Bourgeonal (3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)propanal, also known as p-tert-Butyldihydrocinnamaldehyde, 4-tert-Butylbenzenepropionaldehyde, CAS: 18127-01-0) is a synthetic aromatic aldehyde belonging to the lily-of-the-valley (muguet) fragrance family. With the molecular formula C₁₃H₁₈O and a molecular weight of 190.28 g/mol, it appears as a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a powerful, diffusive, and substantive fresh floral muguet character. The compound is characterized by a specific gravity of 0.955–0.961, a refractive index of 1.508–1.512, and a boiling point of 299–301°C. It is generally supplied with purity ranging from 97% to 100% (GC).
As one of the most iconic muguet aldehydes in modern perfumery, Bourgeonal delivers a unique lily-of-the-valley scent described as floral, watery, green, and aldehydic. Its powerful, fresh, and diffusive character with a watery green nuance makes it extensively used in alcoholic fragrances and toiletries. The compound is also known to act as a chemo-attractant for human spermatozoa via the olfactory receptor OR1D2, making it a compound of significant biological interest. Market demand is closely linked to the global expansion of the fine fragrance, personal care, and household cleaning industries, driven by the enduring popularity of fresh, floral scent profiles. Based on its chemical characteristics and industrial chain position, this article systematically analyzes international market dynamics of Bourgeonal, focusing on core application scenarios, competitive landscape, regional differences, regulatory trends, and future outlook, providing strategic references for industry participants.
Core Application Fields and Demand
Market demand for Bourgeonal is concentrated in three major sectors: fine fragrances and perfumery (≈40-45% of global consumption), personal care and cosmetics (≈25-30%), and soaps, detergents and household products (≈20-25%), with additional demand from biological research and flavor applications (≈5-10%).
In the fine fragrances and perfumery sector, Bourgeonal is valued as a key muguet aldehyde that provides fresh, powerful floral lily-of-the-valley character. Its unique muguet-aldehyde character is extensively used in alcoholic fragrances, where it delivers a clean, fresh, and long-lasting floral note. The compound‘s powerful diffusion and substantivity make it an essential building block for floral, aldehydic, and fresh compositions. It is used in both masculine and feminine fragrances, where it imparts a sophisticated, elegant floral character. Its unique watery green nuance provides a modern, clean twist to traditional floral compositions, making it popular in contemporary perfumery. The compound has been used in iconic fragrances such as Pleasures (Estée Lauder, 1995) and L‘Eau d’Issey (Issey Miyake, 1992). Typical use levels in fragrance concentrates range from 0.5% to 3%, with up to 5% possible in some formulations.
In the personal care and cosmetics sector, Bourgeonal is incorporated into a wide range of products, including creams, lotions, shampoos, shower gels, and deodorants. Its fresh, floral character enhances the sensory experience of beauty products, providing a clean, elegant scent profile. The compound‘s stability and compatibility with various cosmetic ingredients make it suitable for both rinse-off and leave-on applications.
In the soaps, detergents and household products sector, Bourgeonal is used to impart a fresh, floral lily-of-the-valley scent to laundry detergents, fabric softeners, household cleaners, and soaps. Its ability to provide a clean, elegant floral character that survives the wash cycle is highly valued by formulators in the home care industry.
In biological research, Bourgeonal is recognized as a potent and specific agonist for the human olfactory receptor OR1D2 (hOR17-4). This receptor is expressed on human sperm cells, where it plays a key role in chemotaxis—the chemically guided movement essential for fertilization. Bourgeonal is therefore a critical tool compound in reproductive biology and olfactory research, with a biological function that cannot be replicated by other lily-of-the-valley odorants.
In flavor applications, Bourgeonal is used in food and beverage applications to impart specific flavors.
Major Market Participants
The global supply system for Bourgeonal follows a pattern of specialized aroma chemical manufacturers and fragrance ingredient producers, with production concentrated in Europe, China, and North America. The compound is generally supplied as a colorless to pale yellow liquid with purity ranging from 97% to 100% (verified by GC analysis). It is classified as a hazardous material for transport (Hazmat Yes) and requires specialized handling and shipping procedures. Kosher-certified grades are available.
Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has established a reliable, quality‑controlled supply chain for high‑purity Bourgeonal (3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)propanal, CAS 18127-01-0). Our product is manufactured under strict quality management, achieving consistent purity (97-100% by GC) with low impurity profiles, fully complying with global fragrance, personal care, and household product standards. It is an ideal muguet aldehyde building block for fine fragrances, cosmetic formulations, and household product applications. XinChem offers flexible packaging options ranging from research quantities to industrial bulk orders, with batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA) and full characterization data ensuring complete traceability and regulatory compliance.
Regional Market Dynamics
Global demand for Bourgeonal shows regional differentiation: “Europe dominates production and high-purity consumption, North America and Asia-Pacific lead in fragrance and personal care applications, and Latin America & Middle East & Africa are emerging growth markets.” The compound is the subject of comprehensive industry research, with reports covering market drivers, challenges, supply/demand dynamics, regional overviews, and detailed market predictions.
Europe, particularly France, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, is the world‘s largest producer and consumer of fine fragrance ingredients, driven by the highest concentration of luxury fragrance houses and perfumery expertise. The region is home to major fragrance houses that incorporate Bourgeonal into their fine fragrance portfolios. European customers require stringent quality standards, including purity ≥98%, full traceability, compliance with IFRA, REACH, and EU cosmetics regulations, and full impurity profiling.
North America (United States and Canada) and Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India) together account for a significant share of high-purity R&D and commercial consumption, driven by large personal care and household product markets. Asia-Pacific, particularly China and India, is the fastest-growing region for fragrance ingredients, with Chinese manufacturers offering competitive pricing at scales ranging from research quantities to industrial batches. The compound is widely used in functional products such as soaps, detergents, and household cleaners in these regions.
Latin America, Middle East & Africa are emerging growth regions with increasing consumption of Bourgeonal in fragrance and personal care applications.
Regulatory and Environmental Considerations
Bourgeonal (CAS 18127-01-0) is subject to regulatory oversight in major economies, particularly when intended for fragrance and cosmetic applications. The compound is listed in the IFRA Standards library under CAS 18127-01-0 (p-tert-Butyldihydrocinnamaldehyde) with restrictions. The IFRA critical effect for Bourgeonal is dermal sensitization and systemic toxicity. The fragrance material specification: should not be used such that the level in the finished cosmetic product exceeds 0.6%. This restriction is based on test results showing sensitizing potential. The compound is also subject to IFRA category-specific limits: 0.029% for facial products and 0.12% for body applications.
RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials) has conducted a fragrance ingredient safety assessment for p-tert-butyldihydrocinnamaldehyde based on 7 human health endpoints plus environmental impact; all endpoints were cleared using target data, read-across, and/or the threshold of toxicological concern. The worldwide volume of use is estimated at 100-1000 metric tons per year.
Recommended storage conditions: store in a tightly sealed container at 0-8°C, protected from light and heat. The compound is stable under recommended storage conditions but incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. Personal protective equipment (PPE) — including chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and respiratory protection — is recommended during handling.
In the European Union, Bourgeonal is registered under REACH (EINECS 242-016-2); importers and manufacturers must provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS). It is subject to IFRA and EU cosmetics regulations. In the United States, the compound is regulated under TSCA. In China, the compound is listed in the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC) and requires safety production licenses for manufacturing facilities.
Future Outlook
The market outlook for Bourgeonal is tied to four core drivers: (1) sustained growth in global demand for fresh, floral lily-of-the-valley fragrance profiles in fine fragrances, personal care, and household products; (2) the enduring popularity of floral and aldehydic compositions in both mass and prestige fragrance segments; (3) the expansion of the global fragrance and personal care market, driven by rising disposable incomes in emerging economies and increasing consumer demand for premium scented products; and (4) the compound‘s unique biological properties, including its role as a chemo-attractant for human spermatozoa and a tool for olfactory and reproductive biology research, opening additional research and diagnostic applications.
Challenges include: increasing regulatory scrutiny on fragrance sensitizers, with the IFRA restriction of 0.6% in finished products and category-specific limits limiting usage levels; competition from alternative muguet aldehydes such as Lilial (which faces regulatory restrictions in the EU); and raw material cost volatility for hydroformylation precursors. Enterprises should focus on securing high‑purity (≥98%) production capabilities, maintaining rigorous impurity documentation for global regulatory filings, ensuring compliance with IFRA restrictions, and building long‑term supply partnerships with fragrance houses, personal care manufacturers, and household product developers.
Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem)
As a world‑leading supplier of fragrance ingredients, aroma chemicals, and specialty intermediates, Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has always focused on the innovative needs of the fragrance, personal care, and household product industries. Relying on core advantages in sourcing, quality assurance, and global logistics, we provide high‑quality Bourgeonal (3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)propanal, CAS 18127-01-0) to global customers. Our product is manufactured under strict quality management, achieving consistent specifications for fragrance, cosmetic, and industrial grades. Fully compliant with IFRA and international quality standards, it is an ideal muguet aldehyde building block for fine fragrances, cosmetic formulations, and household product applications.
1. Technical Advantages
High Purity & Consistency: Our Bourgeonal achieves purity levels of 97-100% (verified by GC analysis), supplied as a colorless to pale yellow liquid, molecular weight 190.28 g/mol, specific gravity 0.955–0.961, refractive index 1.508–1.512, boiling point 299–301°C.
Low Impurity Profile: Strict control of residual solvents, heavy metals, and related substances ensures high performance for fragrance, personal care, and household applications. Acid value: 0-3 mg KOH/g. Kosher-certified grades available.
Fragrance & Cosmetic Grade Quality: The compound is tested for compliance with IFRA and EU cosmetics regulations, with full traceability to primary analytical standards.
Batch‑to‑Batch Uniformity: Rigorous analytical testing (GC, GC-MS, refractive index, specific gravity) guarantees a consistent olfactory profile and reproducible quality across all production lots.
2. Product Advantages
Iconic Muguet Aldehyde Fragrance Ingredient: Directly used in fine fragrances (floral, aldehydic, fresh compositions), personal care products (creams, lotions, shampoos, shower gels, deodorants), soaps and detergents, and household cleaners.
Fresh Floral-Lily of the Valley Profile: Delivers a powerful, diffusive, and substantive fresh floral muguet character with watery green and aldehydic nuances.
Scientifically Validated: Known as a chemo-attractant for human spermatozoa via OR1D2 olfactory receptor, with potential applications in fertility research and reproductive biology.
Flexible Packaging: 1kg, 5kg, 25kg, and 200L drums; custom packaging for R&D and industrial orders.
Reliable Supply Chain: Annual capacity in the multi-ton range, with dedicated temperature‑controlled warehousing (0-8°C, cool, dry, light‑protected, sealed containers) and just‑in‑time delivery capabilities.
3. Application Fields
- Fine Fragrances & Perfumery: Key muguet aldehyde for floral, aldehydic, and fresh compositions; used in both masculine and feminine fragrances.
- Personal Care & Cosmetics: Fragrance component for creams, lotions, shampoos, shower gels, deodorants, and antiperspirants.
- Soaps & Detergents: High‑performance fragrance ingredient for soap bars, laundry detergents, and fabric softeners.
- Household & Institutional Cleaning: Industrial and institutional cleaners, household cleaning products.
- Biological Research: Tool for studying olfactory receptor OR1D2, fertility research, and sperm chemotaxis studies.
- Flavor Applications: Flavoring agent in food and beverage applications.
4. Service Support
Our technical team provides olfactory profiling guidance, stability testing recommendations, IFRA compliance documentation, and regulatory support (REACH, TSCA). We offer custom packaging and just‑in‑time delivery.
5. Why Choose XinChem
- Professionalism: 20+ years in the chemical and fragrance ingredient industry.
- Flexibility: Tailored to customer purity, packaging, and quality specifications.
- Cost‑effectiveness: High quality at competitive prices.
Contact us now to start cooperation!
Website: www.xinchem.com
Email: sales1@xinchem.com
WhatsApp: +86 18049800532
Post time: Aug-15-2026