Database/Perfuming/Cinnamyl Cinnamate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Cinnamyl Cinnamate natural?

It depends. Styracin is the principal natural component of storax balsam, but commercial fragrance material is usually synthesised from petrochemical benzaldehyde-derived building blocks.

INCI nameCinnamyl Cinnamate
CAS122-69-0
FormulaC18H16O2 · 264.3 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockCan be isolated from storax (Styrax) balsam, a…

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
synthetic esterificationpetrochemical benzaldehyde-derived cinnamic acid and cinnamyl alcohol0.00~85%
balsam extractionstorax (Liquidambar/Styrax) balsam, natural1.00~15%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Ester of cinnamyl alcohol + cinnamic acid ('styracin'); occurs naturally in storax balsam but most fragrance-grade material is made synthetically. Headline shows the best route (1.00), as for every route-dependent entry on the site.
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

Can be isolated from storax (Styrax) balsam, a natural tree exudate, but most fragrance-grade material is synthesised by esterifying cinnamic acid and cinnamyl alcohol made via Perkin/petrochemical routes.

In plain English

Also known as styracin, the main aromatic component of storax balsam, though most commercial supply is made synthetically from cinnamon-related building blocks. Used as a fragrance ingredient with a balsamic scent.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Cinnamyl Cinnamate

[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-enyl] (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate

PubChem CID 1550890 ↗

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. 2Cinnamyl Cinnamate. PubChem CID 1550890. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CINNAMYL CINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CINNAMYL CINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CINNAMYL%20CINNAMATE