Database/Perfuming/Cuminaldehyde
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Cuminaldehyde natural?

It depends. Natural route uses cumin or eucalyptus oil directly; the synthetic route oxidises p-cymene, which is natural origin when made from citrus or pine terpenes and petrochemical when made from toluene.

INCI nameCuminaldehyde
CAS122-03-2
FormulaC10H12O · 148.20 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockCuminaldehyde can be fractionally distilled from cumin seed…

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 isolationcumin seed oil / eucalyptus oil1.00~30%
From terpene p-cymenep-cymene made from limonene or turpentine terpenes, oxidised0.89part of ~70%C10H12 132.2 Da natural of 148.2 Da; aldehyde oxygen from the oxidant
From petrochemical p-cymenep-cymene from toluene and propylene, oxidised0.00part of ~70%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Natural isolation from cumin or eucalyptus oil: 1.00. Oxidising terpene-derived p-cymene: C10H12 132.20 Da natural of 148.20 Da = 0.89 (aldehyde oxygen from the oxidant). Petrochemical p-cymene: 0.00. Not averaged.
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

Cuminaldehyde can be fractionally distilled from cumin seed or eucalyptus oil, or made by oxidising p-cymene. That p-cymene is made either from terpenes (limonene, turpentine) or from petrochemical toluene, and the dominant route for fragrance-grade material is unclear.

In plain English

A spicy, cumin-scented fragrance ingredient. It occurs naturally in cumin and eucalyptus oils but is usually manufactured by chemically converting a related aromatic compound, so most supply is lab-made rather than extracted from the spice.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Cuminaldehyde

4-propan-2-ylbenzaldehyde

PubChem CID 326 ↗

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. 2Cuminaldehyde. PubChem CID 326. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CUMINALDEHYDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CUMINALDEHYDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CUMINALDEHYDE