In short
Anisaldehyde (aubépine) is an aromatic aldehyde with a sweet hawthorn-anise note. It is a classic material for hawthorn, mimosa and lilac accords.
What Anisaldehyde smells like
Anisaldehyde is intensely sweet and floral with a hay-like quality that is generally described as hawthorn-like, in Arctander's words as quoted by secondary sites. BASF lists sweet, floral, anisic and hawthorn; another supplier an intense sweet-floral, hawthorn-like character with powdery mimosa facets; a glossary a hawthorn-like floralcy over an anise odour. Arctander notes its very wide use, limited only by poor stability in alkali and with amines. It occurs naturally in anise, fennel and cassie flowers.
- Leading note
- Sweet hawthorn
- Clear facets
- Anisic
- Supporting facets
- Hay-like, powdery mimosa
- Faint facets
- Almond
- Character
- Sweet, intense, powdery, floral
What makes Anisaldehyde distinctive
It is the hawthorn note itself — sweet, powdery and hay-like, with anise underneath — the reference point for the whole hawthorn-mimosa family.
How Anisaldehyde is used
Used very widely in hawthorn, mimosa, lilac and heliotrope compositions and in sweet florals; unstable in alkaline products.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Anisaldehyde differs from similar materials
- Anisyl Alcohol
- Anisyl alcohol is softer and milder, with balsamic, vanilla and lilac notes; the aldehyde is the intense, sweet hawthorn.
- Heliotropin
- Heliotropin is powdery almond, cherry and vanilla; anisaldehyde is sweeter, more floral and anisic, with hawthorn.
- Acetophenone
- Acetophenone is sharper and more pungent, almond and hawthorn with an orange-blossom edge; anisaldehyde is sweeter and more powdery-floral.
- Canthoxal
- Canthoxal is licorice, basil and fennel anise with a watery touch; anisaldehyde is sweet hawthorn and mimosa.
- Veratraldehyde
- Veratraldehyde is a vanilla-bean-like aldehyde used as a heliotropin substitute; anisaldehyde is more floral and aniseed.
Each difference compares the published descriptions of the two materials. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Covered by an IFRA Standard.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Powdery / Floral
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- p-Anisaldehyde, Aubepine
- CAS number
- 123-11-5
- Molecular formula
- C8H8O2
- Molecular weight
- 136.15 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 4-methoxybenzaldehyde
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 31244, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Anisaldehyde:
- "p-Methoxybenzaldehyde" — Restriction, 51st Amendment, published 2023-06
Limits differ by product category and are set out in the Standard itself; this page does not reproduce them. The list above reflects the library as read on 19 October 2026.
Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (3,980 reports): H302 harmful if swallowed (40.1% of reports). 2,268 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. Unless it is harmonised, this is the notifiers' own classification, not a binding one.
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
Heliotropin
Aroma chemical · Powdery / Gourmand — powdery, almond, vanilla, floral
-
Anisyl Alcohol
Aroma chemical · Powdery / Floral — floral, powdery, sweet, anisic
-
Mimosa Absolute
Absolute · Floral / Powdery — powdery, honeyed, green, floral
-
Canthoxal
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — anisic, sweet, liquorice, herbal
Anisaldehyde is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Acetanisole, Anisyl Acetate, Anisylacetone, Cassie Absolute, Dulcinyl and Methyl Anisate.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 16 published formulas
Anisaldehyde is an ingredient in 4 perfume formulas, 11 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Anisaldehyde
Is Anisaldehyde natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Anisaldehyde may be made by synthesis or obtained from natural sources, so check the supplier's specification if the distinction matters to you.
What is the CAS number of Anisaldehyde?
123-11-5. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Anisaldehyde?
Anisaldehyde is used in 16 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Anise Ink, Banana Bread and Cappuccino Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Is Anisaldehyde covered by an IFRA Standard?
Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "p-Methoxybenzaldehyde" — Restriction, 51st Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 31244, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- IFRA — Standards Library, read 19 October 2026.
- BASF Aroma Ingredients — Anisaldehyde — manufacturer's description.
- Hermitage Oils — Anisaldehyde natural isolate (quoting Arctander) — distributor's description.
- Scentspiracy — Anisic aldehyde — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: several independent published descriptions, which agree. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.