Citrus

Citral

Note Profile

Natural

About

Citral exudes a pure, bright, and zesty lemon aroma with green, slightly woody undertones. It is often perceived as sharp and fresh, evoking freshly grated lemon peel, and is commonly blended to boost citrus accords in fragrances.

Scent Profile

Citral has a vivid, clean lemon scent with pronounced zesty and aldehydic qualities. It features subtle green and slightly woody undertones, creating a sharp, fresh impression that closely resembles freshly grated lemon peel. Over time, its brightness softens, leaving a lingering green-citrus nuance.

Citrus 85%

Floral 0%

Fruity 0%

Green 10%

Sweet 0%

Warm 0%

Woody 0%

Earthy 0%

Animalic 0%

Fresh 50%

Origin

Citral is a naturally occurring acyclic monoterpene aldehyde found in the essential oils of lemongrass, Litsea cubeba, and lemon myrtle. It is typically isolated through steam distillation of these plant sources or produced synthetically for use in perfumery and flavoring.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use citral primarily as a top note to impart a realistic lemon effect and enhance citrus accords. It blends well with other citrus oils, aromatic herbs, and green notes, and is often employed to add freshness or to modify floral and fruity compositions. Due to its volatility, it is rarely used as a base note.

A variety of