Spicy

Safranal

Note Profile

Natural

About

Safranal is a powerful synthetic aroma chemical that replicates the characteristic scent of saffron, the spice obtained from Crocus sativus stigmas. It presents a vivid saffron-like, spicy-herbal aroma with green, leathery and tobacco nuances, and extremely high odor impact even at trace levels. Perfumers use it to create or enhance saffron, leather, tobacco and oriental effects in compositions.

Scent Profile

Olfactorily, safranal has a strong saffron-like character, described as spicy, herbaceous and slightly phenolic with metallic, medicinal and green nuances. It often displays warm leathery, woody, hay and light tobacco facets that lend depth and complexity to accords. On a blotter, it opens with a sharp, fresh saffron impression and rosemary-like edge, then settles into a warm, slightly sweet, leathery-tobacco heart that can persist into the base.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~24h lasting

Origin

Safranal is a small aroma molecule that occurs naturally in saffron, where it forms during drying and storage via degradation of the precursor picrocrocin; it can represent 60-70% of saffron essential oil. For perfumery, most safranal is produced by chemical synthesis to provide a consistent, cost-effective source of the pure compound, though it can also be captured as a byproduct of saffron processing. Chemically it is known as 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-dien-1-carbaldehyde (also written as 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-dienyl methanal) and is supplied as a yellow, clear liquid with high odor strength.

Usage in Perfumery

In perfumery, safranal is classified in the spicy family and used primarily as a heart note that can extend into the base, where tiny amounts strongly modify the character of a composition. Typical dosages range from trace levels up to about 0.5-1% of the concentrate, as its power and IFRA restrictions require careful handling. Perfumers employ it to build realistic saffron accords and to add warm, leathery, herbaceous and tobacco nuances to leather, oud, amber, oriental, tobacco and sometimes fruity or floral creations.

A variety of