What does aldehyde C-10 smell like?

Neat, aldehyde C-10 smells sharp, waxy and fatty. When diluted it gives a fresh, bright orange-peel note. Perfumers use it to add a clean, sparkling citrus lift to the top of a fragrance.

Is aldehyde C-10 the same as decanal?

Yes. Aldehyde C-10 is the perfumery trade name for decanal, a ten-carbon aldehyde with CAS number 112-31-2. You'll also see it called capraldehyde or decyl aldehyde on some labels and safety data sheets.

How much aldehyde C-10 should I use in perfume?

Very little. It's usually diluted to 10% or 1% first and then used in traces, often well under 1% of the fragrance concentrate. Build up slowly, let the blend rest, and check current IFRA standards for your product type.

Why does my aldehyde C-10 smell rancid?

Aldehydes react with air and slowly turn into fatty acids, which smell sour or rancid. Keep the bottle tightly closed, full and in a cool, dark place. Decant into smaller bottles to limit air contact.

What is aldehyde C-10 used for in soap?

In soap and detergent fragrances it adds a clean, fresh, citrus-like lift. It's used in small amounts within the fragrance blend, which is then added to the soap base at the level the fragrance supplier recommends.

Is aldehyde C-10 natural?

Decanal does occur naturally in citrus peel oils and coriander oil, but the aroma chemical sold for perfumery is usually made industrially. Ask the supplier if you need a natural-origin grade.

Aldehyde C-10 (Decanal): Odour, Uses and Handling

Aldehyde C-10, or decanal, is a colourless aroma chemical with a strong waxy, orange-peel odour. Perfumers use it in small amounts to add a bright citrus and clean, aldehydic lift to perfumes, soaps, detergents and room fragrances. It is very powerful, so it's usually diluted before use.

Last updated 7 Nov 2026

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Specifications

Formula: C10H20O
CAS number: 112-31-2
Grades: Technical

Products and pack sizes

Product	Grade	Pack	Price (incl. GST)	₹ per kg
Aldehyde C-10	Technical	—	₹399	—

What is aldehyde C-10?

Aldehyde C-10 is the perfumery name for decanal, a straight-chain aldehyde with ten carbon atoms. It occurs naturally in small amounts in citrus peel oils and coriander oil, but commercial material for perfumery is generally made industrially.

Formula: C10H20O
CAS number: 112-31-2
Molar mass: about 156.3 g/mol
Boiling point: about 207 to 209 °C
Density: about 0.83 g/mL
Appearance: colourless to pale yellow liquid; doesn't mix with water, mixes with alcohol and oils

Neat, it smells sharp, fatty and waxy. Diluted, it turns into a fresh orange-peel note.

Grades and pack sizes at Azlok

Azlok lists Aldehyde C-10 as an aroma chemical for fragrance use. The listing name doesn't give a pack size or purity, so check the product page. It's for perfumery and fragrance use, not for food flavouring. See today's price per kg.

Common uses

Fine fragrance: the bright, sparkling top in aldehydic perfumes, usually alongside aldehydes C-11 and C-12.
Citrus accords: adds realistic peel character to orange, mandarin and other citrus blends.
Soaps and detergents: a clean, fresh lift in soap, detergent and fabric conditioner fragrances.
Home fragrance: room sprays, reed diffusers and candles.

How to use it

Dilute first. Perfumers usually make a 10% or 1% dilution in ethanol, DPG or IPM before weighing it into blends. Neat, it overpowers everything.
Use in traces. It typically makes up a very small part of a fragrance concentrate, often well under 1%. Add drop by drop and smell the blend on a strip after a few minutes.
Let it rest. Blends with aldehydes change for a few days, so let the concentrate mature before judging it.
Check limits. Check current IFRA standards and your fragrance supplier's guidance for the product type you're making.

Patch test finished skin products, and remember finished cosmetics sold in India need to meet the applicable BIS and CDSCO rules.

Safety and storage

Neat aldehyde C-10 can irritate the skin and eyes. Wear gloves and safety glasses, and wash off splashes with soap and water.
The smell is strong. Work in a ventilated room.
Air spoils it. Aldehydes slowly oxidise to fatty acids and lose their fresh smell. Keep the bottle full, tightly closed, and in a cool, dark place. Decant into smaller bottles as you use it.
It's combustible. Keep away from flames and heat.
Keep away from strong oxidisers and strong bases.
Keep out of reach of children. Don't pour it down the drain; soak small spills in paper and put them in dry waste.

Choosing the right grade and pack

Since you use it in traces, a small pack lasts a home perfumer a very long time, and it stays fresher too. Soap, detergent and fragrance makers using it in production can buy larger amounts, but should split them into smaller, full bottles to limit air contact. For 25 kg or more, use the bulk inquiry form.

Frequently asked questions

What does aldehyde C-10 smell like?: Neat, aldehyde C-10 smells sharp, waxy and fatty. When diluted it gives a fresh, bright orange-peel note. Perfumers use it to add a clean, sparkling citrus lift to the top of a fragrance.
Is aldehyde C-10 the same as decanal?: Yes. Aldehyde C-10 is the perfumery trade name for decanal, a ten-carbon aldehyde with CAS number 112-31-2. You'll also see it called capraldehyde or decyl aldehyde on some labels and safety data sheets.
How much aldehyde C-10 should I use in perfume?: Very little. It's usually diluted to 10% or 1% first and then used in traces, often well under 1% of the fragrance concentrate. Build up slowly, let the blend rest, and check current IFRA standards for your product type.
Why does my aldehyde C-10 smell rancid?: Aldehydes react with air and slowly turn into fatty acids, which smell sour or rancid. Keep the bottle tightly closed, full and in a cool, dark place. Decant into smaller bottles to limit air contact.
What is aldehyde C-10 used for in soap?: In soap and detergent fragrances it adds a clean, fresh, citrus-like lift. It's used in small amounts within the fragrance blend, which is then added to the soap base at the level the fragrance supplier recommends.
Is aldehyde C-10 natural?: Decanal does occur naturally in citrus peel oils and coriander oil, but the aroma chemical sold for perfumery is usually made industrially. Ask the supplier if you need a natural-origin grade.