vanillin metabolic process phenol-containing compound catabolic process vanillin catabolic process GO:0042190 vanillic aldehyde catabolic process biological_process vanillin breakdown vanillin degradation vanillin catabolism vanillic aldehyde catabolism The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of vanillin, an aromatic hydrocarbon which occurs naturally in black vanilla bean pods. aldehyde catabolic process ether catabolic process