Database/Fragrance/Phenethyl Alcohol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Phenethyl Alcohol natural?

It depends. An aromatic alcohol either synthesized from petrochemical benzene or extracted/bio-fermented from natural rose-scented sources, depending on grade.

INCI namePhenethyl Alcohol
CAS60-12-8
FormulaC8H10O · 122.16 Da
FunctionFragrance
FeedstockMost commercial material is synthesized via Friedel-Crafts alkylation…

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 synthesisBenzene + ethylene oxide (Friedel-Crafts)0.00majority of global commodity supply
Natural extraction / bio-fermentationRose or geranium essential oil; yeast bioconversion of L-phenylalanine1.00minority, used for natural-certified fragrance
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Route-dependent: petrochemical benzene+ethylene-oxide route=0.0 (dominant, bulk fragrance supply); natural rose-oil/yeast-bioconversion route=1.0 (smaller, natural-certified niche); no single mass fraction applies.
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.

How it’s made

Friedel–Crafts hydroxyethylation of benzene with ethylene oxide (AlCl₃). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Most commercial material is synthesized via Friedel-Crafts alkylation of petrochemical benzene with ethylene oxide. A smaller natural-certified supply is extracted from rose or geranium oil, or produced by yeast bioconversion of the amino acid phenylalanine.

In plain English

An aromatic alcohol most often made industrially from petrochemical feedstock, though it also occurs naturally in rose and other flowers. Provides a rose-like scent.

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…

 4-Terpineol 100% natural origin

A woody, peppery-smelling terpene alcohol and the main fragrant component of tea tree oil. It is used for…

 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 Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

A sticky resin tapped from balsam fir trees, used for its piney scent and to form a thin…

 Abies Sachalinensis Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from Sakhalin fir needles, giving a fresh, woody fragrance to cosmetics and perfumes. It…

 Abies Sibirica Oil 100% natural origin

A fresh, piney fragrance oil steam-distilled from Siberian fir needles and branches. It comes directly from the tree…

Structure

2D structure of Phenethyl Alcohol

2-phenylethanol

PubChem CID 6054 ↗

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. 2Phenethyl Alcohol. PubChem CID 6054. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PHENETHYL ALCOHOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PHENETHYL ALCOHOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PHENETHYL%20ALCOHOL