Benzaldehyde

Perfume and aroma. Benzaldehyde, a colourless to slightly yellowish liquid with the smell of bitter almonds. Benzaldehyde is derived from benzene. It is chemically and structurally closely related to benzoic acid. As a relevant alIergen it is represented in the epicutaneous test series"Fragrances and essential oils". Its allergenic potency is rather low. It has been described to cause urticarial contact allergies as well as anaphylactoid reactions.

Benzaldehyde causes the smell of almond kernels, plum and peach kernels. This smell is also present when crushing cherry laurel leaves.

1. Ludera-Zimoch G (1981) Case of urticaria with immediate local and generalized reaction to cinnamon oil and benzaldehyde. Przegl Dermatol 68: 67-70
2. Seite-Bellezza D et al (1994) Contact urticaria from cinnamic aldehydes and benzaldehydes in a confectioner. Contact dermatitis 31:272-273