Database/Antimicrobial/Aluminum Acetate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Aluminum Acetate natural?

Mostly not. Mineral aluminium ion is natural; acetate is predominantly petrochemical (methanol carbonylation), not fermentation vinegar.

INCI nameAluminum Acetate
CAS139-12-8
FormulaC6H9AlO6 · 204.11 Da
FunctionAntimicrobial · Astringent
FeedstockProduced by reacting an aluminium source with acetic…

How we scored it

Al3+ (mineral, natural) 26.98 Da; 3x acetate CH3COO- (petrochemical, methanol-carbonylation route) 177.13 Da; 204.11 total; 26.98/204.11 = 0.13.
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

Produced by reacting an aluminium source with acetic acid, which at industrial/technical grade is overwhelmingly made from petrochemical methanol rather than fermented vinegar. The aluminium counter-ion is mineral-derived.

In plain English

A mineral salt used in cosmetics as an antimicrobial and astringent. Combines aluminium with acetic acid, most of which comes from petrochemical processing rather than natural fermentation.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agastache Rugosa Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the whole Korean mint plant (Agastache rugosa), made by soaking the plant in a solvent…

 Ajuga Reptans Leaf Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the leaves of bugle (Ajuga reptans), a low-growing plant of the mint family, made by…

 Alcohol Denat. 100% natural origin

Plain alcohol (ethanol) with an additive so it can't be drunk. Used as a solvent and to help…

 Alpinia Zerumbet Leaf Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of shell ginger leaves, used to help control oiliness and support skin's natural defences.

 Aluminum Hydroxide Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder (boehmite) made from bauxite ore. It is listed in cosmetic ingredient databases for astringent,…

 Antrodia Cinnamomea Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from a Taiwanese medicinal fungus, used in skincare for its antioxidant and skin-protecting properties. Produced by…

Structure

2D structure of Aluminum Acetate

aluminum triacetate

PubChem CID 8757 ↗

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. 2Aluminum Acetate. PubChem CID 8757. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ALUMINUM ACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ALUMINUM ACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ALUMINUM%20ACETATE