HYDROXYCITRONELLAL – floral, green and fresh note with hints of lily of the valley, dewy petals and white melon

Fresh floral scent of lily of the valley, with transparent petals, slightly oily.

Floral, lily, sweet, green, tropical, with notes of melon. It has nuances of green citrus and melon. It is used in practically every floral accord, but especially in lily-of-the-valley and lilac accords. It recalls the scent of lime blossoms.

Sweet-floral, initially delicate and pleasantly refreshing, but often intensifying after a brief olfactory perception. The floral notes are soft, light, and reminiscent of lily of the valley. It has good persistence, and the diffusion of the scent is significantly increased when the raw material is properly mixed with low-boiling fixatives or modifiers.

Its concentration in perfumery can range from about 1% (which rarely works without additional ingredients) to 30-40% in the most common floral fragrances. It is practically a "must" in compositions made with lily of the valley, as well as peony, lily, sweet pea, narcissus, lime blossom, etc.

It is sometimes recommended to add 25% hydroxycitronellol to stabilize the aldehyde and avoid otherwise significant oxidation problems. The odor profile is almost identical to that of pure hydroxycitronellal, with slightly greater fixation; the mixture forms a hemiacetal.

There are some limitations to its stability. For this reason, its dimethyl acetal is sometimes used, although it does not have the same intensity and character as the aldehyde. Another aromatic substance often used with hydroxycitronellal is its alcohol, which has a more muted character but combines well with the aldehyde.

A small amount of alcohol stabilizes the aldehyde, likely forming hemiacetals. When aldehydes are added to alcohols, a reaction often occurs, as evidenced by an increase in temperature, changes in refractive index, and other physical changes, indicating the formation of hemiacetals.

Used in acacia, apricot, aldehydic, woody, spicy, chypre, cassia, herbaceous compositions, in all floral, fougère, honeyed, oriental, incense, patchouli, peach, sandalwood, tea, tonka bean, vetiver fragrances.

It can be added up to 40% of a fragrance composition.