Hydroxycitronellal (since 1905) in its most radiant form is Cyclosia® (which we also stock) but its cost puts it far out of budget for most perfumery projects. On the other hand, BASF produces a spectacular quality at a price that fits most budgets. Luxury fragrance houses frequently use the BASF version while Cyclosia® is relegated to speciality use as a showpiece in much the same way as we now use other treasures such as Rhodinol isolated from Bourbon Geranium and Geraniol ex Palmarosa. Today, Hydroxycitronellal remains one of the few elegant lily of the valley aldehydes that can be used in fairly generous amounts (up to 2.1% of the finished perfume) whilst retaining IFRA 51 compliance. Discovered around the same time as the orris / violet chemical Iralia, Hydroxycitronellal formed a substantial part of the midcentury masterpiece Muguet des Bois, the lily of the valley perfume and then base created by Henri Robert for Coty.
