Database/Perfuming/Phenylacetaldehyde
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Phenylacetaldehyde natural?

No. The phenyl ring is a petrochemical benzene derivative, and commercial supply is synthesized rather than naturally isolated.

INCI namePhenylacetaldehyde
CAS122-78-1
FormulaC8H8O · 120.15 Da
FunctionPerfuming · Flavouring
FeedstockManufactured synthetically, typically via isomerization of styrene oxide…

How we scored it

Phenyl ring is a benzene derivative (petrochemical); dominant commercial synthesis is from styrene/ethylbenzene, not natural extraction = 0.0.
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

Manufactured synthetically, typically via isomerization of styrene oxide or from ethylbenzene. Trace natural occurrence in flowers like hyacinth is not a commercial source.

In plain English

A honey-like, floral-scented fragrance ingredient. It is mainly manufactured synthetically from petrochemical aromatic feedstocks, though trace amounts occur naturally in some flowers.

CosIng definition: Phenylacetaldehyde is the aldehyde that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Phenylacetaldehyde

2-phenylacetaldehyde

PubChem CID 998 ↗

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. 2Phenylacetaldehyde. PubChem CID 998. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PHENYLACETALDEHYDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PHENYLACETALDEHYDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PHENYLACETALDEHYDE