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

Is Cinnamyl Formate natural?

It depends. Formate is always petrochemical; cinnamyl alcohol is mostly benzaldehyde-derived but a natural storax/cassia supply exists.

INCI nameCinnamyl Formate
CAS104-65-4
FormulaC10H10O2 · 162.18 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockDominant route esterifies synthetic cinnamyl alcohol (from 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
synthetic cinnamyl alcohol + formic acidbenzaldehyde (toluene-derived) via Perkin/Claisen-Schmidt route0.00~70%
natural cinnamyl alcohol + formic acidstorax resinoid or cassia oil cinnamyl alcohol0.82~30%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Cinnamyl-O C9H9O 133.2Da + formyl CHO 29.0Da(always petrochemical) → synthetic-cinnamyl route 0/162.2=0.0; natural-cinnamyl route 133.2/162.2=0.82
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

Dominant route esterifies synthetic cinnamyl alcohol (from petrochemical benzaldehyde) with formic acid. A smaller natural-isolate route uses cinnamyl alcohol from storax resin or cassia oil.

In plain English

A fragrance ester giving fruity, balsamic notes in perfumes. Usually made from synthetic cinnamyl alcohol derived from petrochemical benzaldehyde; a naturally-sourced version from storax resin also exists.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Cinnamyl Formate

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

PubChem CID 5354883 ↗

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 Formate. PubChem CID 5354883. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CINNAMYL FORMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CINNAMYL FORMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CINNAMYL%20FORMATE