Database/Perfuming/Phenethyl Butyrate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Phenethyl Butyrate natural?

It depends. Phenethyl alcohol and butyric acid both exist in natural and petrochemical grades. Same rulings as Phenethyl Alcohol and Ethyl Butyrate.

INCI namePhenethyl Butyrate
CAS103-52-6
FormulaC12H16O2 · 192.25 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockPhenethyl alcohol (rose-oil or fermentation grade, or benzene…

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 phenethyl and natural butyric acidphenethyl of natural origin + butyric acid from fermentation or natural isolates1.00Every carbon natural.
natural phenethylphenethyl of natural origin + butyric acid from petrochemical synthesis0.63Phenethyl fragment C8H9O 121.2/192.3 = 0.63.
syntheticphenethyl and butyric 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

Phenethyl Butyrate C12H16O2 192.3 Da: the phenethyl fragment C8H9O 121.2 Da is natural only from a natural source; the butyric acid fragment 71.1 Da is natural only when the acid comes from fermentation or a natural isolate. Routes: natural phenethyl and natural butyric acid 1.00, natural phenethyl 0.63, 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

Phenethyl alcohol (rose-oil or fermentation grade, or benzene + ethylene oxide) esterified with butyric acid (fermentation or oxo).

In plain English

A lab-made fragrance ingredient with a fruity, honey-like scent, used in tiny amounts to perfume creams and lotions.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Phenethyl Butyrate

2-phenylethyl butanoate

PubChem CID 7658 ↗

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 Butyrate. PubChem CID 7658. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PHENETHYL BUTYRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PHENETHYL BUTYRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PHENETHYL%20BUTYRATE