Database/Emollient/Diethyl Succinate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Diethyl Succinate natural?

It depends. Both the succinic-acid and ethanol fragments have distinct petrochemical and fermentation/bio-based commercial routes with very different NOI outcomes.

INCI nameDiethyl Succinate
CAS123-25-1
FormulaC8H14O4 · 174.19 Da
FunctionEmollient · Fragrance
FeedstockMade by esterifying succinic acid (from petrochemical maleic…

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
Petrochemical succinic acid + synthetic ethanolMaleic anhydride/adipic-acid byproduct stream (butane/benzene); ethylene-derived ethanol0.00majority of bulk industrial supply
Fermentation succinic acid + bioethanolGlucose-fermentation succinic acid; corn/sugarcane bioethanol1.00growing minority, bio-based suppliers
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Succinic-acid route decides origin: petrochemical (maleic anhydride/adipic-acid byproduct) → 0.0; glucose fermentation → 1.0. Ethanol follows the same duality. No blended average.
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

Made by esterifying succinic acid (from petrochemical maleic anhydride/adipic-acid byproducts, or from glucose fermentation) with ethanol. The petrochemical route dominates bulk industrial solvent supply; bio-based succinic acid is a growing alternative.

In plain English

A solvent and mild fruity-fragrance ingredient that also helps soften formulas and carry other ingredients.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acacia Dealbata Flower Wax 100% natural origin

A soft wax from mimosa flowers used to condition skin and add emollience. It is derived directly from…

 Acrocomia Aculeata Seed Butter 100% natural origin

A solid plant fat obtained from the seeds of the macauba palm, a South American tree, used to…

 Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract made from kiwi fruit, used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning and softening ingredient. Comes directly from…

 Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil 100% natural origin

A plant oil pressed from kiwi seeds, used to soften and condition skin. It's a natural vegetable oil…

 Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of baobab fruit, from the African baobab tree. Used as an emollient to soften and smooth…

 Adansonia Digitata Oil 100% natural origin

A rich vegetable oil pressed from the baobab tree's fruit pulp and leaves. Used to soften and condition…

Structure

2D structure of Diethyl Succinate

diethyl butanedioate

PubChem CID 31249 ↗

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. 2Diethyl Succinate. PubChem CID 31249. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DIETHYL SUCCINATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DIETHYL SUCCINATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DIETHYL%20SUCCINATE