Database/Fragrance/3-Hexenol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is 3-Hexenol natural?

It depends. All six carbons are natural when isolated from mint oil or made enzymatically from linolenic acid, but petrochemical in the synthetic acetylenic route.

INCI name3-Hexenol
CAS928-96-1
FormulaC6H12O · 100.16 Da
FunctionFragrance · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockDominant supply is synthetic cis-3-hexenol from petrochemical alkynes…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Synthetic: 3-hexyn-1-ol (butyne plus ethylene oxide) then Lindlar hydrogenationpetrochemical alkyne and ethylene oxide0.00~80% (estimate)
Natural: fractionated from Mentha arvensis oil or enzymatic from linolenic acidmint oil or plant-oil fatty acids1.00~20% (estimate)
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

C6H12O 100.2: all six carbons natural if isolated from mint oil or made enzymatically from linolenic acid, 100.2 / 100.2 = 1.00; synthetic alkyne plus ethylene oxide route = 0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Dominant supply is synthetic cis-3-hexenol from petrochemical alkynes and ethylene oxide. Natural leaf alcohol from Mentha arvensis oil fractions, or from lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide-lyase conversion of linolenic acid, is the alternative.

In plain English

The 'green leaf' alcohol with a freshly cut grass scent, used as a fragrance ingredient. It is made either synthetically from petrochemicals or isolated from plants such as mint oil.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

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 Abies Sachalinensis Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

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A fresh, piney fragrance oil steam-distilled from Siberian fir needles and branches. It comes directly from the tree…

Structure

2D structure of 3-Hexenol

(Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol

PubChem CID 5281167 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 23-Hexenol. PubChem CID 5281167. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 33-HEXENOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 43-HEXENOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=3-HEXENOL