Database/Fragrance/Diethylhexyl Sebacate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Diethylhexyl Sebacate natural?

Mostly not. Sebacic acid from castor-oil ricinoleic acid is natural; the two 2-ethylhexanol ester groups are petrochemical oxo-process alcohols.

INCI nameDiethylhexyl Sebacate
CAS122-62-3
FormulaC26H50O4 · 426.7 Da
FunctionFragrance · Plasticiser
FeedstockSebacic acid is manufactured predominantly by alkali fusion…

How we scored it

Sebacoyl core C10H16O2 168.2 Da (castor-oil derived, natural) + 2x 2-ethylhexoxy C8H17O 129.2 Da (petrochemical oxo-alcohol) -> 168.2/426.7 = 0.39.
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

Sebacic acid is manufactured predominantly by alkali fusion of castor-oil ricinoleic acid; 2-ethylhexanol is a petrochemical oxo-alcohol. No significant petrochemical route exists for the sebacic-acid half.

In plain English

A lightweight, silky emollient and fragrance solvent made by combining sebacic acid (usually from castor oil) with a synthetic branched alcohol. Leaves a smooth, non-greasy feel on skin.

CosIng definition: Diethylhexyl Sebacate is the diester of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and Sebacic Acid. It conforms to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

2D structure of Diethylhexyl Sebacate

bis(2-ethylhexyl) decanedioate

PubChem CID 31218 ↗

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 Sebacate. PubChem CID 31218. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DIETHYLHEXYL SEBACATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DIETHYLHEXYL SEBACATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DIETHYLHEXYL%20SEBACATE