Database/Perfuming/Hexyl Formate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Hexyl Formate natural?

No. Both the short-chain alcohol and formic acid are sourced from petrochemical feedstocks in commercial supply.

INCI nameHexyl Formate
CAS629-33-4
FormulaC7H14O2 · 130.18 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying petrochemical hexanol with formic acid…

How we scored it

Ester of hexanol (sub-C8, treated petrochemical) + formic acid (industrially from petrochemical methanol carbonylation). Both fragments 0 -> 0.0.
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

Made by esterifying petrochemical hexanol with formic acid from methanol carbonylation. No significant natural production route for this ester.

In plain English

A fruity-smelling fragrance ingredient made by combining a simple alcohol with formic acid. It is produced synthetically, not extracted from fruit.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

2D structure of Hexyl Formate

hexyl formate

PubChem CID 61177 ↗

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. 2Hexyl Formate. PubChem CID 61177. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HEXYL FORMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HEXYL FORMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HEXYL%20FORMATE