Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/C11-15 Pareth-15
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is C11-15 Pareth-15 natural?

No. An ethoxylate of a synthetic odd-and-even-carbon alcohol blend; both the alcohol and the ethylene-oxide chain come from petrochemicals.

INCI nameC11-15 Pareth-15
CAS173244-48-9
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockOxo-process C11-15 alcohols ethoxylated with about 15 mol…

How we scored it

C11-15 Pareth-15: the C11-15 alcohol blend is made by oxo or Ziegler synthesis from petrochemical olefins, and the 15 ethylene-oxide units are petrochemical → 0.00. Same treatment as the site's C12-15 and C12-13 pareths.
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

Oxo-process C11-15 alcohols ethoxylated with about 15 mol of ethylene oxide.

In plain English

A fatty alcohol modified with a moderate amount of petrochemical ethylene oxide. Used as a cleansing and emulsifying ingredient in rinse-off and leave-on products.

CosIng definition: Alcohols, C11-15, ethoxylated (15 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 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…

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. 2C11-15 PARETH-15. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3C11-15 PARETH-15. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=C11-15%20PARETH-15