Database/Perfuming/Amyl Formate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Amyl Formate natural?

It depends. Fusel-oil amyl alcohol is a fermentation by-product; oxo pentanol is petrochemical; the formyl group is petrochemical. Same approach as Isoamyl Formate.

INCI nameAmyl Formate
CAS638-49-3
FormulaC6H12O2 · 116.16 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockAmyl alcohol (fusel-oil fraction or oxo pentanol) esterified…

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 amyl (pentyl)amyl (pentyl) of natural origin + formic acid from petrochemical synthesis0.75Amyl (pentyl) fragment C5H11O 87.1/116.2 = 0.75.
syntheticamyl (pentyl) and formic acid 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

Amyl Formate C6H12O2 116.2 Da: the amyl (pentyl) fragment C5H11O 87.1 Da is natural only from a natural source; the formic acid fragment 29.0 Da is petrochemical in every commercial route. Routes: natural amyl (pentyl) 0.75, 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

Amyl alcohol (fusel-oil fraction or oxo pentanol) esterified with petrochemical formic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a fruity, plum-like odour used to scent cosmetic products. It is made by combining a five-carbon alcohol, sometimes from fermentation by-products, with formic acid, which is typically made industrially from petrochemical methanol.

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Structure

2D structure of Amyl Formate

pentyl formate

PubChem CID 12529 ↗

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. 2Amyl Formate. PubChem CID 12529. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3AMYL FORMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4AMYL FORMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=AMYL%20FORMATE