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

Is Phenethyl Cinnamate natural?

It depends. Both halves exist in natural and synthetic grades: phenethyl alcohol from fermentation or rose oil, cinnamic acid from balsams. Most commercial material is synthetic, but the site shows the best route. Same rulings as Phenethyl Alcohol and Cinnamyl Alcohol.

INCI namePhenethyl Cinnamate
CAS103-53-7
FormulaC17H16O2 · 252.31 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 cinnamic acidphenethyl isolated from essential oils or balsams + cinnamic acid from fermentation or natural isolates1.00Every carbon natural.
natural phenethylphenethyl of natural origin + cinnamic acid from petrochemical synthesis0.48Phenethyl fragment C8H9O 121.2/252.3 = 0.48.
syntheticphenethyl and cinnamic 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 Cinnamate C17H16O2 252.3 Da: phenethyl fragment C8H9O 121.2 Da is natural only from an essential-oil, balsam or turpentine source; the cinnamic acid fragment 131.2 Da is natural only when the acid is a fermentation or natural isolate. Routes: natural phenethyl and natural cinnamic acid 1.00, natural phenethyl 0.48, 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 cinnamic acid (storax/cinnamon or Perkin synthesis).

In plain English

A sweet, balsamic floral fragrance ingredient made in a lab from petroleum-derived aromatic building blocks, used to scent perfumes and fragranced cosmetic products.

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Structure

2D structure of Phenethyl Cinnamate

2-phenylethyl (E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate

PubChem CID 5369459 ↗

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 Cinnamate. PubChem CID 5369459. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PHENETHYL CINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PHENETHYL CINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PHENETHYL%20CINNAMATE