This section provides an overview of citral, covering its manufacturing processes and regulatory status, and applications in food, fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, and nutrition industries. Also, please check out the introduction to citral manufacturers, supply chain issues, citral suppliers, and citral prices. Sinofi can help you buy citral at bulk wholesale prices based on FEMA 2303 and CAS 5392-40-5.
Table of Contents
What is Citral?
Citral is one of the most important and versatile flavouring compounds available to formulation engineers. As a naturally occurring aldehyde found abundantly in citrus oils and lemongrass, citral serves as the primary character-impact compound responsible for the distinctive lemon aroma that consumers universally recognise. Its significance extends beyond simple lemon flavouring, as it forms the aromatic backbone for a wide range of citrus-based flavour profiles and serves as a critical building block in more complex formulations. Citral has two geometric isomers: geranial and neral. Geranial, the trans-isomer, typically predominates in commercial citral and exhibits a stronger, more intense lemon character. Neral, the cis-isomer, presents a softer, somewhat sweeter citrus profile. The ratio of these isomers influences the overall sensory impression, and formulators should be aware that natural sources and synthetic grades may vary in their isomeric composition. Commercial citral typically contains both isomers in approximately a 60:40 ratio of geranial to neral. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), citral is approved to be used in the flavour, fragrance, and food industries.
Regulatory Status and Safety Considerations
Citral has been evaluated by major regulatory bodies like JECFA, RIFM, ECHACHEM, NIST, and WHO. It enjoys broad regulatory acceptance for use in foods and beverages worldwide. Citral is recognized as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under 21 CFR 182.60, and it appears on the FDA’s list of synthetic flavouring substances and adjuvants (21 CFR 172.515). In the European Union, citral is approved as a flavouring substance under Commission Implementing Regulation No 872/2012 and is listed in the Union List of flavourings. The fragrance standard of citral has been set by organizations such as IFRA.
Odor Threshold and Sensory Profile
Citral possesses an intense, fresh, lemon-like aroma that is immediately recognisable to most consumers. At full strength, it presents a powerful, somewhat harsh aldehydic top note that mellows into the characteristic citrus-lemon character. The odour threshold is remarkably low, typically reported at 0.003-0.032 ppm in water, making it an exceptionally potent flavouring material. In flavour applications, citral contributes a bright, clean lemon character with subtle herbaceous undertones. When evaluated in isolation, the flavour can appear somewhat chemical or harsh; however, when properly balanced within a formulation, it provides the essential lemon backbone that consumers expect. The taste profile includes mild sweetness alongside the predominant citrus-aldehydic notes.
Natural Occurrence
Citral occurs abundantly in nature, particularly in the essential oils of Cymbopogon species. Lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus) represents the primary commercial source, containing citral at concentrations between 70% and 85%. Litsea cubeba oil, sometimes called May Chang, also serves as an important source, with citral content reaching 70% to 80%. Other notable natural sources include lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), which can contain up to 90% citral, making it one of the richest known sources. Citrus peel oils contain citral in smaller quantities, typically 1% to 5%, where it contributes to their characteristic fresh top notes.
CAS No.: 5392-40-5
According to the American Chemical Society, the CAS number of citral is 5392-40-5.
CAS Name: Citral
Molecular Formula: C10H16O
Molecular Mass: 152.23
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow, clear liquid.
JECFA Number: 1225
Food Chemicals Codex Listed: Yes
Boiling Point: 228.00 to 229.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Solubility:
Soluble in: dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol. Slightly soluble in water, 1340 mg/L @ 25 °C.
Insoluble in glycerin.
Other Names:
♦ 2,6-Octadienal, 3,7-dimethyl-
♦ 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienal
♦ Lemsyn GB
♦ 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-al
♦ Lemarome N
♦ Citral PQ Extra
Citral Odor
Odor Strength: Medium.
Substantivity: 12 hours at 100.00 %.
Odor Description: At 100.00 %, lemon, citrus, powerful.
FEMA Number 2303
According to the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA), the FEMA number of citral is 2303.
Bulk Citral Manufacturers
The global citral production represents a dynamic and highly concentrated industry with significant implications for downstream sectors, including food, fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, and nutrition markets. Top citral manufacturers like BASF, Takasago, Symrise, Kuraray, NHU, and Wanhua stand as the undisputed global leaders in synthetic citral production. They operate a global production network comprising world-scale facilities. BASF maintains commanding market leadership but faces increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers, including Wanhua Chemical’s world-scale facility. Chinese citral manufacturers have invested substantially in dedicated facilities over the past fifteen years, achieving economies of scale that enable competitive pricing.
Sinofi is a bulk citral manufacturer in China, and we have a manufacturing facility with 2,500 square meters for the production of citral. We supply high-quality citral at bulk prices and serve food, fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, and nutrition industries worldwide.
Manufacturing Process of Citral
Citral manufacturing has evolved from natural extraction to sophisticated petrochemical synthesis, reflecting broader trends in industrial organic chemistry.
Natural Extraction Methods
Historically, citral was obtained through extraction from natural sources, particularly essential oils rich in this compound. Lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon species) contains 70–85% citral and remains a significant commercial source. Litsea cubeba oil, derived from the fruits of the May Chang tree, provides another natural citral source with concentrations reaching 70–75%. The extraction process typically involves steam distillation of plant material, followed by fractional distillation to concentrate citral. While natural extraction continues to supply a portion of the market, particularly for applications requiring natural-origin labeling, this method faces inherent limitations.
Synthetic Manufacturing Routes
The Acetylene-Based Process (Classical Method)
The acetylene-based synthesis route, developed in the mid-twentieth century, represented an early industrial approach to citral production. This method begins with the reaction of acetylene with acetone in the presence of a strong base, yielding 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (methylbutynol). Subsequent partial hydrogenation produces 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (isoprenol).
The isoprenol undergoes Claisen rearrangement when treated with orthoacetates, forming prenyl acetate derivatives. Further transformations through controlled oxidation and aldol-type reactions eventually yield citral.
The Isobutylene-Formaldehyde Route (Prins Reaction)
A more commercially successful approach employs the Prins reaction between isobutylene and formaldehyde. Under acidic conditions, this reaction produces isoprenol (3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol), which serves as the key C₅ building block for subsequent chain extension. Isoprenol is converted to prenol (3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol) through isomerization. The prenol then undergoes reaction with prenal (3-methyl-2-butenal) in an aldol condensation, generating the C₁₀ carbon skeleton required for citral. This aldol product requires careful dehydration and isomerization to afford citral with the appropriate geometric configuration.
The BASF Citral Process
BASF developed a highly integrated industrial process that has become the dominant method for large-scale citral production. This proprietary technology begins with isobutylene oxidation to methacrolein, followed by a series of transformations involving isoprenol chemistry. The BASF process employs a catalytic isomerization of methylbutenol to prenol, followed by reaction with methacrolein through a carefully controlled aldol condensation. The resulting intermediate undergoes Claisen rearrangement and subsequent transformations to yield citral with high efficiency. The integration of reaction steps and sophisticated catalyst systems enables this process to achieve favorable economics at world-scale production facilities.
Bulk Citral Suppliers
The bulk citral supply market offers numerous options for procurement professionals, ranging from global chemical giants with integrated operations to specialized regional producers focused on natural extraction. Top citral manufacturers like BASF, Takasago, Symrise, Kuraray, NHU, and Wanhua stand as the most significant players in the global citral market. Their scale, technical expertise, and commitment to sustainability position them as preferred partners for large-volume buyers seeking reliable long-term supply agreements. The Asia-Pacific region benefits from abundant natural resources for botanical extraction, competitive labor costs, lower energy expenses, and proximity to fast-growing consumer markets. Europe represents a mature market with established suppliers focused on quality, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. German companies BASF and Symrise lead regional production, emphasizing eco-friendly practices and transparent supply chains that meet stringent European Union regulations.
Sinofi is a bulk citral supplier in China, and we have a warehouse with 1,200 square meters for high-quality citral. We sell different grades of citral at wholesale prices, serving end-users in food, fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, and nutrition industries.
Supply Chain of Citral
The citral supply chain represents a complex, globally distributed system connecting petrochemical and agricultural raw materials with diverse end-use applications spanning fragrances, flavours, vitamins, and pharmaceuticals.
Supply Chain Structure
The value chain begins with raw material procurement, which differs significantly between natural and synthetic citral production pathways. For natural citral, this involves cultivating and harvesting citral-rich plants such as lemongrass and lemon myrtle. For synthetic citral, the chain starts with petrochemical feedstocks, primarily isobutene and formaldehyde, which undergo multi-step chemical synthesis processes.
Raw Material Suppliers: For natural citral, these include farmers and agricultural cooperatives cultivating lemongrass and other citral-rich botanicals in tropical regions. For synthetic citral, petrochemical companies supply the isobutene, formaldehyde, and other precursor chemicals required for synthesis.
Extraction and Purification Companies represent the second tier for natural citral production. These entities operate distillation and extraction facilities that process botanical raw materials to isolate citral.
Citral Manufacturers constitute the core of synthetic citral production. Global capacity is highly concentrated, with the top five manufacturers controlling more than 90% of worldwide output.
Derivative Manufacturers process citral into downstream products, including vitamins, menthol, geraniol, citronellol, linalool, and ionones. Many of the major citral producers maintain integrated operations that capture value across multiple derivative product lines.
Distributors and Trading Companies manage logistics, warehousing, and commercial relationships that connect manufacturers with diverse customer bases across different regions and industries.
End-Product Manufacturers represent the final link before consumers, incorporating citral and its derivatives into finished goods spanning fragrances, flavours, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products.
Wholesale and Buy Citral in Bulk
Successful wholesale citral procurement demands a balanced approach that weighs cost efficiency against quality assurance and supply security. Citral buyers should develop strong supplier relationships and maintain clear specifications so that they can ensure their organizations have reliable access to this important chemical at competitive prices.
Key Considerations for Bulk Procurement
When purchasing citral at wholesale volumes, several factors warrant careful evaluation. Purity specifications typically range from 95% to 99%, and the grade you select should align with your intended application. Food-grade citral requires higher purity and stricter regulatory compliance than industrial-grade material. You should request certificates of analysis with each shipment and establish clear specifications in your supply agreements. Pricing in the citral market fluctuates based on raw material availability, particularly lemongrass oil prices, as well as energy costs and seasonal demand patterns. Citral buyers should monitor these market dynamics and consider forward contracts or strategic inventory building when favorable pricing emerges.
Supplier Selection and Qualification
Identifying reliable wholesale suppliers requires thorough due diligence. Reputable citral manufacturers and distributors should demonstrate consistent quality records, adequate production capacity, and transparent sourcing practices.
As a bulk citral manufacturer and supplier in China, we wholesale this ingredient to end users in food, fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, and nutrition industries. We also supply citral to small customers. Normally, they want to buy citral in small quantities. To serve them, we can sell citral at bulk prices and provide a one-stop purchasing service.
Citral Prices (USD/Kg)
Food Grade Citral Prices (GC Content >=98%)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 9 USD | Express |
| 500g | 44 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 62 USD/Kg | Express |
| 20Kg | >25% cheaper | Express |
| 100Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
The citral pricing stands at an inflection point where oversupply conditions, regulatory transformation, and sustainability imperatives converge. Synthetic citral currently trades at approximately $20–70 USD per kg globally. However, if the order quantity reaches 10 tons or more, the citral price will be significantly lower. North American buyers typically pay 25-50% above Asian benchmark prices due to import duty and logistics costs, while European prices incorporate additional compliance costs under REACH regulations and stricter quality requirements. The July 2024 BASF Ludwigshafen incident—an organic solvent leak that caused an explosion at the company’s German production complex—triggered the year’s most dramatic price movement.
The price differential between natural and synthetic citral remains substantial. Synthetic citral, which accounts for approximately 98% of global production volume, establishes the market baseline. Natural citral extracted from lemongrass oil or Litsea cubeba commands a 40-100% premium, reflecting both constrained supply (natural sources yield only 0.02–0.04% citral by weight) and growing consumer preference for plant-derived ingredients.
Furthermore, the above citral price quotations do not include the express shipping fee. The reason is that the shipment cost may exceed the sample value of citral. However, the bulk wholesale prices of citral will be much lower than those of small orders. Please contact us for more details.
Citral Specification
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow, clear liquid. |
| Odor: | Lemon, citrus, powerful. |
| Purity (GC) | >=98%, Neral 35.0-40.0%, Geranial 60.0-64.0%. |
| Density (20°C) | 0.884-0.890 |
| Refractive index @ 20°C | 1.486-1.490 |
| Acid Value (mg KOH/g) | <=0.5 |
Citral Uses
Citral stands as a remarkably versatile compound whose applications span fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and chemical synthesis industries.
Fragrance and Flavour Applications
The fragrance industry represents one of the largest markets for citral. Its fresh, intense lemon scent makes it a foundational ingredient in perfumes, colognes, and scented products. Manufacturers incorporate citral into household products such as detergents, soaps, and air fresheners to impart clean, citrus notes that consumers associate with freshness and cleanliness.
In the flavour industry, citral is a key component in creating lemon and citrus profiles. Food and beverage manufacturers rely on citral to enhance the taste of soft drinks, confectionery, baked goods, and desserts.
Chemical Synthesis Intermediate
One of citral’s most significant industrial applications lies in its role as a starting material for synthesizing other valuable compounds. The production of vitamin A and its derivatives relies heavily on citral as a precursor. Given the global demand for vitamin A in nutritional supplements, fortified foods, and animal feed, this application represents a substantial portion of citral consumption. Citral also serves as the primary raw material for producing ionones like alpha-ionone and beta-ionone. These ionones, in turn, serve as intermediates in the synthesis of additional fragrance molecules and vitamins. The compound further enables the production of citronellol and geraniol, both of which are widely used in perfumery.
Cosmetics and Personal Care
The personal care sector uses citral extensively to formulate products that benefit from its aromatic properties. Shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and lotions frequently contain citral to provide appealing citrus fragrances. Beyond its olfactory contributions, citral exhibits mild antimicrobial properties that can support product preservation and skin health.
Citral Benefits
Citral delivers a spectrum of benefits ranging from the thoroughly established to the speculatively proposed. Its dual role as both a naturally derived ingredient and a chemical building block underscores its commercial significance.
Antimicrobial Benefits
One of citral’s most extensively studied benefits is its antimicrobial activity. Research has demonstrated that citral exhibits effectiveness against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Studies indicate that the compound disrupts microbial cell membranes, compromising their structural integrity and ultimately leading to cell death. This property makes citral particularly valuable in food preservation applications, where it can help extend shelf life while meeting consumer demand for natural ingredients.
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Citral has shown notable anti-inflammatory properties in various preclinical studies. The compound appears to modulate inflammatory pathways by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators such as nitric oxide and prostaglandins. These findings suggest potential applications in managing inflammatory conditions, though further clinical research is needed to establish therapeutic protocols for human use.
Antioxidant Benefits
Oxidative stress contributes to numerous health concerns, from accelerated aging to chronic disease development. Citral demonstrates meaningful antioxidant capacity, helping neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues. This characteristic makes the compound attractive for inclusion in skincare products aimed at combating signs of aging, as well as in functional foods and dietary supplements designed to support overall wellness.
Citral in E-Liquid and Vaping Products
As a key ingredient responsible for citrus and lemon notes in e-liquids, citral exemplifies broader scientific questions about the safety of inhaled flavouring chemicals originally approved only for food consumption.
Citral’s Role in E-Liquids
In the e-cigarette industry, citral serves as a foundational flavouring agent for products marketed with citrus, lemon, lime, orange, and tropical fruit profiles. E-liquid manufacturers use citral alongside other aldehydes such as benzaldehyde (cherry), cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon), and vanillin (vanilla) to create the diverse flavour palette that has become a defining characteristic of the vaping market. Research has identified citrus-flavoured e-liquids as among the most popular categories, particularly with younger users who are often drawn to fruit and sweet flavours.
Regulatory Considerations
The regulatory landscape for e-cigarette flavourings remains challenging. In Europe, the European Tobacco Products Directive allows e-liquid manufacturers to legally use thousands of flavouring chemicals. In the United States, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act regulates e-cigarettes as tobacco products. E-cigarettes may have potential benefits for adult smokers seeking alternatives to combustible cigarettes, but they are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women.
A Fragrance Base with Bitter Orangeflower Scent
Include the following ingredients (percentage by weight):
First fragrance component:
Trans-2-hexenal, 0.03; Limonene, 1.8; cis-3-Hexenyl acetate, 0.03; Citronellal, 0.08; Alpha-terpineol, 0.08; Citral, 2.5.
Second fragrance component:
Linalool, 25; Nerol, 1; Geraniol, 1; Neryl acetate, 0.03; Indole, 1; Methyl anthranilate, 2.5; Jasmine ketone, 3.
Third fragrance and fixative components:
Anisyl acetone, 0.2; Nerolidol, 8; Benzyl salicylate, 0.2; Benzyl benzoate, 33.55.
Solvent:
Dipropylene glycol, 20.
Total: 100
In conclusion, citral is a naturally occurring compound that has garnered significant attention across the food, fragrance, flavour, pharmaceutical, and nutrition industries. As a bulk citral manufacturer and supplier in China, we offer various grades of citral at wholesale prices to clients worldwide.