Database/Fragrance/p-Anisic Acid
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is p-Anisic Acid natural?

It depends. Made either from petrochemical cresol/anisole or by oxidising natural anethole from anise oil, depending on supplier.

INCI namep-Anisic Acid
CAS100-09-4
FormulaC8H8O3 · 152.15 Da
FunctionFragrance
FeedstockMost commercial anisic acid is synthesised by oxidising…

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
Oxidation of petrochemical p-cresol/anisolepetrochemical p-cresol or anisole0.00~65%
Oxidation of anethole from anise/star anise oilanise or star anise 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

Benzoic-acid derivative; petrochemical p-cresol/anisole oxidation route = 0/total, natural anethole-oxidation route = total/total = 1.0; routes not averaged.
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 commercial anisic acid is synthesised by oxidising petrochemical p-cresol or anisole. A smaller volume for natural-fragrance use is made by oxidising anethole from anise or star anise essential oil.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a sweet, anise-like scent, used to perfume cosmetics. It can be made by oxidising anethole from anise or fennel oil, but most commercial supply is synthesised from petrochemical aromatic chemicals.

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Structure

2D structure of p-Anisic Acid

4-methoxybenzoic acid

PubChem CID 7478 ↗

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. 2p-Anisic Acid. PubChem CID 7478. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3P-ANISIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4P-ANISIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=P-ANISIC%20ACID