3-Hexenol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used primarily as a fragrance component, adding a fresh, green, cut-grass odor note to perfumes, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products.
What does 3-Hexenol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used primarily as a fragrance component, adding a fresh, green, cut-grass odor note to perfumes, shampoos, lotions, and other personal care products.
Is 3-Hexenol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it sits in the fragrance category, where transparency and sensitization potential matter more than the molecule being inherently controversial. It is typically used at low levels and may be subject to IFRA concentration guidance depending on product type and total fragrance composition.
Is 3-Hexenol sustainable?
This material can be produced from plant-derived sources or by synthesis, so its sustainability profile depends heavily on sourcing. It is a small volatile alcohol that is expected to biodegrade, but it can contribute to overall fragrance VOC load.
Is 3-Hexenol COSMOS-approved?
It can fit COSMOS only when used as part of a fragrance that meets natural aromatic ingredient requirements, while synthetic versions generally do not align with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic fragrance rules. From a Green Chemistry lens, renewable sourcing and ready biodegradability are positives, while volatility and synthesis route transparency are the main caveats.
How does 3-Hexenol work chemically?
The molecule is a six-carbon unsaturated primary alcohol, which gives it high odor impact, moderate polarity, and good compatibility with many fragrance bases. It is normally used in very small fragrance-level amounts, and the carbon-carbon double bond means formulas should be protected from excessive heat, light, and oxidation where odor stability matters.
Last updated 2026-05-13