Database/Perfuming/Benzyl Isobutyrate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Benzyl Isobutyrate natural?

No. Benzyl alcohol is a toluene derivative and isobutyric acid an oxo-process product; both fragments are petrochemical by this site's convention.

INCI nameBenzyl Isobutyrate
CAS103-28-6
FormulaC11H14O2 · 178.23 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying benzyl alcohol (from toluene) with…

How we scored it

Benzyl alcohol (toluene-derived, petrochemical) + isobutyric acid (oxo-process, petrochemical) − H2O; both petrochemical → 0/178 = 0.0.
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

Made by esterifying benzyl alcohol (from toluene) with isobutyric acid (from propylene oxo-oxidation). No commercially significant natural route for either fragment.

In plain English

A synthetic fragrance ingredient with a fruity scent. Both its alcohol and acid building blocks are made from petroleum-derived chemicals, not plants.

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 Isobutyrate

benzyl 2-methylpropanoate

PubChem CID 7646 ↗

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 Isobutyrate. PubChem CID 7646. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BENZYL ISOBUTYRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BENZYL ISOBUTYRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BENZYL%20ISOBUTYRATE