Database/Fragrance/Menthoxypropanediol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Menthoxypropanediol natural?

It depends. The glyceryl ether linker is petrochemical glycidol; the menthol is natural origin from cornmint oil or pine terpenes and petrochemical from m-cresol or isobutylene-based citral.

INCI nameMenthoxypropanediol
CAS87061-04-9
FormulaC13H26O3 · 230.34 Da
FunctionFragrance · Refreshing
FeedstockMade by reacting l-menthol with glycidol, a petrochemical…

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 or pine-derived l-menthol + glycidol ethermenthol from cornmint oil or made from pine-turpentine myrcene; petrochemical glycidol0.68majority
Petrochemical l-menthol + glycidol ethermenthol made from m-cresol or isobutylene-based citral; petrochemical glycidol0.00minority
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Menthol C10H20O 156 Da + glycidol ether linker C3H6O2 74 Da, no mass lost in the epoxide ring-opening: 156/230 = 0.68 when the menthol is from cornmint or pine-turpentine myrcene, 0.00 when it is made from m-cresol or petrochemical citral.
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

Menthol alkoxide opens glycidol at the CH₂ (SN2), then protonation. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made by reacting l-menthol with glycidol, a petrochemical epoxide, under base catalysis. The menthol comes from cornmint oil or is made from pine-turpentine myrcene (both natural origin), or is made from petrochemical m-cresol or citral.

In plain English

A cooling agent used in products meant to feel refreshing on skin or teeth, such as aftershaves and toothpaste. It's made by joining menthol, which can come from mint oil or be made synthetically, to a small synthetic glycerol-like linker molecule.

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Structure

2D structure of Menthoxypropanediol

3-(5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexyl)oxypropane-1,2-diol

PubChem CID 5362595 ↗

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. 2Menthoxypropanediol. PubChem CID 5362595. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL