Database/Perfuming/Ethyl Isovalerate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Ethyl Isovalerate natural?

It depends. Isovaleric acid comes from fusel-oil isoamyl alcohol oxidation (natural) or petrochemical oxo-synthesis; ethanol is fermentation-derived.

INCI nameEthyl Isovalerate
CAS108-64-5
FormulaC7H14O2 · 130.18 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying isovaleric acid with ethanol; isovaleric…

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
fusel-oil isovaleric acid + bioethanolfermentation fusel oil1.00~35%
petrochemical isovaleric acid + bioethanolpetrochemical oxo-synthesis0.35~65%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Isovaleric acid (102Da) + ethanol (46Da) minus H2O=130Da; natural-acid route 130/130=1.0, petrochemical-acid route 45/130=0.35. Headline shows the best route (1.00), as for every route-dependent entry on the site.
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

Made by esterifying isovaleric acid with ethanol; isovaleric acid can be oxidised from fusel-oil isoamyl alcohol or manufactured petrochemically. Fermentation ethanol is used in both cases.

In plain English

A fruity fragrance ingredient with an apple-like scent. It can be made from a natural fermentation byproduct or from petroleum-based chemistry, depending on the supplier.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethyl Isovalerate

ethyl 3-methylbutanoate

PubChem CID 7945 ↗

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 Isovalerate. PubChem CID 7945. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYL ISOVALERATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYL ISOVALERATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYL%20ISOVALERATE