Definition

A white powder with a sweet, floral smell, often used in flavoring and perfumes.

Example

The perfume was enhanced with a hint of piperonal, giving it a unique floral scent.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of piperonal?

Yeah, I think it's used in some perfumes and flavors, right?

Exactly! It has this really nice floral scent that I love.

I should check it out; I’m always looking for unique fragrance options.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Piperonal is derived from "piper" (from Latin *piper*, meaning pepper) and "-onal" (a suffix used in organic chemistry to denote aldehydes). The word refers to a compound related to pepper, specifically an aromatic aldehyde derived from it.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pepper' ('piper') to remember that 'piperonal' is a compound related to the aroma of pepper.

Visually Confused Words