Furfural molecule, three-dimensional wood model. Furfural is an organic compound derived from a variety of agricultural by-products, including corncobs, bran, and sawdust. It is an aldehyde, and one of the components found in vanilla, the aroma of old books and wine. It is used in the manufacture of certain composites, cements, adhesives, casting resins, coatings and solvents. Oxygen atoms are represented by teak, carbon atoms by birch and hydrogen atoms by white wood.