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

Is Hexyl Propionate natural?

No. Both the alcohol and acid are sourced from petrochemical feedstocks in dominant commercial production.

INCI nameHexyl Propionate
CAS2445-76-3
FormulaC9H18O2 · 158.24 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying petrochemical hexanol with propionic acid…

How we scored it

Ester of hexanol (sub-C8, treated petrochemical) + propionic acid (predominantly petrochemical, from ethylene oxidation). 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 propionic acid from petrochemical ethylene oxidation. A minor fermentation route for propionic acid exists but is not dominant for this use.

In plain English

A fruity fragrance ingredient made by combining a simple alcohol with propionic acid. It is produced synthetically from petrochemical feedstocks.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

2D structure of Hexyl Propionate

hexyl propanoate

PubChem CID 88454 ↗

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 Propionate. PubChem CID 88454. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HEXYL PROPIONATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HEXYL PROPIONATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HEXYL%20PROPIONATE