATIC FRESH

2-piperonylpropanal, ocean propanal, Tropional, Heliofolal, Heliogan, Heliobouquet, MMDHCA

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Aquatic
Subfamily: Fresh aquatics
Cluster: Fresh aquatic notes
Source: synthetic molecule
Chemical class: aldehyde

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

Tenacity on blotter

60hours · 3 days

1 h6 h24 h3 d7 d400 h

at 1 %

Scent

The aroma is described as floral, fresh, melon, ozone and marine. Another description gives the odor as floral and herbaceous. A fresh watery-melon top is followed by a sweet heliotrope and cyclamen heart, with new-mown-hay and soft almond-anisic facets. The dry-down is described as mild and green-anisic.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Identity and chemistry

Helional has the IUPAC name 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methylpropanal and the molecular formula C₁₁H₁₂O₃. Its molar mass is 192.21 g/mol. Chemically it is an aldehyde with a hydrocinnamaldehyde motif, a structural element present in a number of other commercial fragrances and odorants. It is insoluble in water and soluble in ethanol. Its records list EC number 214-881-6, FEMA number 4599 and JECFA number 2212.

Relation to heliotropin

Helional is commonly derived from heliotropin, which is also called piperonal. Piperonal has a floral odor commonly described as similar to vanillin or cherry, and its formula, C₈H₆O₃, is smaller than that of helional.

Safety labelling

The GHS signal word for helional is Warning, and its hazard statements are H315, H319 and H335.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Airy Note · Aluminum · Ozone Acetaldehyde · River Notes · Steam Accord · Water

Did You Know?

Helional is the only one of 100 odorants that activated the human olfactory receptor OR17-40 when a mixture of 100 odorants was tested on cells carrying that receptor. Piperonal, safrole and vanillin, which resemble it in structure, did not activate the receptor.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Several synthetic routes exist. The most common is a crossed aldol condensation between piperonal (heliotropin) and propanal, followed by selective hydrogenation of the intermediate alkene. This produces a racemic product.

Formula: C₁₁H₁₂O₃
CAS: 1205-17-0
Appearance: Pale yellow to yellow clear oily liquid
Lasting power: About 60 hours on a blotter at 1 %
Synonyms: 2-piperonylpropanal, ocean propanal, Tropional, Heliofolal, Heliogan, Heliobouquet, MMDHCA

IFRA status

Restricted

Restricted — IFRA Standard « alpha-Methyl-1,3-benzodioxole-5-propionaldehyde (MMDHCA) » (Amendment 49)

Physical properties

Boiling point: 282 °C
Specific gravity: 1.162 g/cm³

In Perfumery

Helional is used as a perfume in soap and laundry detergent. It is also a substance added to food as a flavoring agent or adjuvant.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02blender

03freshness

04diffusion

Available as

synthetic