Database/Perfuming/Methylundecanal
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Methylundecanal natural?

It depends. Darzens route keeps the oleochemical capric-acid C10 skeleton but adds petrochemical acetic-acid methyl and chloroacetate carbons; the undecanal-formaldehyde route is wholly petrochemical.

INCI nameMethylundecanal
CAS110-41-8
FormulaC12H24O · 184.32 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockDominant route is uncertain: methyl nonyl ketone (capric…

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
Darzens condensation of methyl nonyl ketoneCapric acid (coconut or palm kernel) plus petrochemical acetic acid and chloroacetate0.76about 40% (estimate)
Undecanal methylenation with formaldehyde, then hydrogenationPetrochemical 1-decene hydroformylation and methanol-derived formaldehyde0.00about 60% (estimate)
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

C12H24O, 184.32 Da. Darzens route: nonyl + CH from capric acid, 10 C, 20 H = 140.3 natural; methyl and CHO from acetic acid/chloroacetate = 44.0 petrochemical: 0.76. Petrochemical route: 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.

Where it comes from

Dominant route is uncertain: methyl nonyl ketone (capric plus acetic acid) condensed with chloroacetate in a Darzens reaction, or undecanal (decene hydroformylation) methylenated with formaldehyde and hydrogenated. The first keeps oleochemical carbon, the second is wholly petrochemical.

In plain English

A synthetic aldehyde fragrance ingredient with a clean, waxy, soapy-citrus scent. It is made in a chemical plant, using either a fatty-acid-derived ketone or wholly petrochemical building blocks, depending on the supplier.

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…

 Abies Alba Cone Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from fir tree cones that adds a fresh, forest-like scent to cosmetic products.

 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 Alba Needle Extract 100% natural origin

A fir-needle extract used mainly to add a fresh, woody scent to cosmetics. It comes from extracting the…

 Abies Alba Needle Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from the needles of the European silver fir. It gives fragrances and toiletries a…

 Abies Balsamea Needle Extract 100% natural origin

A balsam fir needle extract used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, made by extracting the needles of…

Structure

2D structure of Methylundecanal

2-methylundecanal

PubChem CID 61031 ↗

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. 2Methylundecanal. PubChem CID 61031. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3METHYLUNDECANAL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4METHYLUNDECANAL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=METHYLUNDECANAL