Database/Cleansing/Ammonium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Ammonium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate natural?

Mostly not. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate: the dodecylbenzene skeleton and the ammonium counter-ion are petrochemical; only the sulfonate group, from mineral sulfur trioxide, counts as natural.

INCI nameAmmonium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CAS1331-61-9
FormulaC18H33NO3S · 343.5 Da
FunctionCleansing · Foaming
FeedstockPetrochemical dodecylbenzene sulfonated with sulfur trioxide and neutralised…

How we scored it

C18H33NO3S 343.5 Da: sulfonate SO3 80.1 Da (mineral sulfur trioxide, natural); dodecylbenzene C18H29 and NH4 (petrochemical) → 0.23. Same method as Sodium and TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate.
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

Petrochemical dodecylbenzene sulfonated with sulfur trioxide and neutralised with ammonia.

In plain English

A strong foaming detergent made from petroleum-derived ingredients. It's used in cleansers to cut through oil and grease.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Achillea Millefolium Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from yarrow, a traditional herb, used to refresh and condition skin and help control oiliness. It's…

 Achillea Millefolium Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, used for its scent and soothing, cleansing properties. It comes directly…

 Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide 100% natural origin

A short chain of glucose sugar units made by fermenting sucrose with a bacterial enzyme. Used to cleanse,…

 Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

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

 Babassu Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of fatty acids from babassu palm seed oil, used to cleanse and help stabilise the texture…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

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

Structure

2D structure of Ammonium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

azanium 2-dodecylbenzenesulfonate

PubChem CID 21881409 ↗

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. 2Ammonium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate. PubChem CID 21881409. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3AMMONIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4AMMONIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=AMMONIUM%20DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE