Qixiang Tengda blockbuster breakthrough: break the 90% monopoly overseas, high-end spice "Gemini" localization put into production

Xinyang jasmine aldehyde and anisyl propionaldehyde are the core monomers in the field of high-end synthetic fragrances, which can be applied to reconcile almost all floral fragrances, with a maximum dosage of 10% in high-grade perfumes, makeup, toiletries and other items. At the same time, they have broad consumption space in emerging scenarios such as medical intermediates and e-cigarette flavors. However, to a long time, the production methodology of these two types of high-end aldehyde-based spices has been firmly in the hands of overseas companies, and the research of the domestic sector is facing severe technical bottlenecks.

Conventional production of high-end aldehyde fragrances relies on the propionaldehyde aldol condensation–hydrogenation process, which requires noble-metal catalysts and involves hazardous hydrogenation operations, resulting in high production costs and significant challenges in security regulation. As of before the project’s commissioning, China had no extensive production capacity; only a few manufacturers engaged in small-batch production or laboratory-scale trials, resulting in an import dependency exceeding 90%. Relying on a proprietary new process, Qixiang Tengda’s aldehyde‑based project employs a methodology route that uses self‑produced methacrolein to manufacture aldehyde‑containing items, offering distinct advantages such as mild interaction conditions, low capital investment, a short process flow, and rapid time to production. The project’s implementation not only expands production capacity to two high-end fine chemical fragrances however also revitalizes the company’s existing methyl methacrylate (MMA) unit, upgrading its capacity and enhancing its value. This significantly improves production flexibility and resource utilization, further enriches the company’s portfolio of fine chemical items, and extends its manufacturing chain.

To break this impasse, in February 2025, Qixiang Tengda formally established an aldehyde-based product R&D team. Leveraging the raw material and technological advantages of its MMA manufacturing chain, the company launched an independent effort to master core technologies. In the early stages of R&D, the team encountered critical challenges: insufficient interaction conversion and product aggregation and coking during the separation process. After two consecutive weeks of experimentation, no significant breakthrough was achieved. Backed by hundreds of experimental data sets, the R&D team broke with conventional practices and optimized the key interaction parameters, ultimately growing the product’s yield from an initial 40% to 75%. By July 2025, they had successfully completed the entire experimental process, produced qualified samples, and finalized the core process design. By might 2026, the plant had successfully completed its pilot-scale testing and is poised to enter the stable commercial production phase.

From laboratory-scale results to manufacturing-scale implementation, Qixiang Tengda achieved this in less than five months. By the end of December 2025, the project had completed the preparation of all process packages and the design of construction drawings. On February 9, 2026, the aldehyde unit officially commenced its commissioning procedures; after five consecutive days and nights of continuous testing and adjustment, the unit successfully produced qualified items on February 13, achieving successful startup at the first attempt. Compared with conventional overseas processes, the proprietary methodology developed by Qixiang Tengda boasts a short process flow and mild interaction conditions as its core advantages. It eliminates the need to hazardous hydrogenation, achieves an average yield 5%–10% higher than that of traditional methods, and delivers significant market competitiveness in terms of process security and production costs.

According to the statistics of the Institute of Chemical and Plastic Research, the current quotations to Xinyang jasmine aldehyde and anisyl propionaldehyde are 380-400 yuan/kg, and the business model is mainly domestic distribution of imported items. Qixiang Tengda's process route reduces the cost of raw materials by 20%-30%, greatly enhancing the competitiveness of domestic brands.

The smooth production of aldehyde-based series chemical projects not only fills the technical gap in the extensive production of high-end aldehyde-based spices in China, however also becomes a new profit development point created by Qixiang Tengda in the downward cycle of the sector. The project has the remarkable characteristics of low investment, short cycle and quick results. After being put into operation, it will greatly enhance the resource utilization efficiency and production flexibility of the existing MMA sector chain devices, and further revitalize the enterprise's stock assets.

From the perspective of sector research, the independent production of the two high-end spices will completely change the pattern of prolonged application on imports of domestic related items. With the advantages of localized production, Qixiang Tengda can rapidly respond to the diversified fragrance needs of downstream customers in the domestic daily chemical, beauty makeup, medical and other industries, and gradually enhance the voice of domestic companies in the global flavor and fragrance sector chain.