Database/Perfuming/Ethyl Valerate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Ethyl Valerate natural?

Mostly not. Ethanol fragment assumed fermentation-derived; valeric acid is typically made petrochemically from butene via the oxo process.

INCI nameEthyl Valerate
CAS539-82-2
FormulaC7H14O2 · 130.18 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockProduced by esterifying petrochemical valeric acid (from butene…

How we scored it

Valeric acid 102 (petrochemical, oxo-process) + ethanol 46 (fermentation) − water 18 = 130. Natural = ethanol 46/130 ≈ 0.35.
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

Produced by esterifying petrochemical valeric acid (from butene hydroformylation) with ethanol, assumed fermentation-derived. Used as an apple/fruity fragrance and flavour note.

In plain English

A fruity, apple-like scent ingredient used in fragrances and flavourings, made by combining an alcohol with an acid. Sourcing of both building blocks is uncertain, so this figure is an estimate.

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 Ethyl Valerate

ethyl pentanoate

PubChem CID 10882 ↗

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 Valerate. PubChem CID 10882. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYL VALERATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYL VALERATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYL%20VALERATE