Database/Denaturant/Benzaldehyde
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Benzaldehyde natural?

It depends. Most benzaldehyde is synthesised from petrochemical toluene; a smaller natural-origin stream is extracted from cassia (cinnamon) leaf oil.

INCI nameBenzaldehyde
CAS100-52-7
FormulaC7H6O · 106.12 Da
FunctionDenaturant · Fragrance
FeedstockMost commercial benzaldehyde is made by catalytic oxidation…

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
toluene oxidationpetrochemical toluene0.00~90%
cassia leaf oil extractionCinnamomum cassia leaf oil1.00~10%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Two routes: toluene oxidation (petrochemical, ~90% share) vs cassia leaf oil extraction (natural, ~10% share, natural-flavour grade). Dominant route sets value; not averaged.
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.

How it’s made

Retro-aldol of cassia-oil cinnamaldehyde (conjugate addition of hydroxide, C–C cleavage). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Most commercial benzaldehyde is made by catalytic oxidation of toluene, a petrochemical aromatic. A natural-origin alternative is obtained by extracting cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) leaf oil, which is naturally rich in benzaldehyde.

In plain English

Benzaldehyde has a sweet, almond-like scent used in fragrance and flavouring. It's most often made synthetically from petroleum-derived toluene, though a natural version extracted from cassia (cinnamon) leaf oil is also sold.

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Structure

2D structure of Benzaldehyde

benzaldehyde

PubChem CID 240 ↗

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. 2Benzaldehyde. PubChem CID 240. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BENZALDEHYDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BENZALDEHYDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BENZALDEHYDE