Database/Solvent/Isoamyl Acetate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Isoamyl Acetate natural?

It depends. Banana-scented ester whose alcohol half comes either from fermentation fusel oil or from petrochemicals.

INCI nameIsoamyl Acetate
CAS123-92-2
FormulaC7H14O2 · 130.18 Da
FunctionSolvent
FeedstockIsoamyl alcohol (fusel oil or petrochemical) and acetic…

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
fusel-oil isoamyl alcoholisoamyl alcohol from fermentation fusel oil, esterified with acetic acid (petrochemical)0.67natural flavour and fragrance gradesisoamyl fragment C5H11O 87.1 Da natural of 130.2 Da
synthetic isoamyl alcoholisoamyl alcohol from petrochemical isopentene / isopentane, esterified with acetic acid0.00bulk gradesno natural-origin atoms
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Isoamyl-O fragment C5H11O 87.1 Da + acetyl C2H3O 43.0 Da = 130.2 Da. Fusel-oil route 87.1/130.2 = 0.67; petrochemical route 0.0. Two commercial routes, so route-dependent.
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 isoamyl alcohol with acetic acid. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Isoamyl alcohol (fusel oil or petrochemical) and acetic acid.

In plain English

A fruity, banana-scented solvent and flavour ingredient. Its alcohol portion often comes from a natural fermentation by-product, while the acetic-acid portion is typically produced synthetically.

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Structure

2D structure of Isoamyl Acetate

3-methylbutyl acetate

PubChem CID 31276 ↗

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. 2Isoamyl Acetate. PubChem CID 31276. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOAMYL ACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOAMYL ACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOAMYL%20ACETATE