Citronellyl Nitrile

What Citronellyl Nitrile smells like

Citronellyl nitrile (sold as Citronalva) is a strong, fresh lemon material with a nitrile undertone. Patent literature describes an olfactive note reminiscent of lemon with an undernote characteristic of the nitriles; a chemical supplier calls it a strong, lemon-like odour, and others fresh and citrus, reminiscent of citronella oil. One specification adds metallic. Its value is stability: nitriles survive aggressive products such as detergents in which citral breaks down.

Leading note

Fresh lemon

Supporting facets

Citronella, nitrile undertone

Faint facets

Metallic, herbal

Character

Strong, fresh, hard, stable

• lemon
• metallic
• fresh
• waxy

What makes Citronellyl Nitrile distinctive

A lemon built to survive. It gives a citral-like freshness where citral cannot be used, at the cost of a harder, nitrile edge.

How Citronellyl Nitrile is used

Used for lemon and citronella freshness in detergents, soaps, household cleaners and other aggressive functional products.

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

How Citronellyl Nitrile differs from similar materials

Citronellal

Citronellal is fresher, greener and rosier but unstable; the nitrile is a harder, stable lemon with a metallic-nitrile undertone.

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

Very strong and diffusive. Not to be confused with geranyl nitrile, which IFRA prohibits.

Identity and classification

Type

Aroma chemical

Origin

Synthetic

Odour family

Citrus / Metallic

Note position

Top note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

3,7-Dimethyl-6-octenenitrile

CAS number

51566-62-2

Molecular formula

C10H17N

Molecular weight

151.25 g/mol

IUPAC name

3,7-dimethyloct-6-enenitrile

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 3033030, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.

Safety and compliance

Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (1,817 reports): H412 harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (77.1% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (71% of reports). 415 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

• Dihydromyrcenol

  Aroma chemical · Citrus / Aromatic — citrus, lime, fresh, clean

• Citronellol

  Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — rosy, fresh, citrus, waxy

• Lemon Oil (Cold-Pressed)

  Essential oil · Citrus / Aldehydic — citrus, sharp, zesty, juicy

Citronellyl Nitrile is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Azuril, Cinnamyl Nitrile, Peonile and Tridecene-2-nitrile.

Used in formulas and accords

Used in 10 published formulas

Citronellyl Nitrile is an ingredient in 8 perfume formulas and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.

Community formulas

• Blood Accord

  Community Formula · Accord

RUŌOD House Originals

Original compositions by RUŌOD House.

• Anise Ink

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Glass Rose Accord

  RUŌOD House Accord · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Iron Rain

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Neroli Compass

  RUŌOD House Original · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Rose Graphite

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Silver Amber

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Typewriter Ribbon

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Verdigris Saddle

  RUŌOD House Creation · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

• Ylang Rain Shelter

  RUŌOD House Original · listed as “Citronellyl Nitrile 10% DPG”, at 10% in DPG

Further reading

• Nitriles in Perfumery: Stable Alternatives to Aldehydes

  Why nitriles replace aldehydes in soap, detergents and deodorants: common nitriles and their aldehyde cousins, trade-offs, IFRA status and a test.

• Citrus Oils in Perfumery: Bergamot, Lemon, Orange and Their Limits

  The main citrus oils, phototoxicity and FCF bergamot, why citrus fades and how to extend it, oxidation, allergens, and grades from expressed to terpeneless.

Questions about Citronellyl Nitrile

Sources

• PubChem — compound 3033030, checked 19 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• The Good Scents Company — citronellyl nitrile — odour database.
• Parchem — citronellyl nitrile specification — distributor's description.
• US patent 6,410,504 — nitriles and aldehydes in perfumery — published literature.
• 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.