Database/Antistatic/Behentrimonium Chloride
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Behentrimonium Chloride natural?

Mostly. Behenyl chain is oleochemical and chloride is a mineral ion; the trimethylammonium head is made from petrochemical methanol and ammonia.

INCI nameBehentrimonium Chloride
CAS17301-53-0
FormulaC25H54ClN · 404.2 Da
FunctionAntistatic · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockQuaternary ammonium salt of behenyl alcohol, a natural…

How we scored it

Behenyl C22H45 309.6 Da (natural) + Cl 35.5 Da (natural, mineral) = 345.1 Da; N(CH3)3 59.1 Da (petrochemical). 345.1/404.2=0.85.
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

Menshutkin quaternisation of behenyl dimethylamine with methyl chloride (SN2). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Quaternary ammonium salt of behenyl alcohol, a natural C22 fatty alcohol typically from rapeseed, with a trimethylammonium chloride head group. The methyl groups and nitrogen source are conventionally petrochemical.

In plain English

A conditioning agent made from a long vegetable-oil-derived fatty chain attached to a synthetic ammonium head group. It is widely used in hair conditioners to reduce static and improve combing.

CosIng definition: Behentrimonium Chloride is the quaternary ammonium salt that conforms to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of lemon aspen, an Australian native fruit, used to condition skin and hair and help hold…

 Alanine 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin and hair conditioning, part of skin's natural moisturising factor. Made by fermenting…

 Arginine 100% natural origin

An amino acid found in skin and hair proteins, used for conditioning and moisture-binding. Made by fermenting plant…

 Asparagine 100% natural origin

An amino acid made by fermenting plant sugars, similar to other food-fermentation processes. Helps condition hair and skin…

 Aspartic Acid 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin conditioning and moisture retention. Usually produced by fermentation or by an enzyme…

 Capryloyl Hydrolyzed Collagen 100% natural origin

Collagen broken into small protein fragments and attached to caprylic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid from coconut or…

Structure

2D structure of Behentrimonium Chloride

docosyl(trimethyl)azanium chloride

PubChem CID 3014969 ↗

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. 2Behentrimonium Chloride. PubChem CID 3014969. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BEHENTRIMONIUM%20CHLORIDE