Database/Uv Absorber/Ethyl Cinnamate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Ethyl Cinnamate natural?

It depends. Ethanol is fermentation-derived and natural either way; cinnamic acid is usually synthetic but a natural cassia/cinnamon route exists.

INCI nameEthyl Cinnamate
CAS103-36-6
FormulaC11H12O2 · 176.21 Da
FunctionUv Absorber · Perfuming
FeedstockDominant route esterifies synthetic cinnamic acid (from petrochemical…

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 cinnamic acid + fermentation ethanolbenzaldehyde (toluene) + bioethanol0.26~70%
natural cinnamic acid + fermentation ethanolcassia/cinnamon bark oil cinnamic acid + bioethanol1.00~30%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Cinnamoyl C9H7O 131.2Da + ethoxy C2H5O 45.1Da(fermentation, always natural) → synthetic-cinnamoyl route 45.1/176.2=0.26; natural-cinnamoyl route 176.2/176.2=1.0
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 esterifies synthetic cinnamic acid (from petrochemical benzaldehyde) with fermentation ethanol. A minor natural route uses cinnamic acid from cassia or cinnamon bark oil.

In plain English

A fragrance and UV-absorbing ester with a fruity, balsamic scent. Usually made from synthetic cinnamic acid and fermentation-derived ethanol; a naturally-sourced cinnamic acid version also exists.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethyl Cinnamate

ethyl (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate

PubChem CID 637758 ↗

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. 2Ethyl Cinnamate. PubChem CID 637758. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYL CINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYL CINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYL%20CINNAMATE