Database/Fragrance/Raspberry Ketone
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Raspberry Ketone natural?

It depends. Actual fruit extraction is commercially negligible; nearly all supply is synthesized, with a smaller biotechnological route sold for natural-flavor claims.

INCI nameRaspberry Ketone
CAS5471-51-2
FunctionFragrance · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMost raspberry ketone is chemically synthesized from petrochemical…

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 synthesisp-hydroxybenzaldehyde + acetone, petrochemical0.00~90%
biotransformation or extractionmicrobial bioconversion or fruit extraction, natural1.00~10%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Dominant route: synthesized from petrochemical p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and acetone, gives 0.0. Minor route: biotech bioconversion or direct extraction, sold as natural, gives 1.0.
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.

How it’s made

Aldol condensation of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with acetone; hydrogenation named. The film draws the key step and names the steps after it. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Most raspberry ketone is chemically synthesized from petrochemical p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and acetone, since natural fruit content is too low to extract economically. A smaller natural-labeled supply is made by microbial bioconversion.

In plain English

A sweet, fruity fragrance and flavor compound reminiscent of raspberries. Almost all commercial supply is made synthetically from petrochemical feedstocks; a small natural biotech-derived supply also exists.

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Structure

2D structure of Raspberry Ketone

PubChem CID 21648 ↗

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. 2Raspberry Ketone. PubChem CID 21648. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3RASPBERRY KETONE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4RASPBERRY KETONE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=RASPBERRY%20KETONE