What Is Acetal Cd?
Acetal Cd is an aroma ingredient created by the flavour and fragrance house Givaudan. The name you see on their catalogue is protected, yet the same molecule can be sourced from other suppliers under a more generic label, so perfumers are not tied to a single vendor.
Chemically speaking it is an acetal built on an eleven-carbon backbone with three oxygen atoms. In manufacturing, a small aldehyde is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of acid then carefully purified until a clear neutral-smelling liquid is obtained. The finished material is colourless and free-flowing at room temperature, making it easy to weigh and blend.
In the lab or factory it is classed as readily biodegradable and non-hazardous to the environment, which adds to its appeal for modern creative briefs. Cost wise it sits in the mid-range. It is far from cheap yet nowhere near the price of rare naturals, so it can be used quite freely without breaking a budget.
On the popularity scale Acetal Cd is a workhorse in floral accords such as rose, lilac and hyacinth, plus it brings a leafy sparkle to green blends and classic chypres. The shelf life is generous; stored well it will stay in spec for around two to three years before any noticeable drop in performance. All in all it is a versatile building block that covers a lot of ground without fuss.
Acetal Cd’s Scent Description
This material belongs to the broad floral family. When you smell it on a blotter the first impression is a fresh green tone, almost like crushing young stems between your fingers. Within seconds a soft honeyed nuance shows up, wrapping around a gentle rose petal aspect that never feels old-fashioned. As the minutes pass a hint of linden blossom drifts in, keeping the profile light and airy rather than heavy and sweet.
Perfumers divide a fragrance into top, heart and base notes. Tops appear first then fade quickly, hearts give the main character and bases anchor everything for hours. Acetal Cd sits firmly in the heart. It arrives soon after the top fizz subsides and stays present long enough to stitch the composition together, yet it does not weigh things down.
Projection is moderate; it creates a clear aura around the wearer without shouting across the room. On skin or fabric it lasts a respectable few hours, though the sweetest parts taper off sooner while the leafy note lingers. On a paper blotter you will still detect it after a couple of days which is a good indicator of its staying power in finished perfumes.
How & Where To Use Acetal Cd
Perfumers reach for Acetal Cd when a floral accord needs extra lift or realism without the expense of high levels of rose absolute. It slips neatly into the heart of a formula, linking fresh top notes to warmer bases and adding a dewy green sparkle that keeps bouquets from feeling heavy.
The material pairs beautifully with rose, hyacinth, lilac, muguet and linden blossom themes. In a classic rose accord it amplifies the natural petal effect and extends the bloom. In green floral builds it tightens the link between leafy galbanum type notes and softer flowers, giving a freshly cut impression.
Usage levels vary by product type. Fine fragrances often need only 0.3 – 2 % of the concentrate to feel its effect, while household or fabric care formulas may push toward 5 % for added clarity through processing. The supplier lists a workable range of 1 – 10 % but most creators stay well below the upper edge to avoid a sharp phenolic twang that can appear if it dominates the blend.
At trace amounts Acetal Cd reads as a subtle honeyed breath that rounds the heart. Around 1 % the floral-green note turns more obvious, supporting rose and lilac with gentle radiance. Above 4 % it starts to colour the whole perfume in a distinct phenylacetaldehyde tone which can feel old fashioned or overpowering if not balanced by fresh or fruity partners. Overuse risks a metallic edge and may shorten overall diffusion.
The molecule performs nicely in alcohol and most oil bases. For easy handling, predilute to 10 % in ethanol or dipropylene glycol before weighing it into a formula. This helps with precision dosing and reduces the chance of overshoot. It survives pH swings from acid cleaners up to liquid bleach so soap makers and detergent chemists can count on it for stable floral lift.
Avoid pairing it with high doses of indolic jasmine or animalic musks in fine fragrance as the mix can drift into muddy territory. Instead use it to brighten crisp chypres, airy colognes or any composition that needs a touch of garden realism.
Safely Using Acetal Cd
Work with Acetal Cd as you would any concentrated aroma material. Always dilute before evaluating and never sniff straight from the bottle. Set up in a well ventilated space so vapours do not hang in the air. Wear nitrile gloves and protective glasses to keep skin and eyes safe from accidental contact.
Most users handle the ingredient without trouble, yet any aroma chemical can provoke irritation or sensitisation in certain people. If you notice redness or discomfort wash the area with mild soap and water and discontinue use until you have medical advice. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a healthcare professional before working with fragrance materials.
Short exposures at low levels are generally considered safe but repeated or high concentration contact can raise the risk of adverse effects. Keep containers sealed when not in use, wipe spills promptly and never leave soaked blotters lying around the lab.
Dispose of unwanted stock or rinse water through approved chemical waste channels rather than household drains. Store the bottle in a cool dry cupboard away from direct light and sources of ignition, ideally between 10 °C and 25 °C. A tight cap and minimal headspace slow down oxidation and preserve the fresh floral character.
Always refer to the most recent safety data sheet supplied by your vendor, as information can change over time. Follow the current IFRA guidelines for maximum use levels in each product category and update your formula records whenever these standards are revised.
How To Store & Dispose of Acetal Cd
Keep Acetal Cd in a tightly closed bottle placed in a cool dark cupboard away from heaters or direct sun. Simple room-temperature storage works well yet sliding the bottle into a fridge set between 5 °C and 10 °C can stretch shelf life even further.
Air is the enemy of freshness, so choose containers that seal firmly. Polycone caps grip the neck and create a vapour-tight barrier while ordinary dropper tops often leak and invite oxidation. Top up partly used bottles or transfer leftovers to smaller vials so less headspace sits above the liquid.
Label every vessel with the material name, CAS 29895-73-6, date filled and any hazard icons from the safety data sheet. Clear labels stop mix-ups and make future disposal easier.
When the time comes to discard spent stock or rinse water, do not pour it down the kitchen sink. Though Acetal Cd is readily biodegradable and rated non-hazardous to the environment, local regulations usually treat fragrance waste as chemical waste. Collect small quantities in a sealed container then hand them to a licensed disposal service or your community household hazardous waste drop-off. Wipe up spills with absorbent paper, place the paper in a sealed bag and dispose of it the same way.
Store any working dilutions in amber glass or HDPE bottles, again under polycone caps. Keep them upright in a tray so drips cannot wander. Good housekeeping pays back with longer-lasting scent quality and a safer workspace.
Summary
Acetal Cd is a Givaudan floral specialty also known as phenylacetaldehyde glycerylacetal. It smells of fresh rose tinged with green facets and a light honey glow that adds realism to hyacinth, lilac and linden style accords.
Perfumers value it as an affordable mid-note booster that bridges sparkling top notes to warm bases while remaining stable across the wide pH range found in soaps, detergents and fine fragrance. Costs sit in the middle tier so it slots into mass or prestige work without breaking a budget.
Keep an eye on dosage since too much can push a dated phenolic edge yet at 0.3 % to 2 % in perfume concentrates it delivers natural lift and pleasant longevity. Store it cool, cap it tight and use within 12 to 18 months after opening for best results.
Commercial quantities come straight from Givaudan under purchasing agreements. Smaller or hobby-scale volumes are widely sold by speciality fragrance suppliers and generic aroma chemical shops so both professional labs and curious creators can get their hands on this versatile floral accent.