Database/Emollient/Decyltetradecanol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Decyltetradecanol natural?

It depends. Headline route uses lauryl alcohol from coconut or palm kernel oil; petrochemical Ziegler or oxo lauryl alcohol gives the alternative.

INCI nameDecyltetradecanol
CAS58670-89-6
FormulaC24H50O · 354.7 Da
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockDominant route is Guerbet condensation of lauryl alcohol…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Oleochemical C12 alcoholCoconut or palm kernel oil1.00about 70%
Ziegler/oxo C12 alcoholEthylene or petrochemical olefins0.00about 30%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

C24H50O 354.7 is the Guerbet dimer of lauryl alcohol: 1.0 if the C12 alcohol is oleochemical, 0.0 if Ziegler or oxo.
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

Dominant route is Guerbet condensation of lauryl alcohol from coconut or palm kernel oil. Ziegler or oxo lauryl alcohol made from ethylene is the petrochemical alternative.

In plain English

A branched, liquid fatty alcohol used as a light emollient and thickener that gives creams a smooth, non-greasy glide. It is made by joining two lauryl alcohol molecules, typically from coconut or palm kernel oil.

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Structure

2D structure of Decyltetradecanol

2-decyltetradecan-1-ol

PubChem CID 93875 ↗

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. 2Decyltetradecanol. PubChem CID 93875. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DECYLTETRADECANOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DECYLTETRADECANOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DECYLTETRADECANOL