Database/Emollient/Nonyl Acetate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Nonyl Acetate natural?

It depends. Nonanol, like nonanal, can come from oleic-acid ozonolysis or from petrochemical oxo synthesis, and the acetyl group is petrochemical. Same ruling as Nonanal.

INCI nameNonyl Acetate
CAS143-13-5
FormulaC11H22O2 · 186.29 Da
FunctionEmollient · Perfuming
FeedstockNonanol (from oleic-acid ozonolysis nonanal, or petrochemical octene…

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 nonylnonyl of natural origin + acetic acid from petrochemical synthesis0.77Nonyl fragment C9H19O 143.2/186.3 = 0.77.
syntheticnonyl and acetic acid both from petrochemical synthesis0.00No 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

Nonyl Acetate C11H22O2 186.3 Da: nonyl fragment C9H19O 143.2 Da is natural only from an essential-oil, balsam or turpentine source; the acetic acid fragment 43.0 Da is petrochemical in every commercial route. Routes: natural nonyl 0.77, synthetic 0.00. Headline shows the best route.
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

Nonanol (from oleic-acid ozonolysis nonanal, or petrochemical octene hydroformylation) esterified with acetic acid.

In plain English

An emollient and fragrance ingredient made by combining a fatty alcohol with acetic acid. It gives products a soft skin feel and a fruity scent.

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Structure

2D structure of Nonyl Acetate

nonyl acetate

PubChem CID 8918 ↗

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. 2Nonyl Acetate. PubChem CID 8918. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3NONYL ACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4NONYL ACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=NONYL%20ACETATE