✦ Synthetic aroma chemical with a fresh, dewy green and hyacinth-like scent — a foundational floral building block used globally
✦ Stabilized acetal form of phenylacetaldehyde offering greater formulation stability and more controlled, gradual scent release
✦ Essential ingredient for hyacinth, lily of the valley, narcissus, and green floral accords in both fine and functional fragrance
✦ Enhances diffusion and adds transparent green top notes to perfumes, attars, and rinse-off functional products
✦ Highly potent at very low use levels — significant olfactory impact at just 0.1 to 0.5% in finished products
✦ Vegan and cruelty-free synthetic aroma chemical with no animal-derived components
✦ Compatible with perfumer's alcohol, DPG, IPM, fractionated coconut oil, and most standard fragrance carriers

PADMA, short for Phenyl Acetaldehyde Dimethyl Acetal, is a synthetic aroma chemical developed to provide perfumers with a stable and refined alternative to phenylacetaldehyde. Phenylacetaldehyde occurs naturally in roses, strawberries, tomatoes, and several floral absolutes and has been used in classical perfumery for over a century. However, the free aldehyde form is volatile, prone to oxidation, and can be harsh at higher concentrations. Chemists resolved this by converting it to the dimethyl acetal form — producing PADMA, a material with a gentler, greener, and more transparent floral character that behaves reliably in complex fragrance compositions.

What makes PADMA especially valuable is its dual character as both a top note contributor and a floral diffuser. At very low doses it delivers a clean, watery-green quality reminiscent of freshly crushed hyacinth petals and rain-dampened stems. At slightly higher doses it develops a rounder, more recognizable floral presence. PADMA also offers excellent sillage relative to its use level, making it a practical choice for detergent fragrances, fabric care, and functional perfumery where cost efficiency matters alongside scent performance.

Bio Shop Pakistan supplies cosmetic-grade Phenyl Acetaldehyde Dimethyl Acetal (PADMA) suitable for DIY perfumers, professional fragrance blenders, cosmetic product developers, and home care formulators across Pakistan.

SCENT DESCRIPTION
PADMA opens with a bright, dewy green freshness that immediately evokes freshly cut hyacinth stems and rain-dampened garden foliage. The core character is a clean floral-green with a watery transparency that reads as light, airy, and faintly waxy. As it develops on skin, a soft rosy-green facet emerges, lending the note a classical floral elegance without heaviness. The overall impression is of a living garden just after morning rain — lifted, transparent, and unmistakably fresh.

NOTE POSITION : Top to Mid

FRAGRANCE FAMILY : Green Floral · Aldehydic Floral · Aquatic Green

FACETS : Hyacinth · Green · Watery · Dewy · Waxy

TENACITY : Low to Medium — 2 to 4 hours on skin

SILLAGE : Medium — diffuses generously in alcohol at low doses; dissipates cleanly without a heavy trail

Chemical Name : (2,2-Dimethoxyethyl)benzene
Phenylacetaldehyde Dimethyl Acetal
CAS Number : 101-48-4
Synonyms : Dimethyl Phenylacetal · Benzeneacetaldehyde Dimethyl Acetal · Hyacinth Acetal · PADMA
Purity : ≥98%
Appearance : Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Threshold : Approximately 0.005 – 0.01 ppm
Solubility : Freely soluble in ethanol, DPG, and IPM — practically insoluble in water
Specific Gravity : 1.005 – 1.010 at 20°C
Flash Point : Approximately 78°C (172°F) — closed cup
Type : Synthetic aroma chemical

Fine Fragrance ★★★★★
PADMA is a natural fit for fine fragrance where its green hyacinth character is most appreciated. It works exceptionally well in floral, chypre, and green bouquet structures, contributing diffusivity and opening transparency. Even at 0.1 to 0.3% in an EDP it noticeably lifts the opening and adds a dewy living-flower quality.

Attar & Oriental Blending ★★★★
In attar and oriental compositions, PADMA introduces a refreshing green contrast to heavier base materials such as oud, sandalwood, and musks. It is particularly effective in floral attars built around rose or jasmine, where it adds a cool stemmy freshness. Use sparingly — the material can overpower warmer oriental structures if overdosed.

Functional Fragrance ★★★★★
PADMA is a workhorse in functional perfumery, especially detergent, fabric care, and surface cleaning products. Its strong sillage at economical use levels combined with its fresh green identity makes it excellent for conveying cleanliness. It is cost-effective and highly diffusive in both rinse-off and leave-on functional applications.

Cosmetics ★★★
PADMA can be used in leave-on cosmetics such as creams and lotions at low levels but requires careful pH management to prevent acetal hydrolysis. It is less common in color cosmetics and should be evaluated for stability in each specific formula before use. Stability trials and patch testing are recommended before commercial production.

Home Fragrance ★★★★
In reed diffusers and room sprays, PADMA delivers a bright, clean green note that refreshes living spaces effectively. It performs well in candles at controlled levels, contributing diffusion and a fresh garden character. Its inherent volatility makes it better suited to top-note blending in home fragrance rather than as a lasting base material.

Recommended Usage Rates

APPLICATION : RATE
EDP : 0.2 – 0.5%
EDT : 0.1 – 0.3%
Body Lotion : 0.05 – 0.1%
Shampoo/Body Wash : 0.05 – 0.08%
Candle : 0.1 – 0.3%
Reed Diffuser : 0.3 – 0.8%
Soap (Bar) : 0.05 – 0.1%

IFRA 51st Amendment Status

PADMA (CAS 101-48-4) is not listed as a restricted or prohibited material in the IFRA 51st Amendment as a standalone ingredient. As an acetal precursor, formulators should be aware that hydrolysis can release free phenylacetaldehyde under acidic or alkaline conditions, which carries its own sensitization profile at elevated concentrations.

⚠️ Always verify current IFRA compliance status with your supplier before commercial production.
⚠️ For leave-on products, use conservative rates and conduct stability testing to confirm acetal integrity throughout shelf life.
⚠️ Do not apply neat to skin — always use in a diluted, finished formulation.

Method 1 — Direct Dilution in Perfumer's Alcohol
Dissolve PADMA directly in perfumer's alcohol at 0.1 to 0.5% before incorporating into your fragrance concentrate. Because it is highly potent, pre-diluting to a 10% solution in ethanol first allows for precise measuring and even distribution throughout the formula.

Method 2 — Accord Building in Carrier Oil
For attars or oil-based fragrances, first dilute PADMA in DPG or fractionated coconut oil to a 10% pre-dilution. Then blend with phenylethyl alcohol and linalool to build a hyacinth or fresh green floral accord. This approach gives precise control over the green freshness intensity before introducing heavier base materials.

Method 3 — Functional Fragrance Blending
For detergent or home care fragrances, combine PADMA with citrus top notes, light musks, and ozonic materials to create a clean laundry or surface-care accord. Its sillage in rinse-off applications is exceptional — even at 0.05% it registers clearly as a diffusion booster and freshness contributor.

Best Pairings

Phenylethyl Alcohol → Creates a classic rose-hyacinth accord with dewy floral depth
Hydroxycitronellal → Adds lily-like sweetness and amplifies the fresh living-flower character
Linalool → Softens the green edge and introduces lavender-floral balance
Hedione → Amplifies diffusion and adds transparent jasmine warmth to the blend
Lilial (BMT) → Reinforces fresh-cut floral quality — ideal for muguet and snowdrop accords
Geraniol → Adds a rosy-green dimension for rose-hyacinth and garden compositions
Iso E Super → Grounds the green character and adds an elegant woody dry-down

Avoid

Avoid combining PADMA at elevated concentrations with strongly acidic or alkaline raw materials as this promotes hydrolysis of the acetal bond and degrades scent quality. Do not use neat on skin. Avoid direct addition to high-pH cold-process soap bases without thorough stability testing beforehand.

There is something quietly powerful about PADMA that beginners consistently underestimate. It does not announce itself the way rose oxide or calone does — instead it infiltrates a composition gently, adding a crisp, living green quality that makes every floral it touches feel freshly cut and immediate. I use it not to construct a hyacinth fragrance specifically, but to make any floral bouquet feel as though it was placed in a glass of cold water moments before you smelled it. That cool, stemmy transparency is nearly impossible to achieve without it, and you will notice its absence the second you remove it from a trial strip.

ADVANCED TIP
Pre-dilute PADMA at 1% in phenylethyl alcohol — that is 1 part PADMA to 99 parts PEA. Build your floral accord around this pre-blend rather than adding PADMA directly to the formula. The PEA will bloom with a subtle green hyacinth nuance that is far more cohesive and natural-smelling than treating the two materials separately. This technique creates a seamless green-rosy opening that reads as a single living flower rather than a combination of chemicals.

Physical State : Clear liquid at room temperature
Skin Safety : Use at recommended rates only — avoid prolonged neat skin contact
Eye Contact : Irritant — avoid direct contact; flush immediately with clean water if exposure occurs
Ingestion : Not for internal use — keep out of reach of children at all times
Ventilation : Use in a well-ventilated workspace — avoid prolonged inhalation of concentrated vapors
Storage : Store in a tightly sealed container away from heat, direct light, and moisture
Shelf Life : 24 to 36 months when stored correctly in a sealed original container
Container : Dark glass or HDPE — avoid reactive metals and PET plastic for long-term storage
Flammability : Combustible liquid — flash point approximately 78°C — keep away from open flame and sparks

Q: What does PADMA smell like?
A: PADMA has a fresh, green, and hyacinth-like scent with a dewy, watery character. It is transparent and lifted — not sweet or heavy like many florals.

Q: What percentage should I use PADMA at in a perfume?
A: Start at 0.1 to 0.2% in your total formula. PADMA is very potent — even 0.3% in an EDP creates a clearly defined green hyacinth opening.

Q: Can I use PADMA in cold-process soap?
A: Yes, but with caution. Alkaline pH in cold-process soap promotes hydrolysis of the acetal bond, which reduces scent intensity. Use at 0.05 to 0.1% and always test stability before scaling.

Q: Is PADMA restricted under IFRA standards?
A: PADMA (CAS 101-48-4) is not listed as a restricted material in the IFRA 51st Amendment as a standalone ingredient. Always verify current standards with your supplier before any commercial production.

Q: How does PADMA compare to phenylacetaldehyde — the free aldehyde?
A: Phenylacetaldehyde is sharper, more pungent, and far less stable — it oxidizes quickly and can be harsh and even unpleasant at higher doses. PADMA is the refined, controlled version: it releases phenylacetaldehyde gradually, producing a softer and greener floral note with better shelf stability and easier handling in formulation.