Database/Perfuming/Neryl Formate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Neryl Formate natural?

It depends. The nerol can come from essential oils or pine terpenes (natural origin) or from petrochemical citral, while the formyl group is always petrochemical, so even the natural route cannot reach 1.0.

INCI nameNeryl Formate
CAS2142-94-1
FormulaC11H18O2 · 182.26 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockNerol (natural isolate or synthetic) esterified with formic…

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 nerolnerol isolated from neroli, palmarosa or citronella oils or made from pine-turpentine terpenes, esterified with formic acid0.84Neryl 153.2/182.3 = 0.84; formyl CHO is petrochemical.
petrochemical nerolnerol from isobutylene-based citral or isoprene chemistry, esterified with formic acid0.00No natural carbon.
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 C11H18O2 182.3 Da. Neryl fragment C10H17O 153.2 Da is natural when the nerol comes from essential oils or pine turpentine; formyl CHO 29.0 Da is petrochemical in every route → natural or pine-derived nerol 153.2/182.3 = 0.84, petrochemical nerol 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

Nerol (natural isolate or synthetic) esterified with formic acid.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a fresh, rose-like, fruity scent related to rose and citronella oils. It can be isolated from natural essential oils or made synthetically, and is used to scent cosmetics and perfumes.

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 Neryl Formate

[(2Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] formate

PubChem CID 5354882 ↗

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. 2Neryl Formate. PubChem CID 5354882. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3NERYL FORMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4NERYL FORMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=NERYL%20FORMATE