Database/Emollient/Diethylhexyl Adipate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Diethylhexyl Adipate natural?

No. Both the diacid, from cyclohexane oxidation, and the branched alcohol, from propylene chemistry, are petrochemical.

INCI nameDiethylhexyl Adipate
CAS103-23-1
FormulaC22H42O4 · 370.6 Da
FunctionEmollient · Film Forming
FeedstockDiester of adipic acid and 2-ethylhexanol, both bulk…

How we scored it

Adipic acid (cyclohexane-derived, 0) + 2x 2-ethylhexanol (petrochemical, 0) - 2 H2O = 370.6 Da total; 0/370.6 = 0.0.
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

Diester of adipic acid and 2-ethylhexanol, both bulk petrochemicals from cyclohexane and propylene/butyraldehyde chemistry. A bio-based adipic acid route exists but is not mainstream in cosmetics.

In plain English

A lightweight, silky oil that softens skin, helps makeup spread, and dissolves other ingredients. It is manufactured from petroleum-derived building blocks rather than plants.

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Structure

2D structure of Diethylhexyl Adipate

bis(2-ethylhexyl) hexanedioate

PubChem CID 7641 ↗

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. 2Diethylhexyl Adipate. PubChem CID 7641. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DIETHYLHEXYL ADIPATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DIETHYLHEXYL ADIPATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DIETHYLHEXYL%20ADIPATE