Citral ND ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a fragrance material, used to give formulas a sharp lemon peel note and to build citrus, verbena, lemongrass, and fresh accords.
What does Citral ND do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a fragrance material, used to give formulas a sharp lemon peel note and to build citrus, verbena, lemongrass, and fresh accords.
Is Citral ND clean?
It is one of the EU-listed fragrance allergens, so brands must disclose it above regulatory thresholds and manage sensitization risk through low use levels and IFRA limits. Clean-beauty standards usually allow it only with allergen labeling and concentration controls.
Is Citral ND sustainable?
This material can be isolated from essential oils or made synthetically from terpene or petrochemical feedstocks, so sourcing depends on the supplier. It is expected to biodegrade, but its volatility and aquatic classification mean responsible fragrance dosing matters.
Is Citral ND COSMOS-approved?
It can align with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic when it comes from a permitted natural fragrance source and meets ISO 9235 and IFRA requirements. Synthetic versions have weaker COSMOS alignment, while the Green Chemistry profile is strongest for renewable sourcing, traceable supply, and controlled low-level use.
How does Citral ND work chemically?
The molecule is an unsaturated terpene aldehyde, which explains both its bright citrus odor and its higher reactivity versus many fragrance hydrocarbons. It is typically used at low fragrance-compound levels, and formulators manage oxidation with antioxidants, air-tight packaging, and compatibility checks in high-pH or strongly oxidizing systems.
Last updated 2026-08-17