Is Menthyl Acetate natural? NOI route-dependent

Q: Is Menthyl Acetate natural?

Menthyl Acetate is a route-dependent ingredient — its NOI (0–1) depends on the manufacturing process used. The alcohol half of this fragrance ester comes either from an essential oil or from petrochemical synthesis; the acid half is petrochemical either way.

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.

Route	Feedstock	NOI	Share	Notes
natural menthol	menthol isolated from cornmint (Mentha arvensis) oil, esterified with acetic acid (petrochemical)	0.78	natural-fragrance grades	menthol fragment 155.3 Da natural of 198.3 Da; the acetic acid acyl 43.0 Da is petrochemical
synthetic menthol	menthol made from petrochemical m-cresol/thymol or citral (synthetic menthol), esterified with acetic acid (petrochemical)	0.00	bulk fragrance grades	no natural-origin atoms

Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Terpene esters are route-dependent by site policy. menthol fragment 155.3 Da + acetic acid acyl 43.0 Da = 198.3 Da. Natural-menthol route 155.3/198.3 = 0.78; synthetic-menthol route 0.0. Acetic/formic/propionic acids are petrochemical by this site's convention.

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

menthol (natural or synthetic) esterified with acetic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance and cooling ingredient with a minty scent used in perfumes and refreshing products. Made by combining menthol, mostly sourced from mint plants grown for oil, with acetic acid.

Natural alternatives with the same function

2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol 100% natural origin

Dihydromyrcenol, a fresh, citrus-lime, slightly metallic fragrance ingredient used in many perfumes and cleaning products. It is made…

4-Terpineol 100% natural origin

A woody, peppery-smelling terpene alcohol and the main fragrant component of tea tree oil. It is used for…

Abies Alba Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

Essential oil distilled from fir tree needles, used for its fresh, woody fragrance. A whole natural essential oil.

Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

A sticky resin tapped from balsam fir trees, used for its piney scent and to form a thin…

Abies Sachalinensis Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from Sakhalin fir needles, giving a fresh, woody fragrance to cosmetics and perfumes. It…

Abies Sibirica Oil 100% natural origin

A fresh, piney fragrance oil steam-distilled from Siberian fir needles and branches. It comes directly from the tree…

References

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.
2MENTHYL ACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3MENTHYL ACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MENTHYL%20ACETATE