Database/Perfuming/Isoeugenol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Isoeugenol natural?

It depends. Can be made by simply rearranging natural clove-oil eugenol, or built from petrochemical guaiacol; both routes are used commercially.

INCI nameIsoeugenol
CAS97-54-1
FormulaC10H12O2 · 164.20 Da
FunctionPerfuming · Flavouring
FeedstockProduced either by base-catalysed isomerisation of eugenol from…

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
natural isomerisationclove leaf oil eugenol1.00uncertain
syntheticguaiacol (petrochemical)0.00uncertain
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Natural route: isomerisation of eugenol from clove oil (rearrangement only, no added atoms), NOI 1.0. Synthetic route: from petrochemical guaiacol, NOI 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

Base-catalysed isomerisation of eugenol (allylic deprotonation, reprotonation). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Produced either by base-catalysed isomerisation of eugenol from clove leaf oil, which adds no external mass, or synthetically from petrochemical guaiacol. Market share between the two routes is unclear and regulation has reduced overall use.

In plain English

A clove-scented fragrance ingredient. Can be made by rearranging a natural clove-oil compound or built from scratch in a lab; it's a known allergen with restricted use.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Abies Alba Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Isoeugenol

2-methoxy-4-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]phenol

PubChem CID 853433 ↗

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. 2Isoeugenol. PubChem CID 853433. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOEUGENOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOEUGENOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOEUGENOL