Database/Perfuming/Delta-Nonalactone
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Delta-Nonalactone natural?

It depends. Castor-oil bioconversion route retains natural fatty-acid carbons; conventional chemical synthesis route uses petrochemical building blocks.

INCI nameDelta-Nonalactone
CAS3301-94-8
FormulaC9H16O2 · 156.22 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockWidely produced either by microbial bioconversion of natural…

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
microbial bioconversion of ricinoleic acidcastor oil-derived ricinoleic acid1.00significant, natural-claim segment
petrochemical chemical synthesispetrochemical aldehydes/ketones0.00significant, generic perfumery
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Delta-lactone; natural route = microbial bioconversion of ricinoleic acid (castor oil), natural carbons throughout; synthetic route = petrochemical aldehyde/ketone chemistry.
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

Widely produced either by microbial bioconversion of natural ricinoleic acid (castor oil) for 'natural' claims, or by conventional petrochemical synthesis for generic perfumery. Dominant route uncertain for cosmetic use.

In plain English

A creamy, coconut-like fragrance and flavour ingredient that can be made naturally from castor oil by fermentation, or fully synthesised from petrochemicals. Used to add a soft, fruity-creamy note.

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Structure

2D structure of Delta-Nonalactone

6-butyloxan-2-one

PubChem CID 18698 ↗

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. 2Delta-Nonalactone. PubChem CID 18698. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DELTA-NONALACTONE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DELTA-NONALACTONE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DELTA-NONALACTONE