Cinnamaldehyde is an aromatic aldehyde and one of the principal compounds associated with the characteristic fragrance of cinnamon. It is widely used as a fragrance and flavouring ingredient and is an important specialty raw material for cosmetic, personal-care and fragrance formulations.
Cinnamaldehyde has the molecular formula C₉H₈O and a molecular weight of 132.16 g/mol. The commercially important material is predominantly the trans (E) isomer, which provides the characteristic warm, sweet, spicy and cinnamon-like odor. It is generally supplied as a colourless to yellow liquid and is practically insoluble in water while being miscible with oils and ethanol.
For cosmetic manufacturers, Cinnamaldehyde is particularly relevant to fragrance-oriented formulations where a distinctive cinnamon character is required.
Cinnamaldehyde is identified by CAS Number 104-55-2 and EC Number 203-213-9. Its chemical name is 3-Phenyl-2-propenal, while commonly used synonyms include Cinnamic Aldehyde, Cassia Aldehyde, Benzylidene Acetaldehyde, Zimtaldehyde, β-Phenylacrolein and Cinnamal.
Its molecular formula is C₉H₈O, with a molecular weight of 132.16 g/mol. Cinnamaldehyde is a liquid at normal room temperature and has a strong cinnamon odor. JECFA describes it as a yellow liquid with a strong cinnamon odor and reports a boiling range of approximately 248–250°C.
The material has very low water solubility but is miscible with oils and ethanol. Its physical properties make it particularly suitable for fragrance and oil-based formulation systems.
Cinnamaldehyde is primarily associated with fragrance and flavouring functionality. Its strong cinnamon-like aromatic profile can provide or enhance the characteristic odor of perfumes, personal-care products and other fragranced formulations.
The ingredient is especially relevant when formulators require a warm, sweet, spicy or cinnamon-oriented fragrance profile. It can be used as part of fragrance compositions rather than necessarily serving as the sole aromatic component.
Because Cinnamaldehyde is a potent fragrance material, formulation developers should carefully evaluate the final concentration, odor balance and compatibility with other fragrance ingredients. Its regulatory requirements should also be assessed for the intended market and product category.
Cinnamaldehyde Cosmetic Ingredient can be considered for a range of fragrance and personal-care applications, including perfumes, fragranced creams, lotions, soaps, body-care products and other products where a cinnamon-type aromatic profile is desired.
Its strong odor allows relatively small quantities to contribute noticeably to the fragrance character of a formulation. It can also be combined with other aromatic materials to develop more complex fragrance profiles.
For aqueous formulations, its low water solubility should be considered during product development. Oil-based systems, emulsions and formulations containing suitable solubilizing components may provide different incorporation characteristics.
The final concentration should always be determined through formulation development and should comply with the applicable requirements for the finished cosmetic product.
Cinnamaldehyde is a volatile aromatic liquid and should be handled in appropriately sealed packaging. Exposure to excessive heat, air and unsuitable storage conditions can affect the quality of aromatic raw materials.
Its water-insoluble and oil-miscible characteristics should be considered when developing aqueous cosmetic formulations. Appropriate solubilization or emulsification strategies may be required depending on the finished product.
For analytical quality control, relevant parameters include identification, assay, acid value, refractive index, specific gravity, appearance and related substances. JECFA specifies a minimum assay of 98%, an acid value of not more than 10, refractive index of 1.619–1.625 and specific gravity of 1.046–1.053 for its flavouring specification.
A separate published specification reports Cinnamaldehyde content of not less than 98.0%, specific gravity of 1.051–1.056, refractive index of 1.619–1.625 and acid value of not more than 5. These differences demonstrate why the final SDP specification should be tied to the actual grade and analytical standard rather than combining specifications from different sources.
Cinnamaldehyde is an important specialty fragrance raw material for cosmetic and personal-care manufacturers. A reliable Cinnamaldehyde Cosmetic Ingredient Manufacturer in India can provide material with defined chemical identity, purity and physical characteristics for formulation and procurement requirements.
As a Cinnamaldehyde manufacturer and supplier in India, Swapnroop can support bulk requirements for cosmetic raw materials and specialty fragrance ingredients. Product specifications can be established according to the required grade, analytical method, application and customer quality requirements.
For commercial manufacturing, consistent control of assay, refractive index, specific gravity, acid value and aromatic characteristics can help support reproducible formulation development.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |
| Assay (HPLC) | NLT 98.0% |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 0.5% |
| Residue on Ignition | NMT 0.1% |
| Water Content | NMT 0.5% |
| Melting Point | Approximately −7°C |