What does citral smell like?

Citral smells strongly of fresh lemon and lemongrass, sharp and slightly sweet. Geranial, one of its two forms, is the sweeter, more lemony part; neral is a little less sweet. The smell fades fairly fast on skin and paper.

Is citral the same as lemongrass oil?

No. Lemongrass oil is a natural essential oil that contains a large share of citral along with other compounds. Citral is the single aroma chemical (a mix of geranial and neral). It gives the main lemon note but smells simpler than the oil.

Is citral safe to use in skin products?

Citral is a known skin sensitiser, so it is restricted in cosmetics. Check current IFRA standards for your product type, label it as an allergen where required, and patch test the finished product before regular use.

Why does citral go off in soap?

Citral is unstable in strongly alkaline products such as soap, and in light. It can lose its lemon smell or turn musty and discolour. Test small soap batches for a few weeks before production, or choose more alkali-stable lemon materials.

How do I dilute citral for perfume making?

Make a 10% stock solution: 10 g citral in 90 g perfumer's alcohol or DPG. Smell it on a paper strip and add it to your blend a few drops at a time. Wear gloves when handling the neat liquid.

How should I store citral?

Keep it in a full, tightly closed amber bottle in a cool, dark place. Air and light oxidise it and spoil the lemon note. Decant into smaller bottles if you open a large pack, and keep it away from children.

Citral: Uses, Odour and Safety for Perfumers

Citral (C10H16O) is a pale yellow liquid aroma chemical with a strong, fresh lemon odour. It is a mixture of two isomers, geranial and neral, and is the main odour component of lemongrass oil. It is used in perfumes, soaps, detergents, room fresheners and lemon flavours, and as a raw material for ionones.

Last updated 7 Nov 2026

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Specifications

Formula: C10H16O
CAS number: 5392-40-5
Grades: Technical
Hindi name: सिट्रल

Products and pack sizes

Product	Grade	Pack	Price (incl. GST)	₹ per kg
Citral	Technical	—	₹249	—

What is citral?

Citral is the molecule behind the sharp, fresh lemon smell of lemongrass. It is a mixture of two forms: geranial (citral A) and neral (citral B). Citral occurs in high amounts in lemongrass, litsea cubeba and lemon myrtle oils, and is also made synthetically.

Formula: C10H16O
CAS number: 5392-40-5
Molar mass: 152.24 g/mol
Boiling point: about 229 °C
Density: about 0.89 g/ml
Appearance: pale yellow liquid, insoluble in water, mixes with alcohol and oils

Grades and pack sizes at Azlok

Azlok lists citral under aromatic raw materials, for perfumery, soap, detergent and room fragrance work. The listing doesn't say whether it is natural-sourced or synthetic, or give a pack size, so check the product page. It is not labelled food grade. See today's price per kg.

Common uses

Lemon and citrus notes in perfumes, colognes and attars
Fresh lemon fragrance in detergents, dishwash and floor cleaners
Room fresheners, reed diffusers and incense
Raw material for making ionones (violet notes) and vitamin A in industry
Lemon flavouring in food and drinks (food grade only)

How to use it

Dilute before evaluating. Citral is very strong. Make a 10% solution in perfumer's alcohol or DPG (10 g citral in 90 g solvent) and smell it on a paper strip.

Blending. Use it to lift lemon, lemongrass and verbena accords. It fades quickly on a strip, so pair it with longer-lasting materials such as citronellol or musks. Add in small steps and smell after each addition.

Stability. Citral breaks down in strongly alkaline or acidic products and in light, losing its fresh lemon note and sometimes going off. In soap, results can be poor; test small batches and check after two to four weeks.

Limits and labelling. Citral is a known skin sensitiser. Check current IFRA standards for any limits on this material in the product type you are making. In the EU, citral is one of the fragrance allergens that must be named on cosmetic labels above set levels, so check the rules for the markets you sell into.

Safety and storage

Citral can irritate skin and may cause an allergic skin reaction. Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses when handling it neat.
Wash off skin contact with soap and water. Rinse eyes with plenty of water.
Patch test any finished skin product for 24 to 48 hours before regular use.
Combustible liquid. Keep away from flames and heat.
Store in a full, tightly closed amber glass or suitable container, in a cool, dark place. Air and light degrade it.
Keep away from children.

Choosing the right grade and pack

Buy small packs for perfumery and trials, since citral oxidises once opened. A bottle that stays half-empty for months loses quality. For detergent and room freshener production, buy amounts you'll use within a few months.

For 25 kg or more, send a bulk inquiry.

Frequently asked questions

What does citral smell like?: Citral smells strongly of fresh lemon and lemongrass, sharp and slightly sweet. Geranial, one of its two forms, is the sweeter, more lemony part; neral is a little less sweet. The smell fades fairly fast on skin and paper.
Is citral the same as lemongrass oil?: No. Lemongrass oil is a natural essential oil that contains a large share of citral along with other compounds. Citral is the single aroma chemical (a mix of geranial and neral). It gives the main lemon note but smells simpler than the oil.
Is citral safe to use in skin products?: Citral is a known skin sensitiser, so it is restricted in cosmetics. Check current IFRA standards for your product type, label it as an allergen where required, and patch test the finished product before regular use.
Why does citral go off in soap?: Citral is unstable in strongly alkaline products such as soap, and in light. It can lose its lemon smell or turn musty and discolour. Test small soap batches for a few weeks before production, or choose more alkali-stable lemon materials.
How do I dilute citral for perfume making?: Make a 10% stock solution: 10 g citral in 90 g perfumer's alcohol or DPG. Smell it on a paper strip and add it to your blend a few drops at a time. Wear gloves when handling the neat liquid.
How should I store citral?: Keep it in a full, tightly closed amber bottle in a cool, dark place. Air and light oxidise it and spoil the lemon note. Decant into smaller bottles if you open a large pack, and keep it away from children.