Database/Emollient/Cetyl Palmitate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Cetyl Palmitate natural?

Yes. Both the cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid halves of this ester are natural fatty-fat derivatives; no synthetic fragment.

INCI nameCetyl Palmitate
CAS540-10-3
FormulaC32H64O2 · 480.8 Da
FunctionEmollient · Fragrance
FeedstockMade by esterifying natural cetyl alcohol with natural…

How we scored it

Ester of cetyl alcohol (C16, natural) + palmitic acid (C16, natural); both fragments oleochemical → 1.00.
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

Fischer esterification of palmitic acid with cetyl alcohol. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying natural cetyl alcohol with natural palmitic acid, both typically sourced from palm or coconut oil. Sometimes obtained directly as a component of purified natural wax blends.

In plain English

A wax-like ester that softens skin and adds body to creams. It is built entirely from two natural fatty components derived from vegetable oil.

Structure

2D structure of Cetyl Palmitate

hexadecyl hexadecanoate

PubChem CID 10889 ↗

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. 2Cetyl Palmitate. PubChem CID 10889. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CETYL PALMITATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CETYL PALMITATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CETYL%20PALMITATE