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

Is Citronellyl Phenylacetate natural?

It depends. Citronellol is route-dependent; phenylacetic acid is made from petrochemical benzyl cyanide.

INCI nameCitronellyl Phenylacetate
CAS139-70-8
FormulaC18H26O2 · 274.4 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockCitronellol (natural or synthetic) esterified with petrochemical phenylacetic…

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 citronellylcitronellyl of natural origin + phenylacetic acid from petrochemical synthesis0.57Citronellyl fragment C10H19O 155.3/274.4 = 0.57.
syntheticcitronellyl 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

Citronellyl Phenylacetate C18H26O2 274.4 Da: citronellyl fragment C10H19O 155.3 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 citronellyl 0.57, 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

Citronellol (natural or synthetic) esterified with petrochemical phenylacetic acid.

In plain English

A honey-like fragrance ingredient made by combining a synthetic terpene alcohol with a petroleum-derived acid. It's produced in a factory rather than isolated from plants.

Natural alternatives with the same function

2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol 100% natural origin

Dihydromyrcenol, a fresh, citrus-lime, slightly metallic fragrance ingredient used in many perfumes and cleaning products. It is made…

 Abies Alba Cone Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from fir tree cones that adds a fresh, forest-like scent to cosmetic products.

 Abies Alba Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

Essential oil distilled from fir tree needles, used for its fresh, woody fragrance. A whole natural essential oil.

 Abies Alba Needle Extract 100% natural origin

A fir-needle extract used mainly to add a fresh, woody scent to cosmetics. It comes from extracting the…

 Abies Alba Needle Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from the needles of the European silver fir. It gives fragrances and toiletries a…

 Abies Balsamea Needle Extract 100% natural origin

A balsam fir needle extract used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, made by extracting the needles of…

Structure

2D structure of Citronellyl Phenylacetate

3,7-dimethyloct-6-enyl 2-phenylacetate

PubChem CID 8767 ↗

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 Phenylacetate. PubChem CID 8767. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CITRONELLYL PHENYLACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CITRONELLYL PHENYLACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CITRONELLYL%20PHENYLACETATE