Database/Perfuming/Octanal
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Octanal natural?

It depends. Bulk fragrance-grade octanal is mostly made by petrochemical hydroformylation; a smaller natural share is distilled from citrus peel oils.

INCI nameOctanal
CAS124-13-0
FormulaC8H16O · 128.21 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMost octanal is synthesised from petrochemical heptene via…

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
Petrochemical oxo-synthesis1-heptene (petrochemical alpha-olefin)0.00~65%
Natural extractioncitrus peel essential oil1.00~35%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Two routes: (a) petrochemical oxo-synthesis, hydroformylation of 1-heptene, 0.0; (b) isolated from citrus essential oil, 1.0.
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 octanal is synthesised from petrochemical heptene via the oxo (hydroformylation) process. A minority is isolated by distillation from citrus essential oils.

In plain English

A fruity, citrus-like fragrance aldehyde. It's mostly manufactured synthetically from petroleum-derived building blocks, although it can also be isolated from citrus peel oils.

Natural alternatives with the same function

2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol 100% natural origin

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 Abies Alba Cone Extract 100% natural origin

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 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 Octanal

octanal

PubChem CID 454 ↗

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. 2Octanal. PubChem CID 454. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3OCTANAL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4OCTANAL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OCTANAL