Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA)

What Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA) smells like

Bitter almond oil, distilled from the kernels of bitter almond and related fruit stones, is largely benzaldehyde, with the sweet bitter-almond, marzipan and cherry note that benzaldehyde carries. The crude oil contains hydrogen cyanide; perfumery grades are rectified to remove the prussic acid ('FFPA'), and suppliers still warn the oil is not for ingestion.

Leading note

Bitter almond-marzipan

Supporting facets

Cherry, sweet

Character

Sweet, powerful, rounded

• almond
• cherry
• sweet
• marzipan

What makes Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA) distinctive

The natural source of the bitter-almond note — essentially benzaldehyde, in a marzipan-like natural form.

How Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA) is used

Used in almond, marzipan and cherry notes in perfumery and, as the rectified grade, in flavours.

Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).

How Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA) differs from similar materials

Benzaldehyde*

Benzaldehyde is the oil's main constituent alone, sharper and simpler; the natural oil is the rounder marzipan. (compared directly by a cited source)

An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.

Formulation considerations

Use only grades labelled free from prussic acid (FFPA): the untreated oil contains toxic hydrogen cyanide.

Identity and classification

Type

Essential oil

Origin

Natural

Odour family

Gourmand / Fruity

Note position

Top to heart note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

Bitter almond oil, free from prussic acid

Botanical source

Prunus dulcis var. amara

CAS number

8013-76-1

The CAS number was checked on 19 October 2026 against a PubChem substance record that gives it for this material. A natural material is a mixture, so it has no single formula; its composition varies with origin and processing.

Safety and compliance

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

• Benzaldehyde

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Fruity — almond, cherry, sweet

• Heliotropin

  Aroma chemical · Powdery / Gourmand — powdery, almond, vanilla, floral

• Vanillin

  Aroma chemical · Gourmand / Amber — vanilla, sweet, creamy

• Coumarin

  Aroma chemical · Powdery / Fougère — hay, sweet, almond, tobacco

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 1 published formula

Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA) is an ingredient in 1 accord in the Formula & Accord Library.

• Cherry Accord

  Community Formula · Accord · listed as “Almond, Bitter (CAS: 8013-76-1)”

Further reading

• Building a Gourmand Accord: Vanilla, Caramel and Beyond

  The materials of gourmand perfume — vanillin, ethyl maltol, coumarin, lactones, roasted notes — how to keep them wearable, and color and crystal problems.

Questions about Bitter Almond Oil (FFPA)

Sources

• PubChem — substance 135351243, checked 19 October 2026.
• Eden Botanicals — Almond, bitter — distributor's description.
• Premiere Peau — Almond — published perfumery reference.
• Scentspiracy — Benzoic aldehyde — distributor's description.
• Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 20 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.