In short
Leaf acetal is the mixed acetal of acetaldehyde with ethanol and leaf alcohol, cis-3-hexenol. JECFA describes a powerful, green, herbaceous odour.
What Leaf Acetal smells like
JECFA, as published by PubChem, describes acetaldehyde ethyl cis-3-hexenyl acetal as a colourless mobile liquid with a powerful, green, herbaceous odour. PubChem lists Leaf acetal among its synonyms. Zeon, which makes it, describes a powerful green, herbaceous-vegetable, oily odour, and Bedoukian, as Perflavory lists it, a leafy, green, vegetable-like note that adds a green top note and is stable to alkali.
- Leading note
- Green
- Clear facets
- Herbaceous
- Character
- Powerful, fresh
What makes Leaf Acetal distinctive
Leaf alcohol's green, carried by an acetal.
How Leaf Acetal is used
Bedoukian, as Perflavory lists it, describes it as adding a green top note and being stable to alkali, which suits it to soaps and other functional products as well as fine fragrance. Used for fresh green-leaf, herbaceous and vegetable-green effects.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend); lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top).
How Leaf Acetal differs from similar materials
- trans-2-Hexenal
- Leaf aldehyde is the sharp, crushed-leaf green; leaf acetal, built on leaf alcohol, is described simply as powerful, green and herbaceous.
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
- Green
- Note position
- Top note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Acetaldehyde ethyl cis-3-hexenyl acetal
- CAS number
- 28069-74-1
- Molecular formula
- C10H20O2
- Molecular weight
- 172.26 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (Z)-1-(1-ethoxyethoxy)hex-3-ene
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 5366352, 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 (222 reports): H226 flammable liquid and vapor (28.8% of reports). 158 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
-
cis-3-Hexenol
Aroma chemical · Green / Fruity — green, cut grass, leafy, fresh
-
cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate
Aroma chemical · Green / Fruity — green, fruity, unripe banana, fresh
-
trans-2-Hexenal
Aroma chemical · Green / Fruity — green, leafy, apple, sharp
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 4 published formulas
Leaf Acetal is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas and 2 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Leaf Acetal
Is Leaf Acetal natural or synthetic?
Leaf Acetal is synthetic — it is made by chemical synthesis.
What is the CAS number of Leaf Acetal?
28069-74-1. It was checked against PubChem on 24 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Leaf Acetal?
Leaf Acetal is used in 4 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Green Pod Theory, Ivy Accord and Lime Bruise. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 5366352, checked 24 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- PubChem — Acetaldehyde ethyl (Z)-3-hexenyl acetal (CID 5366352): JECFA organoleptic description — odour database.
- Zeon — Green leafacetal — manufacturer's description.
- Perflavory — leaf acetal — odour database.
- 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.