Database/Perfuming/Benzyl Butyrate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Benzyl Butyrate natural?

It depends. Butyric acid is made both by fermentation and from petrochemical butyraldehyde; benzyl alcohol is petrochemical. Same approach as Ethyl Butyrate.

INCI nameBenzyl Butyrate
CAS103-37-7
FormulaC11H14O2 · 178.23 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockButyric acid (fermentation or oxo) 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 butyrylbutyryl of natural origin + benzyl alcohol from petrochemical synthesis0.40Butyryl fragment C4H7O 71.1/178.2 = 0.40.
syntheticbutyryl and benzyl 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

Benzyl Butyrate C11H14O2 178.2 Da: butyryl fragment C4H7O 71.1 Da is natural only from an essential-oil, balsam or turpentine source; the benzyl alcohol fragment 107.1 Da is petrochemical in every commercial route. Routes: natural butyryl 0.40, 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

Butyric acid (fermentation or oxo) esterified with petrochemical benzyl alcohol.

In plain English

A fruity fragrance ingredient, an ester of benzyl alcohol and butyric acid, used to scent cosmetic products.

Natural alternatives with the same function

2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol 100% natural origin

Dihydromyrcenol, a fresh, citrus-lime, slightly metallic fragrance ingredient used in many perfumes and cleaning products. It is made…

 Abies Alba Cone Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from fir tree cones that adds a fresh, forest-like scent to cosmetic products.

 Abies Alba Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

Essential oil distilled from fir tree needles, used for its fresh, woody fragrance. A whole natural essential oil.

 Abies Alba Needle Extract 100% natural origin

A fir-needle extract used mainly to add a fresh, woody scent to cosmetics. It comes from extracting the…

 Abies Alba Needle Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from the needles of the European silver fir. It gives fragrances and toiletries a…

 Abies Balsamea Needle Extract 100% natural origin

A balsam fir needle extract used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, made by extracting the needles of…

Structure

2D structure of Benzyl Butyrate

benzyl butanoate

PubChem CID 7650 ↗

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. 2Benzyl Butyrate. PubChem CID 7650. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BENZYL BUTYRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BENZYL BUTYRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BENZYL%20BUTYRATE