Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Beheneth-5
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Beheneth-5 natural?

Mostly. Behenyl chain from natural fats (rapeseed/mustard oleochemical, natural); the 5-unit polyoxyethylene chain from petrochemical ethylene oxide.

INCI nameBeheneth-5
CAS26636-40-8
FormulaC28H58O4 · 458.8 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockManufactured by ethoxylating behenyl (docosyl) alcohol, typically oleochemical…

How we scored it

Docosanol C22H46O (natural/oleochemical, 327 Da) + 5 EO (petrochemical, C2H4O x5 = 220 Da) = 327/547 = 0.60. Given formula (C28H58O4/459) is a 3-EO congener, mismatched with CosIng's stated 5 mol EO; recalculated from the description.
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

Manufactured by ethoxylating behenyl (docosyl) alcohol, typically oleochemical from hydrogenated rapeseed or mustard seed oil. A synthetic petrochemical docosanol source is technically possible but not typical for cosmetic grade.

In plain English

An emulsifier made by reacting behenyl alcohol, a natural C22 fatty alcohol, with a short chain of ethylene oxide, a petrochemical.

CosIng definition: Docosanol, ethoxylated, 5 mol EO (average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

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 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

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 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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 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 Beheneth-5

2-[2-(2-docosoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol

PubChem CID 86141788 ↗

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. 2Beheneth-5. PubChem CID 86141788. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BEHENETH-5. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BEHENETH-5. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BEHENETH-5