In short
Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal, sold by Givaudan as Elintaal, is a fresh floral-green acetal. Its patent compares its flower odour to hydroxycitronellal.
What Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal smells like
The Good Scents Company lists Givaudan's Elintaal as floral, green and muguet, with a natural, fresh muguet character on a herbal background; Indukern describes Elintaal Forte as fresh, floral and green. The original patent (US 3,948,814) describes an exalting flower odour related to that of hydroxycitronellal, for rose, freesia and lily-of-the-valley scents.
- Leading note
- Muguet
- Clear facets
- Green
- Supporting facets
- Herbal, fresh
- Character
- Natural, fresh
What makes Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal distinctive
A muguet from an acetal of linalool rather than from an aldehyde.
Where the descriptions disagree: A later patent on the dihydro analogue describes the linalyl acetal as fatty, earthy and linalool-like.
How Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal is used
Used in rose, freesia and lily-of-the-valley compositions and to give a floral undertone to other blends.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal differs from similar materials
- Melafleur
- Melafleur is a green, melon-ozonic muguet; this acetal of linalool gives a fresher, more herbal muguet with no melon.
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.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Odour family
- Floral / Green
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Elintaal
- CAS number
- 40910-49-4
- Molecular formula
- C14H26O2
- Molecular weight
- 226.35 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-diene
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 162027, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 24 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 (1,600 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (82.7% of reports); H412 harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (82.7% of reports); H226 flammable liquid and vapor (14% of reports). 53 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
-
Hydroxycitronellal
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — muguet, floral, soft, sweet
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
-
Phenylethyl Alcohol
Aroma chemical · Floral / Green — rose, honeyed, soft, floral
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 4 published formulas
Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal is an ingredient in 3 perfume formulas and 1 accord in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal
Is Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal natural or synthetic?
Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal?
40910-49-4. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal?
Acetaldehyde Ethyl Linalyl Acetal is used in 4 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Bell Glass, Cut Stem Atelier and Ivy Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 162027, checked 24 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- The Good Scents Company — acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal (Elintaal) — odour database.
- US patent 3,948,814 — Acetaldehyde ethyl linalyl acetal perfume compositions — published literature.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.