Common Name(s): Cinnamic aldehyde,(e)-3-phenylpropenal,phenylacrolein
CAS Number: 104-55-2
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides the characteristic warm cinnamon fragrance note with antimicrobial activity.
Why It's Used: The cinnamon spice fragrance โ cinnamal defines the warm, sweet spice note of cinnamon essential oil widely used in fragrance compositions.
How It Works: Alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde provides antimicrobial via michael addition to bacterial thiol enzymes. inhibits quorum sensing. anti-inflammatory via nf-kb inhibition. antifungal vs candida.
Typically Found In: Spice fragrances,flavoured lip products,antimicrobial formulas
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Fragrance component โ cinnamon aldehyde
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.001%โ0.1%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required
Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Eu cosmetics regulation: declared fragrance allergen with restrictive ifra limits due to high sensitisation potential. max 0.01% leave-on skin per ifra category 4.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Cinnamal is one of the most potent cosmetic contact sensitisers known โ local lymph node assay (llna) ec3 values of 0.016% (requiring only 0.016% to induce sensitisation in 3% of test animals), making it approximately 100ร more potent as a sensitiser than cinnamyl alcohol. despite this, it remains in use under strict ifra concentration limits that keep exposure below sensitisation thresholds.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,ifra standards,rifm cinnamal safety assessment