Pollenal II

Synthetic Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer: Kao Chemicals (Specialties Division)

• 🔎 Chemical Name: 2-Cyclohexylpropanal

• 🧪 Synonyms: Pollenal II

• 🧬 Chemical Formula: C₉H₁₆O

• 📂 CAS N°: 2109-22-0

• ⚖️ Molecular Weight: 140.22 g/mol

• 📝 Odor Type: Fresh Green

• 📈 Odor Strength: High impact (top), medium tenacity (~5 hours on blotter)

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile: Menthol-cineol freshness; pollen effect; dirty/powdery nuance; aggressive green heart; fruity fig-like drydown

• 👅 Flavor Profile: Not applicable

• ⚗️ Uses: Green modifier, fig and apple enhancement, citrus lift, aldehydic florals

• 🧴 Appearance: Clear liquid

What is Pollenal II?

Pollenal II is a branched aliphatic aldehyde synthesized to mimic the olfactive complexity of fresh pollen and aggressive green materials, although no direct natural analog exists. Its fresh-camphoraceous top note is reminiscent of menthol and cineol, which rapidly evolves toward a fruity-green fig tone, passing through a powdery, earthy intermediate.

Its dynamic evaporation behavior, lasting structure, and adaptability make it suitable as a volatile top modifier as well as a structural element in citrus, tea, and floral applications.

Olfactory Profile & Perfumery Applications

👃🏼 Scent Description:

• Top: Sharp, diffusive menthol/cineol freshness

• Heart: Pollen-like yellow floral, powdery-dirty aldehydic effect

• Drydown: Fruity fig nuance with lingering green sharpness

⚗️ Functional Roles:

• Adds naturalistic sharpness and floral pollen-like effect to aldehydic or citrus perfumes

• Used in tea, green floral, fig-fruity, or herbal-camphoraceous themes

• Boosts volume and radiance in top and mid-phases

• Compatible with rose oxide, green leaf alcohols, aldehyde C-10, and dihydromyrcenol

🧴 Example Pairings:

• Citrus boosters:

  • Aldehyde C-10 + Pollenal (2:1) → orange aldehyde sharpness

  • Dimethyloctenone + Pollenal (1:1) → fresh mandarin accord

  • Dihydromyrcenol + Pollenal (10:1) → icy floral lift

• Fruity modulations:

  • Verdox + Pollenal (10:1) → sweet red apple

  • Diethyl Malonate + Pollenal (5:1) → juicy apple

• Green structure:

  • Rose oxide + Pollenal (1:2) → petal-green accent

  • Triplal + Pollenal (2:1) → watery-green note

  • Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol + Pollenal (1:2) → green tea effect

Industrial & Technical Uses

• Fine fragrance: Used in aldehydic florals, fig compositions, fresh citrus, and modern green florals

• Functional perfumery: Strong performance in haircare, soaps, detergents, and softeners

• Not used in flavor: No FEMA listing; not approved for food use

Stability Overview

📦 Physical Format: Clear, non-discoloring liquid
✅ Excellent stability in formulations (including high-pH and warm-temperature systems):

• Shampoo (pH 6) to 40°C

• Detergent (pH 10) to 40°C

• Soap (pH 9) to 30°C

• Softener (pH 6–9) to 40°C
  🟡 Moderate stability:

• Soap (pH 9) to 50°C

• Softener (pH 9) to 50°C

Regulatory & Safety Overview

• IFRA: Not restricted under the 51st Amendment

• EU Allergens: Not one of the 26 declarable allergens

• FEMA GRAS: Not listed

• ECHA (REACH): Registered under 2-Cyclohexylpropanal; not classified as hazardous

• Toxicology:

  • No phototoxicity or sensitization at standard perfumery concentrations

  • Biodegradable under OECD screening; not classified as PBT or vPvB

  • Low volatility; stable under manufacturing and packaging conditions

✅ Considered safe and effective in fine fragrance and functional fragrance applications.

Sources

• Kao Chemicals Technical Datasheet – WPC 2018 (Nice, France)

• PubChem Compound Summary for CID 95560

• Fulvio Ciccolo – Pollenal II Evaluation Session with Kao Perfumer Pelegri Granel (2018)

• Internal formulation archive (Scentspiracy 2023)