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

Is Citronellyl Formate natural?

It depends. The citronellol half is natural origin from essential oils or pine turpentine and petrochemical from isobutylene-based citral; the formic acid half is petrochemical either way.

INCI nameCitronellyl Formate
CAS105-85-1
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockCitronellol, from citronella or geranium oil, pine turpentine…

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 or pine-derived citronellolcitronellol from citronella and geranium oils or made from pine-turpentine terpenes, esterified with formic acid (petrochemical)0.84most gradescitronellol fragment 155.3 Da natural of 184.3 Da; the formic acid acyl 29.0 Da is petrochemical
petrochemical citronellolcitronellol hydrogenated from isobutylene-based citral, esterified with formic acid (petrochemical)0.00bulk gradesno natural-origin atoms
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Citronellol fragment 155.3 Da + formic acid acyl 29.0 Da = 184.3 Da. Natural or pine-derived citronellol: 155.3/184.3 = 0.84; citronellol from isobutylene-based citral: 0.00. Formic acid is petrochemical in both routes.
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

Citronellol, from citronella or geranium oil, pine turpentine or petrochemical citral, esterified with formic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a fresh, fruity-rose scent used in perfumes. Made by combining citronellol, a rose-like alcohol from citronella-type plants, with formic acid, a petrochemical-derived acid.

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Structure

2D structure of Citronellyl Formate

PubChem CID 7778 ↗

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. 2Citronellyl Formate. PubChem CID 7778. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CITRONELLYL FORMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CITRONELLYL FORMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CITRONELLYL%20FORMATE