citronellal

[si-truh-nel-al, -uhl]

noun

1. a colorless, slightly water-soluble liquid mixture of isometric aldehydes having the formula C 10 H 18 O, with a strong lemonlike odor, occurring in many essential oils, usually derived from lemon, citronella oil, and other oils: used chiefly as a flavoring agent and in the manufacture of perfume.

citronellal

/ ˌsɪtrəˈnɛlæl /

noun

1. Also called: rhodinal. a colourless slightly water-soluble liquid with a lemon-like odour, a terpene aldehyde found esp in citronella and certain eucalyptus oils: used as a flavouring and in soaps and perfumes. Formula: (CH 3 ) 2 C:CH(CH 2 ) 2 CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CHO

Word History and Origins

Origin of citronellal¹

First recorded in 1890–95; citronell(a) + -al ³

Example Sentences

Montell’s Current Biology study focused on a different bug deterrent: citronellal, the lemon-scented botanical chemical that is common in tiki torches and outdoor candles.

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Vapor containing citronellal repulses fruit flies in two very different ways, the researchers found.

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And the lemony-fresh molecule citronellal stinks in two very different ways, a study appearing the same day in Current Biology finds.

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When the researchers genetically interfered with either TRPA1 or the smell receptor, the flies no longer avoided citronellal, suggesting that both were required for the aversion.

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The oil contains some 90 per cent. limonene, together with nonyl alcohol, d-linalol, d-terpineol, citral, citronellal, decyl aldehyde, and methyl anthranilate.

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