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

Is Benzyl Salicylate natural?

No. Ester of two aromatic petrochemical fragments, benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid.

INCI nameBenzyl Salicylate
CAS118-58-1
FormulaC14H12O3 · 228.24 Da
FunctionPerfuming · Light Stabilizer
FeedstockManufactured by esterifying synthetic benzyl alcohol with synthetic…

How we scored it

Benzyl alcohol + salicylic acid, both explicit Rule-3 petrochemical (benzene-derivative) fragments = 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.

How it’s made

Deprotonation, then carboxylate SN2 on benzyl chloride (ester). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Manufactured by esterifying synthetic benzyl alcohol with synthetic salicylic acid, both petrochemical aromatics per this site's convention. Trace natural occurrence in some resins is not the commercial source.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient and mild UV filter made by combining benzyl alcohol with salicylic acid, both produced synthetically from petrochemical feedstocks. Adds a soft floral scent and helps protect other fragrance notes from light.

CosIng definition: Benzyl Salicylate is the ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. It conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Benzyl Salicylate

benzyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

PubChem CID 8363 ↗

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 Salicylate. PubChem CID 8363. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BENZYL SALICYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BENZYL SALICYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BENZYL%20SALICYLATE