Database/Perfuming/Cis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Cis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate natural?

It depends. Salicylic acid is made from phenol, so the salicyloyl half is petrochemical; cis-3-hexenol is either synthetic from petrochemical alkyne or diene intermediates or enzymatically cleaved from plant linolenic acid.

INCI nameCis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate
CAS65405-77-8
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockDominant route (~90%): synthetic cis-3-hexenol esterified or transesterified…

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 leaf alcohol with petrochemical salicylic acidcis-3-Hexenol from petrochemical alkyne or diene intermediates; salicylic acid from phenol0.00~90%
Natural leaf alcohol with petrochemical salicylic acidcis-3-Hexenol from enzymatic cleavage of plant linolenic acid or mint oil; salicylic acid from phenol0.45~10%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Salicyloyl C7H5O2 121.1 petrochemical (phenol). Hexenyl-O C6H11O 99.2: natural leaf alcohol route 99.2/220.3 = 0.45; synthetic hexenol route 0/220.3 = 0.00. Total C13H16O3 220.3.
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 (~90%): synthetic cis-3-hexenol esterified or transesterified with petrochemical salicylic acid or methyl salicylate. Alternative: natural leaf alcohol from enzymatic cleavage of plant lipids or mint-oil fractions gives a 0.45 ester, because salicylic acid stays petrochemical.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a fresh green, slightly floral scent. It is an ester of cis-3-hexenol (leaf alcohol) and salicylic acid; the salicylic acid is petrochemical, and the hexenol is usually synthetic but can also be made from plants.

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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. 2CIS-3-HEXENYL SALICYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3CIS-3-HEXENYL SALICYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CIS-3-HEXENYL%20SALICYLATE