Guide to Vanillin and Ethyl Vanillin Content in Fragrance Oils

What does Vanillin and Ethyl Vanillin content in fragrance oils mean? Is it important for candle-making?

Vanillin is one of the components that contribute to the distinct aroma of vanilla. It is an organic crystal that forms on the outside of the vanilla bean. The demand for vanilla flavoring has always outweighed the possible supply. Most, but not all, Vanillin is synthetically produced.

Ethyl Vanillin is a synthetic chemical that is similar in structure to Vanillin. Ethyl Vanillin is three times stronger in potency than Vanillin, but it is slightly different with regard to the note.

Fragrance oils that contain Vanillin or Ethyl Vanillin will oxidize faster than fragrance oils that do not contain this ingredient. Oxidation causes the fragrance oils to become darker in color over time. To some candlemakers and soapmakers, this isn't a big deal if you are using dye in your candles or soap or if you want to achieve a darker color naturally. However, if you are not using dye and want your candles and soap to stay light in color, this could be a problem over time. The darker color could show up after only a week of your candles or soap curing or it could take much longer. It just depends on the chemistry of the specific products you are using. Having your finished product appear darker in color does not affect its scent throw, it is simply important for the appearance you are trying to achieve.

Fragrance oils that are higher in Vanillin content may also crystalize when the weather is colder. The Vanillin portion of the fragrance will appear as small white crystals. All that needs to be done is to put the tightly sealed fragrance bottle in very warm water and the crystals will melt and mix back into the fragrance oil. The integrity of the fragrance is not compromised; it simply separates if the temperature gets too cold.

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Almond	None
Almond Cake	10%
Amaretto	4.20%
Amber Romance (type)	1.90%
Amber Vanilla	1.70%
Angel Wings	2.60%
Apple Blossom	None
Apple Chai	11.48%
Apple Cinnamon	0.58%
Apple Hot Baked Pie	0.40%
Apple Jack N Peel	0.51%
Apple Pumpkin Butter	5.70%
Apple Slices	None
Apple Strudel	0.60%
Arugula	None
Aspen Woods	0.02%
Autumn Harvest	None
Autumn Lodge (type)	4.40%
Autumn Pear	1.70%
Baby Powder	2.01%
Baja Cactus Blossom (type)	0.38%
Balsam & Cedar (type)	None
Banana Nut Bread	5.20%
Banana Palm Leaf	None
Banana	0.05%
Bay Breeze	None
Bayberry	0.20%
Bergamot	None
Berry Bliss	4.10%
Berry Bramble (type)	None
Bird of Paradise	None
Birthday Cake	9.51%
Black Cherry	2%
Black Cypress & Cassis	None
Black Fig & Honey	0.90%
Black Ice (type)	None
Black Night Phoenix	0.10%
Black Raspberry Vanilla (type)	None
Blackberry Amber (type)	0.20%
Blackberry Frankincense	0.10%
Blackberry Lemonade	None
Blooming Mums	None
Blue (men's type)	None
Blue Agave Melon	None
Blue Sugar (type)	0.55%
Blueberry Cobbler	9.73%
Blueberry	0.80%
Bluebonnet	None
Bow Ties & Bourbon (type)	0.80%
Brown Sugar	2.10%
Bubble Gum	3.23%
Burberry Brit (men's type)	0.20%
Butt Naked	5.10%
Butter Pecan Pie	6.59%
Buttercream	11.80%
Butternut Pumpkin	6.40%
Butterscotch	3%

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Cabernet Sauvignon	5.55%
Cake Bake	8.97%
Candied Yams	1.20%
Candy Cane	5.25%
Candy Corn	20.01%
Cannabis & Exotic Hemp	1.90%
Cantaloupe	None
Cappuccino Brulee	6.20%
Caramel Apple	11%
Caramel Toffee	7.90%
Caribbean Escape (type)	1.63%
Carrot Cake	0.40%
Cashmere	0.50%
Cedar	None
Chamomile	None
Chardonnay	None
Cherry Blossom (type)	0.05%
Cherry	0.28%
China Rain	None
Chocolate Mint	1.35%
Christmas Cabernet	1.22%
Christmas Cheer	3.10%
Christmas Cookie	2.60%
Christmas Hearth	9.46%
Christmas Mulberry	0.45%
Christmas Tree	None
Cinnamon Apple Berry (type)	None
Cinnamon Buns	3%
Cinnamon Buttercream	4.18%
Cinnamon Caramel Swirl (type)	14%
Cinnamon Stick	1.46%
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts	8.32%
Cinnamon Vanilla	14%
Citronella	None
Citrus Cilantro (type)	None
CK-1 (type)	0.01%
Clean Cotton (type)	None
Clove	None
Coconut Bourbon	9.30%
Coconut Creme Pie	5.90%
Coconut Hibiscus	1.40%
Coconut Lime Verbena (type)	0.10%
Coconut	3.40%
Cool Citrus Basil (type)	None
Cool Cucumber	0.25%
Cool Tropical Breeze (type)	None
Cool Water (men's type)	None
Coriander Rosewood	None
Cotton Blossom	0.20%
Cotton Bouquet	None
Cotton Candy	9.45%
Country Breeze	None
Cowboy	None
Cranberry Chutney (type)	0.10%
Cranberry Kettle Corn	5.90%
Cranberry Marmalade	4.40%
Cranberry Peppermint (type)	0.20%
Cranberry	6%
Creamy Vanilla	12.06%
Creme Brulee	9.80%
Cucumber Melon (type)	None

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Dauntless	0.01%
Desperado	5%
Dickens Christmas	None
Diva (type)	1.25%
Downy April Fresh (type)	None
Drakkar Noir (type)	None
Dream Angels - Halo (type)	0.27%
Dreamsickle	12.30%
Drunken Punkin	3.33%
Dulce Pumpkin	5.33%
Early Sunrise (type)	<0.10%
Egg Nog	4.25%
Egyptian Sheets	1 - 10%
Endless Love (type)	0.18%
Endless Weekend (type)	0.40%
English Ivy	0.0001%
Eternity (men's type)	None
Eucalyptus Spearmint	1.84%
Eucalyptus	None
Exotic	None
Fall Festival	None
Fierce	None
Fig	None
Fireside (type)	0.10%
Firewood	0.10%
Fizzy Pop	1.90%
Flannel (type)	0.30%
Flowerbomb (type)	0.30%
Flowering Cannabis	0.97%
Forever Romance (type)	0.04%
Frankincense & Myrrh	2.90%
French Market	0.15%
French Vanilla	9.76%
Fresh Baked Bread	0.95%
Fresh Cut Grass	None
Fruit Slices	None
Fudge Brownie	4.15%
Gardenia Lily (type)	0.05%
Gardenia	0.03%
Georgia Peach	None
Ginger & Lime (type)	0.02%
Ginger & Pear	0.70%
Gingerbread	9%
Gingersnap Pumpkin	3%
Granny Smith (type)	None
Green Tea & Cucumber (type)	None
Grey Dawn	0.04%
Gunpowder	060%

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Hansel & Gretel's House	7.20%
Harvest (type)	0.25%
Hawaiian Blast	None
Hazelnut Coffee	1 - 10%
Hazelnut	18.7%
Hershey's Chocolate (type)	6%
Hibiscus Guava Fresca (type)	None
High Maintenance (type)	2.76%
Hollyberry	9.90%
Home for the Holidays (type)	None
Home Sweet Home	None
Honey Lavender Gelato (type)	1.10%
Honey	5.70%
Honeysuckle	None
Hot Cranberry Tea	0.60%
Hydrangea	0.30%
Iced Pear Margarita (type)	0.09%
Iced Tea	0.02%
Icicles	None
Indian Sandalwood	0.23%
Indian Summer	None
Inner Peace	None
Into the Night (type)	2%
Irish Spring (type)	None
Jack Frost (type)	0.40%
Japanese Cherry Blossom (type)	0.05%
Jasmine & Green Apple (type)	0.06%
Jasmine	None
Juicy Pear	None
Juniper Breeze (type)	None
Key Lime Pie (type)	5.50%
Kumquat	None
Lavender	0.0002%
Leather	None
Leaves (type)	0.20%
Lemon Chiffon	0.50%
Lemon Drop	None
Lemon Lavender (type)	None
Lemon Meringue Pie	1.50%
Lemon Verbena (type)	0.10%
Lemongrass Sage (type)	None
Lilac	None
Lily of the Valley	None
Lime Cilantro	None
Lime	None
Love Spell	None

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Macintosh Apple	None
Magnolia	None
Mahogany Teakwood (type)	1.52%
Mahogany Woods (type)	1.05%
Mandarin Cranberry (type)	0.20%
Mango Beachwood (type)	None
Mango Mandarin (type)	None
Mango Papaya	None
Mango	1.90%
Maple Pecan	11.45%
Maple Sugar	19%
Marshmallow Fireside (type)	6%
Marshmallow Madness	15.10%
Masquerade	None
Merlot	None
Midnight Moon	4.10%
Midnight Pomegranate (type)	0.17%
Midsummer's Night (type)	None
Mistletoe (type)	0.15%
Monkey Farts	0.90%
Moonlight Path (type)	0.10%
Moose Munch	7.50%
Mountain Frost (type)	0.1%
Mountain Lake	0.20%
Mulberry	1.50%
Mulled Cider	7.82%
Muscadine	0.25%
Nagchampa	2.20%
Nordic Spa	0.035%
Oakmoss	2%
Oatmeal Milk & Honey	2%
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie	5.30%
Ocean Overlook	None
Ocean Waves	None
Olive Leaves	0.50%
Open Range	0.50%
Orange Grove	None
Orange

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Paramour	None
Passion Fruit	1.65%
Patchouli	0.09%
Peaches & Cream	2.40%
Pearberry (type)	None
Peony (type)	None
Peppermint Bark	6.30%
Peppermint	None
Persian Cucumber & Grapefruit	None
Pina Colada Paradise	1.35%
Pina Colada	0.40%
Pine	0.10%
Pineapple Cilantro (type)	1 - 10%
Pineapple	0.40%
Pink (type)	None
Pink Chiffon	1.20%
Pink Grapefruit	None
Pink Lime	0.10%
Pink Sugar (type)	7.55%
Pipe Tobacco	2.80%
Pistachio Latte	4.30%
Plum Blush	None
Plumeria (type)	None
Pomegranate Cider	1.10%
Pomegranate Lemonade	None
Pomegranate	2.30%
Pound Cake	5.50%
Princess Jasmine	None
Pumpkin Caramel Delight	14.60%
Pumpkin Chai	5.47%
Pumpkin Pecan Waffles (type)	2%
Pumpkin Pickin	6%
Pumpkin Pie Spice	2.50%
Pumpkin Seeds & Oud	3%
Pumpkin Souffle	7%
Pure Seduction (type)	None
Rain	None
Rainforest Blossoms	None
Ranch Hand	0.80%
Raspberry Cream (type)	0.15%
Red Hot Cinnamon	None
Rose Petals	0.02%
Rugged	None

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Sage & Citrus (type)	0.34%
Sage Leaf	None
Salted Caramel	14%
Salted Cucumber & Pepino Melon	None
Sandalwood & Ginger Apple	None
Sandalwood	None
Sea Breeze	None
Sea Petals	None
Sex on the Beach	1.65%
Ski Lodge (type)	0.5%
Smell of Christmas	None
Smoke Eliminator	None
Snickerdoodle	16.64%
Spearmint	None
Spiced Apple	0.35%
Spooky Punch	1%
Spring Rain	None
Spruce Orchard	1.45%
Stargazer Lily (type)	None
Storm Watch (type)	None
Strawberries & Champagne (type)	None
Strawberries & Cream	5%
Strawberry Cheesecake	0.50%
Strawberry Kiwi	0.39%
Strawberry	2.60%
Sugar Cookie	5.20%
Sugar Plum Spice	2.35%
Sugared Cronut	1 - 10%
Summer Creamsickle	None
Sun & Sea	None
Sun Ripened Tomato	None
Sunflower	0.24%
Sunwashed Linen (type)	None
Sweater Weather (type)	0.65%
Sweet Grace (type)	0.20%
Sweet Holiday Blend Coffee	8.21%
Sweet Jasmine Vine	None
Sweet Mandarin & Chili Pepper	None
Sweet Pea (type)	None
Sweet Potato Pie	6.10%
Sweet Snow	16.62%
Swiss Miss	3.15%

Fragrance Name	Vanillin Content
Teak Bamboo	0.10 - 1%
Tommy (men's type)	None
Tropic Wind	None
Tuberose	0.60%
Tulips (type)	None
Tuscan Herb (type)	None
Twilight Woods (type)	0.75%
Vampire Blood (type)	1%
Vanilla Macadamia Nut Coffee	15.5%
Vanilla Bean	12%
Vanilla Cardamom	15.60%
Vanilla Chai	11.51%
Vanilla Cotton	9.80%
Vanilla Maple Pecan	9.24%
Vanilla Satin	14.90%
Venice Peach Bellini (type)	0.10%
Verbena Bamboo	0.07%
Very Sexy For Her (type)	0.03%
Vineyard (type)	1.60%
Warm Vanilla Sugar (type)	4.15%
Watermelon Lemonade (type)	None
Watermelon	0.34%
Welcome Home	0.20%
Western Lace	1%
White Cake	6.56%
White Cherry Blossom (type)	None
White Christmas	0.60%
White Ginger & Amber (type)	1.10%
White Linen (women's type)	0.50%
White Nectarine & Pink Coral	None
White Tea & Ginger (type)	None
Wild Cherry	1.30%
Wind Swept Shores	None
Wine & Roses	0.10%
Winter (type)	1%
Winter Hideaway	None
Wisteria	None
Zanzibar Clove (type)	0.96%
Zen Paradise	None