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

Is Geranyl Propionate natural?

It depends. Geraniol is natural origin from essential oils or pine-turpentine myrcene and petrochemical from isobutylene-based citral; propionic acid is usually petrochemical.

INCI nameGeranyl Propionate
CAS105-90-8
FormulaC13H22O2 · 210.31 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMost geranyl propionate is geraniol esterified with 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
Natural essential-oil isolateGeraniol from citronella/palmarosa oil esterified with natural propionic acid1.00~20%
Pine-derived geraniol + petrochemical propionic acidgeraniol made from pine-turpentine myrcene, esterified with oxo-process propionic acid0.73large sharegeranyl 153.25 Da natural of 210.32 Da
Petrochemical geraniol + petrochemical propionic acidgeraniol from isobutylene-based citral, esterified with oxo-process propionic acid0.00large share
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 + propionyl C3H5O 57.07 Da = 210.32 Da. Natural geraniol and natural propionic acid: 1.00. Pine-derived geraniol with petrochemical propionic acid: 153.25/210.32 = 0.73. Isobutylene-based geraniol: 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 propionate is geraniol esterified with petrochemical propionic acid; the geraniol is made from pine-turpentine myrcene (natural origin) or from isobutylene-based citral (petrochemical). A natural-isolate version uses citronella or palmarosa geraniol with fermentation propionic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a fruity, rose-like scent. It joins geraniol, from flower oils or pine terpenes or petrochemicals, to propionic acid, so its natural content depends on the supplier.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Abies Alba Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Geranyl Propionate

[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] propanoate

PubChem CID 5355853 ↗

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 Propionate. PubChem CID 5355853. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3GERANYL PROPIONATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4GERANYL PROPIONATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GERANYL%20PROPIONATE