Database/Cetyl Behenate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Cetyl Behenate natural?

Yes. Both cetyl alcohol and behenic acid are natural fatty-chain oleochemicals typically from palm or rapeseed oil.

INCI nameCetyl Behenate
CAS42233-11-4
FormulaC38H76O2 · 565.0 Da
FeedstockCetyl alcohol and behenic acid are both derived…

How we scored it

Cetyl alcohol C16 (oleochemical) + behenic acid C22 (oleochemical), both within the C8-C22 natural default → 1.0
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

Cetyl alcohol and behenic acid are both derived from vegetable oil or fat splitting and hydrogenation (e.g. palm, rapeseed). A minority petrochemical Ziegler-alcohol route for cetyl exists.

In plain English

A wax-like emollient that thickens creams and lotions. Made by combining cetyl alcohol and behenic acid, both fatty substances derived from vegetable oils.

CosIng definition: Cetyl Behenate

Structure

2D structure of Cetyl Behenate

hexadecyl docosanoate

PubChem CID 162506 ↗

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. 2Cetyl Behenate. PubChem CID 162506. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CETYL BEHENATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CETYL BEHENATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CETYL%20BEHENATE