Database/Deodorant/Linalool
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Linalool natural?

It depends. Most linalool is built from petrochemical methylheptenone; linalool made from pine-turpentine α-pinene or distilled from essential oils is natural origin.

INCI nameLinalool
CAS78-70-6
FormulaC10H18O · 154.25 Da
FunctionDeodorant · Perfuming
FeedstockMost commercial linalool is synthesised from petrochemical methylheptenone…

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 via methylheptenonepetrochemical methylheptenone (acetone and acetylene, or isobutylene and formaldehyde)0.00~75%
From pine α-pineneα-pinene from pine turpentine → pinane → pinanol → linalool1.00~10%
Natural isolationessential oil distillation (coriander, rosewood, ho wood, lavender)1.00~15%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Route-dependent: linalool distilled from essential oils or made from pine-turpentine α-pinene is a whole natural terpenoid (1.00); linalool built from petrochemical methylheptenone is 0.00. Routes not averaged.
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

Ethynylation of methylheptenone (acetylide + ketone) → dehydrolinalool. The film draws the key step and names the steps after it. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Most commercial linalool is synthesised from petrochemical methylheptenone (made from acetone and acetylene, or isobutylene and formaldehyde). Linalool made from α-pinene in pine turpentine, and linalool distilled from rosewood, ho wood, lavender or coriander oil, are natural origin.

In plain English

A floral-smelling fragrance ingredient used to scent cosmetics. Most is built from petrochemicals, but linalool distilled from lavender, coriander or rosewood oil, or made from pine terpenes, is natural origin.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Aluminum Bromohydrate 100% natural origin

An antiperspirant and astringent mineral salt of aluminum and bromine, chemically similar to the more common aluminum chlorohydrate.…

 Aluminum Calcium Copper Sodium Borosilicate 100% natural origin

A fine glass powder containing copper, used as a deodorant ingredient in some products. It is made by…

 Aluminum Chloride 100% natural origin

A mineral salt used in antiperspirants and deodorants to reduce sweat and odor, and as an astringent. It's…

 Aluminum Chlorohydrate 100% natural origin

A mineral aluminium salt used in antiperspirants to reduce underarm wetness by temporarily blocking sweat ducts; refined from…

 Aluminum Dichlorohydrate 100% natural origin

The active ingredient in many antiperspirants, reducing underarm wetness. It's a simple mineral salt of aluminum, chloride and…

 Aluminum Lactate 100% natural origin

Aluminum lactate is a mineral salt of lactic acid, used in deodorants for its astringent, sweat-reducing properties and…

Structure

2D structure of Linalool

3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol

PubChem CID 6549 ↗

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. 2Linalool. PubChem CID 6549. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3LINALOOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4LINALOOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=LINALOOL