Benzaldehyde (C6H5COH) is a chemical compound consisting of a benzene ring with an aldehyde substituent. It is the simplest representative of the aromatic aldehydes and one of the most industrially used members of this family of compounds. At room temperature it is a colorless liquid with a characteristic and pleasant almond-like odor: benzaldehyde is an important component of the scent of almonds, hence its typical odor.

It is the primary component of bitter almond oil extract, and can be extracted from a number of other natural sources in which it occurs, such as apricot, cherry, and laurel leaves, peach seeds and, in a glycoside combined form (amygdalin), in certain nuts and kernels. Currently benzaldehyde is primarily made from toluene by a number of different processes. Benzaldehyde can be obtained by many processes.

Currently liquid phase chlorination or oxidation of toluene are among the most used processes. There are also a number of discontinued applications such as partial oxidation of benzyl alcohol, alkali treating of benzal chloride and reaction between benzene and carbon monoxide. On oxidation, benzaldehyde is converted into the odorless benzoic acid.

Benzyl alcohol can be formed from benzaldehyde by means of hydrogenation or by treating the compound with alcoholic potassium hydroxide thus undergoing a simultaneous oxidation and reduction which result in the production of potassium benzoate and benzyl alcohol. Reaction of benzaldehyde with anhydrous sodium acetate and acetic anhydride yields cinnamic acid, while alcoholic potassium cyanide can be used to catalyze the condensation of benzaldehyde to benzoin.

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