Database/Emollient/Ethylhexyl Pelargonate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Ethylhexyl Pelargonate natural?

Mostly. Pelargonic acid is taken as oleochemical (cleavage of oleic acid), while 2-ethylhexanol is a petrochemical oxo alcohol made from propylene.

INCI nameEthylhexyl Pelargonate
CAS59587-44-9
FormulaC17H34O2 · 270.5 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockPelargonic (nonanoic) acid from ozonolysis of vegetable oleic…

How we scored it

C17H34O2, 270.5 Da: nonanoyl C9H17O 141.2 natural (oleic-acid cleavage); 2-ethylhexoxy C8H17O 129.2 petrochemical (oxo alcohol). 141.2 / 270.5 = 0.52.
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

Pelargonic (nonanoic) acid from ozonolysis of vegetable oleic acid is esterified with petrochemical 2-ethylhexanol. Some pelargonic acid is made by oxo chemistry from octene, which would give 0.00; supplier note.

In plain English

A light, fast-spreading emollient ester that gives skin a smooth, non-oily feel and helps dissolve other oils. It is made by joining pelargonic acid, normally from vegetable oil, to 2-ethylhexanol, which comes from petrochemicals.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethylhexyl Pelargonate

2-ethylhexyl nonanoate

PubChem CID 101087 ↗

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. 2Ethylhexyl Pelargonate. PubChem CID 101087. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYLHEXYL PELARGONATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYLHEXYL PELARGONATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYLHEXYL%20PELARGONATE