Database/Fragrance/Linalyl Acetate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Linalyl Acetate natural?

It depends. The previous table had only the fully natural and fully synthetic ends and skipped the middle case, even though the sibling linalyl propionate entry carries it. Linalool is produced at scale from pine turpentine as well as from petrochemical building blocks, and the acetyl cap is petrochemical in every case except direct oil distillation.

INCI nameLinalyl Acetate
CAS115-95-7
FormulaC12H20O2 · 196.29 Da
FunctionFragrance
FeedstockA large natural stream is distilled from lavandin…

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 essential oil isolationLavandin or lavender oil distillation1.00~45%
Pine-derived linalool acetylated with petrochemical acetic anhydridealpha-pinene from turpentine; acetic anhydride0.78~25%only the 43.04 Da acetyl cap is petrochemical
Petrochemical linalool acetylated with acetic anhydrideacetylene/acetone route linalool; acetic anhydride0.00~30%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Linalyl acetate is C12H20O2, 196.29 Da: the linalyl fragment C10H17O is 153.25 Da and the acetyl cap C2H3O is 43.04 Da. Material distilled from lavandin or lavender oil is a whole natural molecule, 1.00. Pine-derived linalool acetylated with petrochemical acetic anhydride gives 153.25/196.29 = 0.78. Petrochemical linalool acetylated the same way gives 0.00.
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

Acetylation of linalool with acetic anhydride. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

A large natural stream is distilled from lavandin or lavender oil, which is naturally rich in linalyl acetate. The rest is made by acetylating linalool with acetic anhydride; that linalool comes either from alpha-pinene in turpentine or from petrochemical acetylene and acetone chemistry.

In plain English

A floral, lavender-like fragrance ingredient used to scent perfumes and cosmetics. It occurs naturally in lavender and bergamot oils, and is also made synthetically by acetylating manufactured linalool.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

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 Abies Sachalinensis Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Linalyl Acetate

3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-yl acetate

PubChem CID 8294 ↗

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. 2Linalyl Acetate. PubChem CID 8294. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3LINALYL ACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4LINALYL ACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=LINALYL%20ACETATE