Database/Fragrance/Isoamyl Cinnamate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Isoamyl Cinnamate natural?

It depends. Isoamyl alcohol can come from fermentation fusel oil or petrochemical oxo synthesis; cinnamic acid can be extracted/bio-derived or made from petrochemical benzaldehyde.

INCI nameIsoamyl Cinnamate
CAS7779-65-9
FormulaC14H18O2 · 218.29 Da
FunctionFragrance
FeedstockDominant commercial supply is fully synthetic: isoamyl alcohol…

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
synthetic esterificationpetrochemical benzaldehyde-derived cinnamic acid + oxo-process isoamyl alcohol0.00~70%
natural sourcingfusel-oil isoamyl alcohol + plant/balsam-derived cinnamic acid1.00~30%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Ester of isoamyl alcohol + cinnamic acid; both have a natural (fusel-oil alcohol / balsam-derived acid) and synthetic (oxo-alcohol / Perkin-synthesised acid) commercial route. Headline shows the best route (1.00), as for every route-dependent entry on the site.
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

Dominant commercial supply is fully synthetic: isoamyl alcohol from the oxo process and cinnamic acid via Perkin condensation of benzaldehyde. A smaller natural-route supply uses fusel-oil isoamyl alcohol and plant-derived cinnamic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a sweet, fruity-balsamic smell, made by combining an alcohol with cinnamic acid. Both building blocks have natural and synthetic sources; used purely for scent.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Isoamyl Cinnamate

3-methylbutyl (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate

PubChem CID 5273467 ↗

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 Cinnamate. PubChem CID 5273467. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOAMYL CINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOAMYL CINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOAMYL%20CINNAMATE