Database/Perfuming/Allyl Isovalerate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Allyl Isovalerate natural?

It depends. Isovaleric acid has a fermentation route as well as a petrochemical one; allyl alcohol is petrochemical. Same treatment as Allyl Nonanoate.

INCI nameAllyl Isovalerate
CAS2835-39-4
FormulaC8H14O2 · 142.20 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockIsovaleric acid (fermentation or synthetic) esterified with petrochemical…

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
natural isovalerylisovaleryl of natural origin + allyl alcohol from petrochemical synthesis0.60Isovaleryl fragment C5H9O 85.1/142.2 = 0.60.
syntheticisovaleryl and allyl alcohol both from petrochemical synthesis0.00No natural carbon.
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Allyl Isovalerate C8H14O2 142.2 Da: the isovaleryl fragment C5H9O 85.1 Da is natural only from a natural source; the allyl alcohol fragment 57.1 Da is petrochemical in every commercial route. Routes: natural isovaleryl 0.60, synthetic 0.00. Headline shows the best route.
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

Isovaleric acid (fermentation or synthetic) esterified with petrochemical allyl alcohol.

In plain English

A fruity-smelling ester typically made synthetically from allyl alcohol and isovaleric acid. Used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics.

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Structure

2D structure of Allyl Isovalerate

prop-2-enyl 3-methylbutanoate

PubChem CID 17816 ↗

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. 2Allyl Isovalerate. PubChem CID 17816. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ALLYL ISOVALERATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ALLYL ISOVALERATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ALLYL%20ISOVALERATE