The main aromatic chemical compound in cinnamon that gives it its distinctive smell and flavor.
From cinnam- (cinnamon) + aldehyde (a type of organic chemical compound with a CHO group). Named in the 19th century when chemists isolated and identified this key ingredient.
Cinnamaldehyde is so potent that your brain smells it before cinnamon ever touches your tongue—just the aroma triggers anticipation of sweetness, which is why cinnamon-scented candles make us crave desserts!
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