Database/Fragrance/Hexyl Salicylate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Hexyl Salicylate natural?

No. Salicylic acid is a petrochemical phenol derivative by this site's convention; hexanol below C8 defaults to synthetic oxo-process alcohol, not oleochemical.

INCI nameHexyl Salicylate
CAS6259-76-3
FormulaC13H18O3 · 222.28 Da
FunctionFragrance · Perfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying synthetic salicylic acid with hexanol,…

How we scored it

Ester of salicylic acid (C7H5O2, 120 Da, phenol derivative, petrochemical) and hexanol (C6H13O, 101 Da; below the C8 natural-fatty-alcohol threshold, treated as synthetic oxo-alcohol). 0/222=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.

How it’s made

Fischer esterification of salicylic acid with 1-hexanol. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying synthetic salicylic acid with hexanol, typically a petrochemical oxo-process alcohol. A minor natural-fatty-alcohol fraction is possible but not dominant.

In plain English

Hexyl Salicylate is a fragrance and UV-filter-boosting ingredient with a mild floral scent, used in perfumes and sunscreens. Both halves of the molecule are made through industrial chemical synthesis.

CosIng definition: Hexyl Salicylate is the organic compound that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Hexyl Salicylate

hexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

PubChem CID 22629 ↗

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 Salicylate. PubChem CID 22629. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HEXYL SALICYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HEXYL SALICYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HEXYL%20SALICYLATE