Vanillin is a phenolic aldehyde

Phenolic aldehyde

Phenolic aldehydes are a type of natural phenol. Phenolics aldehydes can be found in wines and cognacs.Examples :* Hydroxybenzaldehydes* Protocatechuic aldehyde* Vanillin and isovanillin...

, an organic compound

Organic compound

An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...

 with the molecular formula C₈H₈O₃. Its functional groups include aldehyde

Aldehyde

An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a formyl group. This functional group, with the structure R-CHO, consists of a carbonyl center bonded to hydrogen and an R group....

, ether

Ether

Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R'. A typical example is the solvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as "ether"...

, and phenol

Phenol

Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, phenic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecule consists of a phenyl , bonded to a hydroxyl group. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds...

. It is the primary component of the extract of the vanilla

Vanilla

Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...

 bean. It is also found in Leptotes bicolor

Leptotes bicolor

Leptotes bicolor is a species of orchid native to Paraguay and southern Brazil. It is the type species of the genus Leptotes.Its flowers and fruits are used as a substitute for vanilla in milk and ice cream....

, roasted coffee and the Chinese red pine

Chinese Red Pine

The Chinese Red Pine Pinus tabuliformis is a pine native to northern China from Liaoning west to Inner Mongolia and Gansu, and south to Shandong, Henan and Shaanxi, and also northern Korea...

. Synthetic vanillin, instead of natural vanilla extract, is sometimes used as a flavoring agent in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

Vanillin as well as ethylvanillin

Ethylvanillin

Ethylvanillin is the organic compound with the formula C6H3CHO. This colourless solid consists of a benzene ring with hydroxyl, ethoxy, and formyl groups on the 4, 3, and 1 positions, respectively.- Preparation :...

 is used by the food industry.