The zero-field splittings, principal spin axes, kinetic parameters, and nuclear hyperfine interactions of the 3nπ* state of p-chloro- and p-methylbenzaldehyde and several of their deuterated derivatives are investigated by zero- and low-field optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) at 1.4 K in a p-dimethoxybenzene host. The zero-field splittings show large isotope effects. These are interpreted in terms of spin–orbit interaction with the nearby but higher lying 3ππ* state, yielding the energy gap between the two states in both benzaldehyde derivatives. The locations of the spin axes are approximately along the local symmetry axes of the carbonyl group and are insensitive to isotope. But, the spin axis most nearly normal to the plane of a host molecule deviates from the normal by an angle of 7°–13°. The kinetic parameters of the 3nπ* state also are relatively insensitive to isotope. The dominant hyperfine interactions are associated with the aldehyde hydrogen and indicate that the 3nπ* state is largely localized on the aldehyde moiety. Various properties of the 3nπ* and 3ππ* states are compared.