noun
- Plural of citronellal; organic compounds found in citronella oil and other essential oils, used in perfumery and as insect repellents.
Usage: chemistry; technical term; typically used in plural form
Examples
- Citronellals are key aromatic compounds in citronella oil.
- The perfume industry uses citronellals to create fresh, lemony scents.
- Citronellals contribute to the insect-repelling properties of certain essential oils.
- Chemists analyze citronellals to understand the composition of natural fragrances.