Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Oleth-2
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Oleth-2 natural?

Mostly. Natural oleyl alcohol (from oleic acid) is ethoxylated with two petrochemical ethylene-oxide units.

INCI nameOleth-2
CAS9004-98-2
FormulaC22H44O3 · 356.6 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating oleyl alcohol, typically from vegetable…

How we scored it

Oleyl alcohol C18H36O 268.5 Da (oleochemical) + 2 EO 88.1 Da (petrochemical) → 268.5/356.6 = 0.75.
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

Made by ethoxylating oleyl alcohol, typically from vegetable oleic acid (e.g. palm/olive), with about 2 moles ethylene oxide. A minor tallow-derived supply also exists.

In plain English

An emulsifying, cleansing ingredient made from plant-derived oleyl alcohol reacted with a small amount of ethylene oxide. It helps blend oil and water in creams and cleansers.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-9-(Z)-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy (2 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

Structure

2D structure of Oleth-2

2-[2-[(Z)-octadec-9-enoxy]ethoxy]ethanol

PubChem CID 13387455 ↗

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. 2Oleth-2. PubChem CID 13387455. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3OLETH-2. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4OLETH-2. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OLETH-2