Geranial is a monoterpenoid that is (2E,6E)-octa-2,6-dienal substituted by methyl groups at positions 3 and 7.
Definition
Geranial is a monoterpenoid that is (2E,6E)-octa-2,6-dienal substituted by methyl groups at positions 3 and 7. It has a role as a volatile oil component and a plant metabolite. It is a polyprenal, a monoterpenoid and an enal.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 758ZMW724E · registered name GERANIAL · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Restriction III/70
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 141-27-5
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 205-476-5
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID20881217
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID40209373
- IUPAC
- (2E)-3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienal
- Molecular formula
- C10H16O
- Molecular weight
- 152.237 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Citral appears as a clear yellow colored liquid with a lemon-like odor. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Toxic by ingestion. Used to make other chemicals. · CBI, Dry Powder, Liquid
- Odour
- Strong lemon odor
- Boiling point
- 444 °F at 760 mmHg (Decomposes) (NTP, 1992) · 229 °C
- Melting point
- Melting point <-10 °C.
- Solubility
- 0.1 to 1 mg/mL at 64 °F (NTP, 1992) · Soluble in 5 volumes of 60% alcohol, soluble in all proportions of benzyl benzoate, diethyl phthalate, glycerin, propylene glycol, mineral oil, fixed oils, and 95% alcohol.
- Density
- 0.891 to 0.897 at 59 °F (NTP, 1992) · 0.891-0.897 at 15 °C
- Stability
- NOT STABLE TO ALKALIES AND STRONG ACIDS
- pH
- ACID VALUE: 5.0 MAX
- Melting/freezing point
- &, lt, -20 (1013 hPa)
- Initial boiling point and range
- 228 ℃(1013hPa)
- Flash point
- 101 ℃(1013 hPa)
- Vapour pressure
- 12.17 ㎩ (25℃::01)
- Water solubility
- 0.42 g/㎖ (25℃, read across)
- Relative density
- 0.8888 (20℃::01)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 3.4453 (25 °C)
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 225 ℃ (1013 hPa)
- Viscosity
- 2.42 cSt (20℃::01)
- Molecular weight
- 152.23344
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 6 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Flavouring and nutrient3
- Fragrance3
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
4 skin studies and 0 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 4 studies
- SkinIrr2
Skin Irritation · QSAR Predicted - Skin irritation - category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Skin sensitisation - category 1
Skin Sensitization · Screening - SkinSens1
Skin Sensitization · QSAR Predicted
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Essential oil variation in Melissa officinalis L. cultivated under industrial field conditions: effects of different harvesting times and plant materials · 2024
- A fast and reliable method to quantify neral and geranial (citral) in essential oils using 1H NMR spectroscopy · 2023
- Ovicidal toxicity of plant essential oils and their major constituents against two mosquito vectors and their non-target aquatic predators · 2023
- HEMI-SYNTHESIS AND UV-VISIBLE SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF 2,4-DINITROPHENYLHYDRAZONES DERIVED FROM CITRAL AND CITRONELLAL ESSENTIAL OILS OF TWO AROMATIC PLANTS ACCLIMATIZED IN CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE · 2021
- Cross‐reactivity between citral and geraniol – can it be attributed to oxidized geraniol? · 2014