This section provides an overview of Aldehyde C-16 (Strawberry Aldehyde or Ethyl methylphenylglycidate), covering its manufacturing processes and regulatory status, applications in food, fragrance, flavour, and personal care industries. Also, please check out the introduction to aldehyde C-16 manufacturers, supply chain issues, aldehyde C-16 suppliers, and aldehyde C-16 prices. Sinofi can help you buy strawberry aldehyde C-16 at bulk wholesale prices based on FEMA 2444 and CAS 77-83-8.
Table of Contents
What is Aldehyde C-16?
Aldehyde C-16, the industry designation for ethyl methylphenylglycidate, represents one of the most commercially significant aroma chemicals employed in modern flavour and fragrance formulation. Despite its nomenclature suggesting an aldehyde functional group, this compound is structurally classified as a glycidic ester, containing both an epoxide (oxirane) ring and an ethyl ester moiety. The trade name “strawberry aldehyde” reflects its characteristic sensory profile rather than its chemical classification, a historical convention that persists throughout the industry alongside similar misnomers, including aldehyde C-14 (gamma-undecalactone, peach) and aldehyde C-18 (gamma-nonalactone, coconut). The IUPAC designation of aldehyde C-16 is ethyl 3-methyl-3-phenylglycidate, reflecting the presence of the three-membered epoxide ring bearing both methyl and phenyl substituents alongside the ethyl ester functionality. The molecular structure contains two chiral centres at the C-2 and C-3 positions of the oxirane ring, giving rise to four possible stereoisomers comprising two pairs of enantiomers corresponding to the cis (erythro) and trans (threo) diastereomeric forms. Commercial material exists as a racemic mixture of all four stereoisomers, with the cis/trans ratio varying depending on the synthetic conditions employed during manufacture. Each stereoisomer contributes distinct olfactory characteristics, and the combined mixture delivers the complex sensory profile associated with commercial Aldehyde C-16. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), aldehyde C-16 is approved to be used in the flavour, fragrance, and food industries.
Regulatory Status and Safety Considerations
Aldehyde C-16 has been evaluated by major regulatory bodies like JECFA, EFSA, RIFM, ECHACHEM, NIST, and WHO. It is approved for use as a flavouring substance in most major markets. It is listed as a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substance in the United States, and the European Union also includes the compound on its list of flavouring substances permitted for use in foods under Commission Implementing Regulation No 872/2012. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has established acceptable intake parameters supporting safe use. The compound holds FEMA GRAS number 2444. The fragrance standard of aldehyde C-16 has been set by organizations such as IFRA.
Odor Threshold and Sensory Profile
The sensory profile of Aldehyde C-16 defines its value proposition for formulators and warrants detailed characterisation to support effective application.
The primary olfactory impression is intensely sweet and fruity, immediately recognizable as strawberry to most evaluators. This strawberry character encompasses not merely generic fruitiness but specifically the jammy, slightly cooked fruit quality that distinguishes authentic strawberry perception from other berry notes. The sweetness presents as full and rounded rather than sharp or acidic, contributing body and richness to compositions.
Secondary characteristics include subtle creamy undertones that add depth and smoothness to the overall impression. These creamy facets harmonize particularly well with dairy-based applications and gourmand fragrance compositions. Mild honey-like nuances provide additional warmth and naturalness, while faint phenolic hints at higher concentrations connect the material to its aromatic ring-bearing molecular structure.
In strawberry formulations, aldehyde C-16 provides the essential fruity-sweet backbone that consumers associate with the fruit. It works synergistically with other key strawberry components such as gamma-decalactone, furaneol, ethyl butyrate, and cis-3-hexenol to create a complete and authentic strawberry impression.
CAS No.: 77-83-8
According to the American Chemical Society, the CAS number of aldehyde C-16 is 77-83-8.
CAS Name: Ethyl 3-methyl-3-phenylglycidate
Molecular Formula: C12H14O3
Molecular Mass: 206.24
Appearance: Colorless to light yellow, clear liquid
JECFA Number: 1577
Food Chemicals Codex Listed: Yes
Boiling Point: 257.00 to 258.00 °C. @ 755.00 mm Hg
Solubility: Insoluble in water, glycerol; Soluble in propylene glycol, fixed oils.
Other Names:
♦ Aldehyde C16
♦ Ethyl methylphenylglycidate
♦ Strawberry aldehyde
♦ Ethyl 3-methyl-3-phenylglycidate
♦ Ethyl 3-methyl-3-phenyloxirane-2-carboxylate
♦ Strawberry Pure
Aldehyde C-16 Odor
Odor Strength: Medium
Substantivity: 241 hours at 100.00 %.
Odor Description: Sweet, fruity strawberry, floral honey.
FEMA Number 2444
According to the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA), the FEMA number of aldehyde C-16 is 2444.
Bulk Aldehyde C-16 Manufacturers
The bulk aldehyde C-16 manufacturing landscape reflects broader trends reshaping the aroma chemicals industry. Top aldehyde C-16 manufacturers like Givaudan and Lluch Essence have established benchmark quality standards and influence global pricing dynamics. China has emerged as a significant manufacturing hub for aldehyde C-16, supported by robust industrial infrastructure and expanding domestic demand for perfumes, cosmetics, and processed foods.
Sinofi is a bulk aldehyde C-16 manufacturer in China, and we have a manufacturing facility with 2,500 square meters for the production of ethyl methylphenylglycidate. We supply high-quality aldehyde C-16 at bulk prices and serve food, fragrance, flavour, and personal care industries worldwide.
Manufacturing Process of Aldehyde C-16
The manufacture of aldehyde C-16 exemplifies the application of classical organic chemistry to industrial aroma chemical production.
The Darzens Condensation: Primary Synthetic Route
The Darzens condensation, also known as the glycidic ester condensation, serves as the principal industrial method for manufacturing ethyl methylphenylglycidate.
The overall transformation can be represented as:
Acetophenone + Ethyl Chloroacetate → Ethyl Methylphenylglycidate + HCl
C₆H₅COCH₃ + ClCH₂COOC₂H₅ → C₆H₅C(CH₃)(O)CHCOOC₂H₅ + HCl
Bulk Aldehyde C-16 Suppliers
The global supplier landscape for bulk aldehyde C-16 offers industrial buyers substantial choice across geographic regions, supplier types, and service models. Top aldehyde C-16 suppliers like Givaudan and Lluch Essence offer aroma chemicals with manufacturer traceability. China has emerged as a major manufacturing and supply hub for ethyl methylphenylglycidate, with numerous companies offering aldehyde C-16 in bulk quantities.
Sinofi is a bulk aldehyde C-16 supplier in China, and we have a warehouse with 1,200 square meters for high-quality ethyl methylphenylglycidate. We sell different grades of aldehyde C-16 at wholesale prices, serving end-users in food, fragrance, flavour, and personal care industries.
Supply Chain of Aldehyde C-16
The Aldehyde C-16 supply chain represents a complex global network connecting upstream petrochemical feedstocks with downstream consumer products through multiple intermediate transformation and distribution stages.
Supply Chain Structure Overview
The aldehyde C-16 supply chain operates through a multi-tiered structure connecting upstream raw material suppliers with downstream end-product manufacturers.
Raw Material Suppliers
The foundation of the aldehyde C-16 supply chain rests upon suppliers of the two primary chemical feedstocks required for synthesis: acetophenone and ethyl chloroacetate.
Aldehyde C-16 Manufacturers
The manufacturing tier comprises companies that synthesise ethyl methylphenylglycidate from primary raw materials through the Darzens condensation reaction. This tier exhibits significant diversity in terms of company size, geographic location, production capacity, and market orientation.
Distributors and Trading Companies
The distribution tier performs essential functions connecting manufacturers with diverse customer segments that differ in volume requirements, service expectations, and geographic locations. Global chemical distributors, including Brenntag, Univar Solutions, and IMCD, maintain extensive networks of warehouses and sales offices, enabling broad geographic coverage. Speciality flavour and fragrance distributors focus specifically on the flavour and fragrance industry, offering deeper technical expertise and more tailored service models than general chemical distributors. Regional trading companies provide market access in specific geographic areas, particularly in emerging markets where direct manufacturer presence may be limited.
Flavour and Fragrance Compounders
The compounding tier transforms individual aroma chemicals, including aldehyde C-16, into finished flavour and fragrance compositions for specific end-product applications.
Wholesale and Buy Aldehyde C-16 in Bulk
Wholesale and bulk purchasing of aldehyde C-16 presents procurement professionals with meaningful opportunities for cost optimisation and value creation while requiring systematic attention to quality assurance, supplier management, and risk mitigation. The global supplier landscape offers diverse options spanning direct manufacturer relationships, distributor partnerships, and trading company arrangements across multiple geographic regions.
Identifying Wholesale Suppliers
Procurement managers seeking wholesale aldehyde C-16 supply should develop a comprehensive view of available suppliers across different categories and geographic regions. Specialised aroma chemical manufacturers represent the primary source for bulk material. These companies synthesise ethyl methylphenylglycidate through the Darzens condensation process and offer merchant sales to the broader market.
Evaluating Wholesale Suppliers
Systematic supplier evaluation ensures that wholesale purchasing decisions optimize total value rather than merely minimizing unit price. Aldehyde C-16 buyers should assess potential suppliers against multiple criteria reflecting organisational priorities and risk tolerance. Quality assurance capabilities represent the foundational evaluation criterion.
As a bulk aldehyde C-16 manufacturer and supplier in China, we wholesale this ingredient to end users in the food, fragrance, flavour, and personal care industries. We also supply ethyl methylphenylglycidate to small customers. Normally, they want to buy aldehyde C-16 in small quantities. To serve them, we can sell aldehyde C-16 at bulk prices and provide a one-stop purchasing service.
Aldehyde C-16 Prices (USD/Kg)
Food Grade Aldehyde C-16 Prices (GC Content >=98%)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 7 USD | Express |
| 500g | 31 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 45 USD/Kg | Express |
| 20Kg | >20% cheaper | Express |
| 100Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
Bulk pricing for aldehyde C-16 ranges from $25/kg to $60/kg, while small quantities command $95-200/kg. Ethyl methylphenylglycidate is essential to strawberry flavour profiles across food, fragrance, and personal care, faces pricing pressure from dominant Chinese manufacturing, while regulatory costs and supply chain factors push Western-sourced material higher. For aldehyde C-16 buyers, multi-sourcing strategies and volume commitments offer the clearest path to cost optimization.
Furthermore, the above aldehyde C-16 price quotations do not include the express shipping fee. The reason is that the shipment cost may exceed the sample value of aldehyde C-16. However, the bulk wholesale prices of aldehyde C-16 will be much lower than those of small orders. Please contact us for more details.
Aldehyde C-16 Specification
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow, clear liquid. |
| Odor: | Sweet, fruity strawberry, floral honey. |
| cis Isomer (GC, %) | 36 – 48 |
| trans Isomer (GC, %) | 50 – 62 |
| Total Isomers (GC, %) | >= 98 |
| Density (20°C) | 1.0890 – 1.0960 |
| Refractive index @ 20°C | 1.5040 – 1.5070 |
| Acid Value (mg KOH/g) | <=1.0 |
Aldehyde C-16 Uses
The versatility of Aldehyde C-16 across diverse application categories has established it as an indispensable ingredient for flavourists and perfumers worldwide.
Food and Beverage Applications
The food and beverage industry represents the primary consumption market for aldehyde C-16, where it serves as a foundational component in artificial and nature-identical strawberry flavourings.
Confectionery Products
Confectionery applications account for substantial aldehyde C-16 consumption, where the compound delivers the characteristic strawberry note consumers expect in fruit-flavoured sweets. Hard candies, soft candies, gummies, jellies, and chewing gum formulations routinely incorporate strawberry flavours built upon aldehyde C-16 as the primary character-defining ingredient.
Dairy Products
Dairy applications represent another major consumption category for aldehyde C-16, where it contributes to strawberry-flavoured yoghurts, ice creams, frozen desserts, flavoured milk beverages, and dairy-based desserts. The compound’s creamy undertones complement dairy matrices particularly well, creating harmonious flavour profiles that consumers perceive as authentic and appealing.
Bakery Products
Bakery applications employ aldehyde C-16 in strawberry-flavoured fillings, icings, glazes, and baked goods. Fruit-filled pastries, strawberry-flavoured cakes, cookies, and sweet breads incorporate flavour systems containing this compound to deliver the expected strawberry sensory experience.
Beverages
Beverage applications span carbonated soft drinks, still beverages, juice drinks, flavoured waters, alcoholic beverages, and beverage concentrates. Strawberry-flavoured sodas, fruit punch formulations, and berry-blend beverages incorporate aldehyde C-16 within their flavour systems to deliver consumer-expected strawberry notes.
Fine Fragrance Applications
The fine fragrance industry employs aldehyde C-16 as a valuable tool for perfumers seeking to incorporate fruity, gourmand, and berry notes into their compositions.
Fruity Floral Compositions
Fruity floral fragrances, among the most commercially successful fragrance families, frequently incorporate aldehyde C-16 to deliver the berry and red fruit facets that define this category. The compound contributes sweetness, juiciness, and youthful freshness that complement floral heart notes, including rose, peony, and jasmine.
Gourmand Fragrances
The gourmand fragrance category, characterised by edible, dessert-like qualities, provides a natural context for aldehyde C-16’s sweet, jammy character. Fragrances evoking strawberry shortcake, berry desserts, candy, and confectionery experiences employ this compound to deliver authentic food-evocative impressions.
Personal Care Applications
Personal care products represent a substantial consumption category for aldehyde C-16, which contributes to fragrance systems designed to enhance the consumer experience and product appeal. The compound’s favourable safety profile at typical use concentrations supports application across diverse personal care categories.
Speciality and Industrial Applications
Beyond mainstream consumer product applications, aldehyde C-16 is used in various speciality and industrial contexts where its sensory properties provide functional or commercial benefits.
Tobacco Products
Tobacco flavouring applications occasionally employ aldehyde C-16 within fruit-flavoured tobacco and vapour products where strawberry notes are desired. These applications face increasing regulatory scrutiny in many jurisdictions, affecting usage patterns and market access.
Usage Levels
Typical usage levels vary substantially across applications, reflecting differences in matrix composition, sensory objectives, and regulatory constraints. In finished flavour compounds, Aldehyde C-16 typically represents 0.5% to 5% of the composition, depending on the flavour profile and intensity requirements. In finished consumer products, concentrations generally range from 1 to 20 parts per million, though specific levels depend on the application category and the desired sensory impact.
Aldehyde C-16 Benefits
Aldehyde C-16 delivers a comprehensive package of benefits spanning sensory performance, technical functionality, economic value, regulatory compliance, and application versatility.
Sensory and Olfactory Benefits
The primary value proposition of aldehyde C-16 lies in its exceptional sensory characteristics, which enable immediate recognition and consumer appeal across global markets.
Authentic Strawberry Character
Aldehyde C-16 provides an intensely sweet, fruity aroma that consumers immediately recognize as strawberry. The compound delivers the essential strawberry identity that defines the product’s positioning and meets consumer expectations established over decades of market presence.
High Sensory Impact
The compound demonstrates exceptional olfactory potency, delivering recognisable strawberry character at remarkably low concentrations. This high sensory impact means that small quantities produce substantial effects, enabling formulators to achieve desired outcomes while maintaining ingredient efficiency.
Technical and Formulation Benefits
Beyond sensory characteristics, aldehyde C-16 offers technical advantages that simplify formulation development and support reliable manufacturing operations.
Thermal Stability
Aldehyde C-16 demonstrates acceptable stability under the elevated temperatures encountered in many manufacturing processes. Confectionery cooking, bakery processing, hot-fill beverage operations, and candle manufacturing all expose ingredients to thermal stress that can degrade sensitive aroma chemicals. It survives these processes with acceptable retention, enabling effective flavour and fragrance delivery in finished products.
Formulation Compatibility
Aldehyde C-16 demonstrates broad compatibility with typical flavour and fragrance ingredients, avoiding problematic interactions that could compromise stability or sensory performance. This compatibility extends to common diluents, solvents, fixatives, and co-ingredients encountered across mainstream formulation practice.
Aldehyde C-16 in E-Liquid and Vaping Products
Aldehyde C-16, the commercial designation for ethyl methylphenylglycidate, is used in the electronic cigarette and vaping industry as a flavouring component in e-liquid formulations. Known colloquially as strawberry aldehyde, this glycidic ester delivers the characteristic sweet, fruity strawberry note that ranks among the most popular flavour profiles in the global vaping market.
Functional Characteristics in Vaping Applications
Aldehyde C-16 exhibits several functional characteristics that support its use in e-liquid formulations, though these characteristics manifest differently in inhalation contexts than in traditional food or fragrance applications.
Sensory Contribution
The compound provides the intense, sweet strawberry character that defines strawberry-flavoured e-liquids. Users perceive this flavour through both orthonasal olfaction during inhalation and retronasal olfaction during exhalation, creating a complete sensory experience that contributes to product satisfaction. The compound’s high sensory impact enables effective flavour delivery at relatively low concentrations, which carries significance for both formulation economics and safety considerations.
The creamy, jammy undertones characteristic of aldehyde C-16 complement the inherent sweetness of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine bases, creating harmonious flavour profiles without requiring extensive supporting ingredients. This characteristic simplifies formulation development while delivering consumer-acceptable results.
Solubility and Miscibility
Aldehyde C-16 demonstrates excellent solubility in propylene glycol, the primary flavour-carrying component of most e-liquid formulations. This solubility enables straightforward incorporation without requiring specialised solubilisation approaches or risking phase separation that could compromise product stability or device performance.
Regulatory Landscape
The regulatory framework governing flavoured vaping products has evolved substantially in recent years, with significant implications for Aldehyde C-16 use in this application category. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, as amended by the 2016 deeming rule. This regulatory classification subjects e-liquids to premarket authorisation requirements, meaning that manufacturers must demonstrate that products are “appropriate for the protection of public health” to receive marketing authorisation. The European Union regulates e-cigarettes and e-liquids under the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which establishes requirements for product notification, ingredient disclosure, packaging, and labelling. The TPD requires that e-liquid ingredients, other than nicotine, should not pose a risk to human health in heated or unheated form.
A Production Method of Kyoho Grape Flavour
Include the following ingredients (by weight, total 1000g):
First, add 1.2g N-acetyl anthranilate, 3.5g ethyl maltol, and 6.92g furanone into 200g propylene glycol, heat to 80℃, wait until the solid is completely dissolved, and cool it to room temperature.
Then 40g ethyl acetate, 64g ethyl propionate, 30.8g propyl acetate, 44g ethyl butyrate, 1g ethyl crotonate, 0.2g cinnamyl propionate, 2g cinnamyl alcohol, 0.35g phenylethyl isobutyrate, 0.35g ethyl phenylacetate, 0.66g beta-damascone, 1.85g cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate, 1g aldehyde C-16, 0.1g styraxyl alcohol, 2.8g citronellyl acetate, 0.3g citronellol, 1.78g styraxyl acetate, 0.1g geranyl acetate, 0.1g linalyl acetate, 3.5g methyl anthranilate, 0.42g ethyl caproate, 0.12g ethyl caprylate, 0.15g ethyl caprate, 5g acetic acid .8g, 4g propionic acid, 2g caproic acid, 5g butyric acid, 1.55g linalool, 1.4g cis-3-hexenyl acetate, 1g cis-3-hexenol, 0.25g cis-3-hexenyl hexanoate, 0.6g cis-3-hexenyl isobutyrate, 0.5g trans-2-hexenal, 0.2g butanol, and 3.5g 3-hydroxy-2-butanone are added and mixed, and finally 567g ethanol is added and stirred evenly to obtain Kyoho grape flavour.
In conclusion, aldehyde C-16 represents a strategically important aroma chemical for organizations operating in the food, flavour, fragrance, and consumer products industries. As a bulk aldehyde C-16 manufacturer and supplier in China, we sell different grades of aldehyde C-16 at wholesale prices to clients around the world.