Database/Fragrance/p-Cymene
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is p-Cymene natural?

It depends. Natural route isolates or dehydrogenates p-cymene from essential oils/limonene; the larger-volume industrial route alkylates petrochemical toluene.

INCI namep-Cymene
CAS99-87-6
FormulaC10H14 · 134.22 Da
FunctionFragrance
FeedstockBulk industrial p-cymene is commonly made by Friedel-Crafts…

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
Isolated from essential oils or dehydrogenation of natural d-limonenecitrus terpenes / crude sulfate turpentine1.00~40%
Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene with propylenepetrochemical toluene0.00~60%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Whole-molecule route split, no fragment arithmetic; value depends entirely on which commercial synthesis route supplied the material.
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

Bulk industrial p-cymene is commonly made by Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene with propylene. A natural-origin supply also exists from citrus terpenes, turpentine fractions, and limonene dehydrogenation.

In plain English

An aromatic compound with a fresh, citrusy-herbal scent used as a fragrance ingredient. It occurs naturally in thyme and cumin oils, but is also manufactured from petrochemical building blocks.

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Structure

2D structure of p-Cymene

1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylbenzene

PubChem CID 7463 ↗

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-Cymene. PubChem CID 7463. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3P-CYMENE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4P-CYMENE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=P-CYMENE