What Is Safranal?
Safranal is a specialty aroma molecule that recreates the warm spicy character of natural saffron. It is made and sold by the Swiss fragrance house Givaudan, though other suppliers offer comparable grades under different names.
The material is produced on an industrial scale by chemical synthesis that mimics the way saffron flowers generate their scent. This route gives a consistent quality without relying on the costly harvest of Crocus sativus.
At room temperature Safranal appears as a clear yellow liquid of medium thickness. It blends smoothly into oils, alcohol, waxes and most common perfumery bases.
Perfumers reach for Safranal when they want to add realism to saffron accords or to lend a dry spicy lift to woods, resins or tobacco notes. Its use is fairly widespread in fine fragrance, home scent and even some personal care products.
When stored in a cool dark place the molecule keeps its character for roughly two years before a gradual loss in freshness may start. It is generally viewed as a mid-priced ingredient, affordable for both niche and larger scale formulations.
Safranal’s Scent Description
Safranal sits comfortably in the spicy family of aroma materials.
On a blotter the first impression is a vivid hit of dry saffron threads backed by a soft hay like sweetness. Within seconds you may also pick up a slightly leathery tobacco nuance and a faint herbal facet that recalls dry thyme. Underneath these lies a barely-there floral glow that keeps the note from feeling too rough.
In the classical top, middle and base pyramid Safranal behaves mainly as a middle note. It rises quickly enough to colour the opening yet lingers long enough to bridge into the drydown, giving continuity to woody or resinous themes.
Projection is moderate, meaning the scent radiates a pleasant halo without overwhelming nearby notes. Longevity on a blotter runs for several hours, after which it softens into a gentle woody spice that can still be detected at close range.
How & Where To Use Safranal
Perfumers reach for Safranal when they need a quick way to say saffron without paying for the natural absolute. It slots neatly into spicy, leather, tobacco or oriental themes and also lifts modern woody florals that risk smelling too clean. Just a trace can give a niche twist to a citrus cologne while a higher dose brings out dusty suede and pipe tobacco personalities.
At 0.01-0.1 % of the total concentrate Safranal offers a gentle hay-like glow that knits top notes to the heart. Between 0.1 % and 0.5 % the saffron facet becomes unmistakable and starts to dominate lighter florals. Anything above about 0.8 % can smell sharp or medicinal, so going higher is normally reserved for special effect accords or for room fragrances where strength is prized over subtlety. Givaudan lists an upper limit of 1 %, which gives a safe ceiling for trials.
Its spicy warmth pairs well with rose, iris, benzoin, styrax and modern leather bases. It also deepens gourmand ideas built around honey or caramel. Safranal is less convincing next to aquatic or green tea accords where its dryness can feel out of place. In soap it survives the cure with medium bloom, though colour pick-up can occur if the base is already off-white.
Over-use brings two main risks. First, the note can turn metallic or rubbery and swamp delicate partners. Second, higher concentrations raise the chance of skin irritation in leave-on products. Keeping a tight dose and combining it with softer supporting materials like vanillin or hedione often solves both issues.
The material arrives as a neat liquid so no melting is needed. Most labs dilute it 10 % in ethanol or IPM before weighing to avoid accidental over-pouring. Because the odour is potent wipe the neck of the bottle after each use and let diluted blends rest for at least 24 hours so the saffron edge settles into the mix.
Safely Using Safranal
Practical safety starts the moment the bottle is opened. Always prepare a dilute solution before evaluation rather than smelling the neat liquid. Work at a ventilated bench or under a fume hood so any vapour drifts away from your face. Gloves keep the skin clean and safety glasses guard against splashes.
Safranal can provoke irritation or allergic responses in sensitive individuals. Short sniffs of low-strength solutions are normally fine yet prolonged handling of the undiluted material should be avoided. Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should ask a medical professional before working with any aroma chemical, including this one.
If a spill occurs wipe it up with an absorbent pad, seal the pad in a solvent-safe bag and dispose of it with chemical waste. Do not pour leftovers down the drain as the substance is classed as harmful to aquatic life. Store tightly closed in a cool dark cabinet away from strong acids or bases that could trigger decomposition.
Regulations evolve so check the supplier’s latest safety data sheet before each new project and keep an eye on updates. Follow current IFRA guidelines for maximum use levels in every finished product category to ensure you remain on the right side of both safety and compliance.
How To Store & Dispose of Safranal
Safranal keeps best when the bottle is cool and shielded from light. A refrigerator set between 4 °C and 8 °C is ideal but a normal storeroom that stays below 20 °C will also work. Always position bottles away from heaters or windows that can produce temperature spikes.
Air is the main enemy because oxygen slowly dulls the saffron note. Use the smallest practical bottle size and top up containers as they empty so the headspace stays low. Polycone lined caps give a reliable seal that limits evaporation while dropper tops often leak or let in air, so stick with screw caps for both neat material and dilutions.
Label every vessel with the name Safranal, the CAS number 116-26-7, the date it was opened, and hazard icons for irritant and aquatic harm. Clear labels help anyone on your team handle the material correctly and cut the risk of mix-ups.
For disposal collect leftover liquid or rinse solvent in a tight metal or HDPE container marked for flammable chemical waste. Safranal is classed as inherently biodegradable yet it can still harm water life, so never pour it down a sink or outside drain. Small spill pads can go in the same waste drum after the solvent has fully evaporated in a fume hood. Empty bottles should be triple rinsed with ethanol, air dried, then recycled or discarded in line with local rules.
Summary
Safranal is the molecule that gives saffron its famous scent, here supplied in high purity by Givaudan. It smells warm spicy and gently leathery with herbaceous tobacco accents, making it a quick route to a saffron effect in perfumes, soaps and candles.
Because the odour is powerful only trace amounts are needed which makes each kilo last a long time but the raw cost sits in the mid to upper range. It blends smoothly with rose, iris, woods, leather and gourmand notes though it can feel harsh if overdosed or paired with sheer aquatic accords.
The liquid stays stable for several years when stored cool and well sealed yet it will oxidise if left half empty or in direct sun. Colour pickup in soap and potential skin irritation at high levels are other points to watch.
Commercial buyers can order directly from Givaudan or one of its authorised distributors. Hobbyists and indie brands can find smaller packs from specialist fragrance suppliers or online aroma chemical shops that stock generic equivalents.