Database/Perfuming/Menthyl Isovalerate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Menthyl Isovalerate natural?

It depends. Menthol from cornmint oil or lab synthesis; isovaleric acid from fermentation/valerian or petrochemical oxo process.

INCI nameMenthyl Isovalerate
CAS16409-46-4
FormulaC15H28O2 · 240.38 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMost commercial menthyl isovalerate is esterified from synthetic…

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 (dominant)lab-synthesised menthol + oxo-process isovaleric acid0.00~65%
naturalcornmint-oil menthol + fermentation/valerian isovaleric acid1.00~35%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Ester of menthol C10H20O (156) + isovaleric acid C5H10O2 (102) minus H2O = 240, matching given MW. Value depends entirely on feedstock route of each fragment. Headline shows the best route (1.00), as for every route-dependent entry on the site.
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

Most commercial menthyl isovalerate is esterified from synthetic menthol and oxo-process (petrochemical) isovaleric acid. A smaller natural-route supply uses cornmint-oil menthol with fermentation- or valerian-derived isovaleric acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a minty, herbaceous odour used to scent cosmetics. It is made by combining menthol, a minty plant compound, with isovaleric acid; either can come from natural or lab-made sources.

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Structure

2D structure of Menthyl Isovalerate

[(1R,2S,5R)-5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexyl] 3-methylbutanoate

PubChem CID 119900 ↗

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. 2Menthyl Isovalerate. PubChem CID 119900. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3MENTHYL ISOVALERATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4MENTHYL ISOVALERATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MENTHYL%20ISOVALERATE