Database/Plasticiser/Diethylhexyl Terephthalate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Diethylhexyl Terephthalate natural?

No. Terephthalic acid is a petrochemical aromatic diacid and 2-ethylhexanol is a synthetic oxo alcohol; no natural fragment.

INCI nameDiethylhexyl Terephthalate
CAS6422-86-2
FormulaC24H38O4 · 390.6 Da
FunctionPlasticiser
FeedstockMade from petrochemical terephthalic acid (a p-xylene oxidation…

How we scored it

Terephthalic acid (benzene-derived) + 2x 2-ethylhexanol (synthetic oxo alcohol) -> 0/390.6 = 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

Made from petrochemical terephthalic acid (a p-xylene oxidation product) esterified with synthetic 2-ethylhexanol. Entirely petrochemical with no significant natural route.

In plain English

A synthetic diester of terephthalic acid and 2-ethylhexanol, both petrochemical-derived. Functions as a lightweight plasticiser and skin-feel modifier, giving cosmetic films and plastics packaging flexibility without a greasy after-feel.

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Structure

2D structure of Diethylhexyl Terephthalate

bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate

PubChem CID 22932 ↗

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 Terephthalate. PubChem CID 22932. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DIETHYLHEXYL TEREPHTHALATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DIETHYLHEXYL TEREPHTHALATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DIETHYLHEXYL%20TEREPHTHALATE