Database/Hair Dyeing/4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene Sulfate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is 4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene Sulfate natural?

Mostly not. Synthetic aromatic aminocresol hair-dye intermediate isolated as its sulfate salt; only the mineral sulfate counter-ion counts as natural.

INCI name4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene Sulfate
CAS183293-62-1
FormulaC7H11NO5S · 221.23 Da
FunctionHair Dyeing
FeedstockThe aminocresol hair-dye coupler is synthesised from petrochemical…

How we scored it

Aminocresol base C7H9NO (123.2 Da, petrochemical) + H2SO4 (98.1 Da, mineral counter-ion, natural) = 221.2 Da; 98.1/221.2 = 0.44.
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

The aminocresol hair-dye coupler is synthesised from petrochemical aromatics, then isolated as its sulfate salt using mineral sulfuric acid for stability. No natural route produces this dye intermediate itself.

In plain English

A synthetic hair-dye ingredient sold as a sulfate salt for stability. The colour-forming part is made from petrochemical chemicals; only the mineral sulfate portion is naturally derived.

CosIng definition: 4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene Sulfate is the hair colorant that conforms to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

Beta Vulgaris Root Powder 100% natural origin

A powder made by drying and grinding sugar beet root. Used as a natural colorant for hair dye…

 Bismuth Citrate 100% natural origin

A salt formed from bismuth metal and citric acid, a natural fermentation-derived fruit acid, used to buffer, chelate…

 Dihydroxyacetone 100% natural origin

The active self-tanning ingredient that reacts with skin's surface proteins to produce a temporary bronze colour; made by…

 Epicatechin 100% natural origin

An antioxidant compound naturally found in tea and cocoa, used in skin, hair and oral care. It's extracted…

 Lawsonia Inermis Extract 100% natural origin

A plant extract from the henna shrub, used to condition hair and skin and add a reddish tint.…

 Pyrogallol 100% natural origin

A hair-dye ingredient traditionally made by heating gallic acid, itself extracted from plant tannins in gallnuts, until it…

Structure

2D structure of 4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene Sulfate

5-amino-2-methylphenol;sulfuric acid

PubChem CID 44181816 ↗

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. 24-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene Sulfate. PubChem CID 44181816. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 34-AMINO-2-HYDROXYTOLUENE SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 44-AMINO-2-HYDROXYTOLUENE SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=4-AMINO-2-HYDROXYTOLUENE%20SULFATE