Cinnamaldehyde (CAS 104-55-2) — cinnamon heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Cinnamaldehyde
CAS 104-55-2
What Is Cinnamaldehyde?
Cinnamaldehyde is the main component that gives cinnamon its characteristic spicy-sweet aroma. You’ll find it in cinnamon sticks, baked goods, holiday candles, and many warm-spiced perfumes. This molecule matters because it creates an instant association with comfort foods and festive memories, making it a powerful emotional trigger in fragrances and flavors.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Cinnamaldehyde Smell Like?
Cinnamaldehyde bursts forth with an intense, fiery cinnamon stick character – think freshly broken cassia bark with a volatile top note that tingles the nose. The heart develops into a rich, honeyed warmth with facets of baked apples and clove-studded oranges. As it dries down, the sharpness softens into a powdery, slightly vanillic base that lingers on skin for hours. The overall effect is simultaneously gourmand and spicy, with a radiant energy that makes it cut through complex blends.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Cinnamaldehyde provides the fiery cinnamon core that balances the floral bouquet, creating a bold oriental signature. The molecule’s tenacity allows it to persist through the drydown.
Used judiciously to amplify the tobacco-leather accord with its sharp spice, cinnamaldehyde adds an addictive quality that makes this modern masculine irresistible.
The cinnamon note (from cinnamaldehyde) cuts through the gourmand sweetness, preventing the fragrance from becoming cloying while adding festive warmth.
Cinnamaldehyde’s spicy edge contrasts beautifully with the animalic musk base, creating a dynamic tension that defined 1970s oriental perfumery.
This classic fougère uses cinnamaldehyde sparingly to add warmth to its lavender-oakmoss structure, demonstrating its versatility beyond oriental compositions.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: O=CC=CC1=CC=CC=C1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Cinnamaldehyde is a phenylpropanoid, belonging to the class of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Naturally occurring in cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum spp.), it’s biosynthesized from phenylalanine via the shikimate pathway. Commercial production typically involves base-catalyzed condensation of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, yielding the trans-isomer (E-cinnamaldehyde) which is odor-active. The cis-isomer (Z-cinnamaldehyde) occurs in trace amounts and has different olfactory properties. The molecule’s reactivity stems from its conjugated carbonyl system, making it prone to oxidation and polymerization over time.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 253 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | -7.5 °C |
| Flash Point | 160 °F |
| Density | 1.048-1.052 g/cm³ |
| Vapor Pressure | 2.89×10⁻² mmHg |
| Refractive Index | 1.618-1.623 |
| Solubility | 700 parts water |
| Appearance | Yellowish oily liquid |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Powerful modifier – use sparingly |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.2% | Air fresheners, candles |
| Flavor | 10-100 ppm | Up to 200 ppm | Baked goods, chewing gum |
| Cosmetics | 0.01-0.05% | Up to 0.1% | Rinse-off products preferred |
Classic Accords
Tip: Pre-dilute to 10% in DPG to prevent crystallization and improve blendability.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Milder, sweeter cinnamon character without the sharpness. Use when skin sensitivity is a concern or for softer spice effects.
Esterified version with fruity-balsamic nuances. More stable in alkaline formulations and less prone to oxidation.
Softer, floral-spicy character with better solubility in alcohol bases. Ideal for fresh citrus colognes.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
Restricted to 0.05% in leave-on products (IFRA 49th Amendment). No restrictions for rinse-off products.
EU Allergen Declaration
Must be declared when present at ≥0.001% in leave-on products, ≥0.01% in rinse-off products (Annex III of EU Regulation No 1223/2009).
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM assessment confirms safe use at current IFRA limits. Skin sensitization potential well-characterized.
Sustainability
Natural cinnamaldehyde is sourced from cinnamon bark distillation, primarily from Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Synthetic production avoids agricultural impacts but uses petrochemical feedstocks. Both routes are energy-intensive. Recent advances include biocatalytic production using engineered yeast strains for greener synthesis.
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 637511 PubChem 637511
- IFRA Standards Library 49th Amendment IFRA 49
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 104-55-2Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 132.16 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 253 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 2.89 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 71.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.2709💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -2.157💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CC=O🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Moderate💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | cinnamonspicy• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | aldehydealkenearomatic💻 RDKit |
| “Warm-spicy-balsamic odor, suggestive of Cassia-cinnamon. Good tenacity and lasting sweetness.”📖 Arctander | |
| Cinnamaldehyde has a pungent, spicy note and burning taste.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “with alcohol and most perfume and flavor oils. Sweet and warm-spicy taste with little or no Extensively used in flavor compositions.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.9537 ppm (n=3)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| EU Annex III | Listed (restricted)⚖️ IFRA 51 |
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2286⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID1024835
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 132.162 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.05 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 246.667 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | -7.583 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 83.702 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.577 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 127.728 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 1.9 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 1.831 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 1.831 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.83 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.011 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.037 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.333 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 36.998 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 42.329 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 16.781 Å^3📊 OPERA |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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