Database/Fragrance/Acetyl Hexamethyl Tetralin
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Acetyl Hexamethyl Tetralin natural?

No. AHTN has no natural source or extraction route; it is built entirely from petrochemical aromatic hydrocarbons via alkylation and acetylation.

INCI nameAcetyl Hexamethyl Tetralin
CAS21145-77-7
FunctionFragrance · Perfuming
FeedstockManufactured by Friedel-Crafts alkylation of a petrochemical aromatic…

How we scored it

Fully synthetic polycyclic musk (AHTN/Tonalide); built from petrochemical aromatic/olefin feedstock via Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acetylation. No natural fragment.
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

Manufactured by Friedel-Crafts alkylation of a petrochemical aromatic with isoprene-type olefins, followed by acetylation. No natural-origin route exists for this synthetic musk.

In plain English

A synthetic musk fragrance ingredient, also known as AHTN or Tonalide, made entirely in a lab from petrochemical starting materials. Used to add a long-lasting musky scent to fragranced products.

CosIng definition: Acetyl Hexamethyl Tetralin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula

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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. 2ACETYL HEXAMETHYL TETRALIN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3ACETYL HEXAMETHYL TETRALIN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACETYL%20HEXAMETHYL%20TETRALIN