A process for obtaining alpha-campholenic aldehyde, which is useful as an aroma chemical and as a synthetic intermediate for other aroma chemicals, particularly those with a sandalwood odor, and also for some pharmaceuticals, is provided. In particular, the invention includes a continuous process for obtaining optically active or racemic .alpha.-campholenic aldehyde by a catalytic rearrangement of optically active or racemic .alpha.-pinene oxide that can be commercially practicable. In one embodiment, the method comprises continuously feeding .alpha.-pinene oxide to a mixture including catalyst(s) and solvent(s), where the solvent(s) have a boiling point higher than the boiling point of .alpha.-campholenic aldehyde, under conditions sufficient to provide for the complete, or at least partial, conversion of .alpha.-pinene oxide into .alpha.-campholenic aldehyde. The process further includes continuously removing .alpha.-campholenic aldehyde from the reaction zone by suitable techniques such as distillation.