The invention relates to a method for producing 2,3-cis-substituted 2-aryl propenals by condensing a 2-aryl acetaldehyde I with a non-enolizable aldehyde compound II in the presence of a base. The inventive method is characterized in that the reaction is carried out in a solvent mixture comprising at least one water-miscible organic solvent and water at a volume ratio V.sub.solvent:V.sub.water ranging between 10:1 and 0.5:1.