Is Terpineol natural? NOI 1.00

Q: Is Terpineol natural?

Terpineol has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 1.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Dominant route hydrates alpha-pinene from pine-tree turpentine with water; both feedstocks are natural, non-petrochemical terpenes. An NOI of 1.00 means 100% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Terpineol from acid-catalysed hydration of alpha-pinene (natural turpentine terpene) + water; both natural = 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

Acid-catalysed Markovnikov hydration of limonene. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Commercially made by acid-catalysed hydration of alpha-pinene obtained from sulfate or gum turpentine, a byproduct of pine resin and pulping. It also occurs naturally in many essential oils such as pine and petitgrain.

In plain English

A fragrance ingredient with a lilac-like scent, used to perfume cosmetics. It's typically made by reacting pine-tree turpentine with water, so it traces back to pine resin rather than petroleum.

CosIng definition: Terpineol; p-Menthenol (mixed isomers)

Structure

2-(4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)propan-2-ol

PubChem CID 17100 ↗

References

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.
2Terpineol. PubChem CID 17100. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
3TERPINEOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
4TERPINEOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=TERPINEOL