Database/Denaturant/Methyl Salicylate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Methyl Salicylate natural?

It depends. Value depends on source: distilled directly from wintergreen/birch bark oil (natural) or esterified from synthetic salicylic acid plus methanol (petrochemical).

INCI nameMethyl Salicylate
CAS119-36-8
FormulaC8H8O3 · 152.15 Da
FunctionDenaturant · Oral Care
FeedstockDominant cosmetic/pharma-grade supply is synthesised by esterifying 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 distillationSteam-distilled Gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen) or Betula lenta (sweet birch) bark oil, ~99% natural methyl salicylate as-is1.00minor, roughly 5-10%
Synthetic esterificationPetrochemical salicylic acid (phenol/Kolbe-Schmitt route) esterified with methanol0.00dominant, roughly 90-95%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Methanol (petrochemical) esterified with salicylic acid; value depends on the acid's source — synthetic phenol-derived acid gives 0.0, wintergreen-distilled material gives 1.0. No midpoint.
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

Fischer esterification of salicylic acid with methanol. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Dominant cosmetic/pharma-grade supply is synthesised by esterifying petrochemical salicylic acid with methanol. A minor natural-origin supply is steam-distilled from wintergreen or sweet birch bark oil.

In plain English

Gives a minty, medicinal scent and soothing feel in oral care and topical products. Usually made in a factory from a lab-made acid and alcohol, though a natural version exists too, distilled straight from wintergreen or birch bark oil.

CosIng definition: Methyl Salicylate is the ester of methyl alcohol and salicylic acid. It conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Methyl Salicylate

methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate

PubChem CID 4133 ↗

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. 2Methyl Salicylate. PubChem CID 4133. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3METHYL SALICYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4METHYL SALICYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=METHYL%20SALICYLATE