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

Is Cinnamyl Phenylacetate natural?

It depends. Cinnamyl alcohol is route-dependent; phenylacetic acid is petrochemical.

INCI nameCinnamyl Phenylacetate
CAS7492-65-1
FormulaC17H16O2 · 252.31 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockCinnamyl alcohol (natural or synthetic) 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 cinnamylcinnamyl of natural origin + phenylacetic acid from petrochemical synthesis0.53Cinnamyl fragment C9H9O 133.2/252.3 = 0.53.
syntheticcinnamyl and phenylacetic acid 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

Cinnamyl Phenylacetate C17H16O2 252.3 Da: cinnamyl fragment C9H9O 133.2 Da is natural only from an essential-oil, balsam or turpentine source; the phenylacetic acid fragment 119.1 Da is petrochemical in every commercial route. Routes: natural cinnamyl 0.53, 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

Cinnamyl alcohol (natural or synthetic) esterified with petrochemical phenylacetic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a fruity, honey-like scent, made by reacting cinnamyl alcohol with phenylacetic acid. Used in perfumed cosmetics to add scent.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

2D structure of Cinnamyl Phenylacetate

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

PubChem CID 5370599 ↗

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 Phenylacetate. PubChem CID 5370599. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CINNAMYL PHENYLACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CINNAMYL PHENYLACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CINNAMYL%20PHENYLACETATE