It has a fragrance reminiscent of lily of the valley, otherwise described as floral, watery, green, and aldehydic.

Industrial synthesis of bourgeonal involves a mixed aldol reaction of 4-tert-butylbenzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, followed by hydrogenation.

Alternatively it may be produced by the alkylation of tert-butylbenzene with propanal (often in its acetal form).

[1] In a 2003 study it was found that in vitro, bourgeonal acts as a chemo-attractant for human spermatozoa, activating an olfactory receptor called OR1D2 (formerly called hOR17-4)[2] which opens calcium ion channels in the sperm, leading them to swim twice as fast.

As of 2010, bourgeonal is the only known odor substance to which males have a higher average sensitivity than females.