Aromatic aldehydes are generally less reactive than aliphatic aldehydes primarily due to steric factors and the stability of the aromatic ring. The presence of the aromatic system can stabilize the carbonyl group, making it less susceptible to nucleophilic attack. In reactions that depend on the formation of an enol, aliphatic aldehydes demonstrate higher reactivity because they can more readily form enols compared to their aromatic counterparts. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the structural features of aldehydes that contribute to their reactivity in various chemical reactions.