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

Is Diethylhexyl Malate natural?

No. Malic acid backbone chiefly from petrochemical maleic anhydride, esterified with synthetic 2-ethylhexanol.

INCI nameDiethylhexyl Malate
CAS56235-92-8
FormulaC20H36O4 · 340.5 Da
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockManufactured by esterifying malic acid (dominant commercial route:…

How we scored it

Di(2-ethylhexyl) malate: malic acid (134 Da, petrochemical maleic-anhydride route) + 2x 2-ethylhexanol (petrochemical oxo alcohol) = 0/359 = 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

Manufactured by esterifying malic acid (dominant commercial route: catalytic hydration of petrochemical maleic anhydride) with 2-ethylhexanol from the oxo process. A minor fermentation-derived malic acid supply exists but is not typically used for this ester.

In plain English

A lightweight, silky oil made by combining malic acid with a branched synthetic alcohol (2-ethylhexanol). Used as an emollient to give lotions and creams a smooth, non-greasy glide.

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Structure

2D structure of Diethylhexyl Malate

bis(2-ethylhexyl) (Z)-but-2-enedioate

PubChem CID 5365125 ↗

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 Malate. PubChem CID 5365125. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DIETHYLHEXYL MALATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DIETHYLHEXYL MALATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DIETHYLHEXYL%20MALATE