Database/Perfuming/Geranyl Formate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Geranyl Formate natural?

It depends. Formic acid is petrochemical in both routes; the geraniol is natural origin from essential oils or pine-turpentine myrcene, and petrochemical only when made from isobutylene-based citral.

INCI nameGeranyl Formate
CAS105-86-2
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMost geranyl formate uses geraniol made from pine-turpentine…

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 or pine-derived geraniolgeraniol from palmarosa/citronella oil or made from pine-turpentine myrcene + formic acid0.84majoritygeranyl 153.25 Da natural of 182.26 Da; formyl is petrochemical
Petrochemical geraniolgeraniol from isobutylene-based citral + formic acid0.00minority
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Geranyl part C10H17O 153.25 Da + formyl CHO 29.02 Da (petrochemical) = 182.26 Da. Geraniol from essential oils or pine-turpentine myrcene: 153.25/182.26 = 0.84; geraniol from isobutylene-based citral: 0.00.
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

Most geranyl formate uses geraniol made from pine-turpentine myrcene or isolated from palmarosa or citronella oil, esterified with petrochemical formic acid. Geraniol made from isobutylene-based citral gives the fully petrochemical route.

In plain English

A fresh, rose-like fragrance ester. The rose-scented geraniol part can be isolated from flower and grass oils or made synthetically from pine-terpene feedstock, then combined with a formic-acid component that is usually made synthetically.

Natural alternatives with the same function

2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol 100% natural origin

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 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

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 Abies Alba Needle Oil 100% natural origin

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 Abies Balsamea Needle Extract 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Geranyl Formate

PubChem CID 5282109 ↗

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. 2Geranyl Formate. PubChem CID 5282109. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3GERANYL FORMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4GERANYL FORMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GERANYL%20FORMATE