Database/Perfuming/Dodecane
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Dodecane natural?

It depends. A light emollient hydrocarbon that is sold both as a petroleum paraffin and as a plant-derived alkane.

INCI nameDodecane
CAS112-40-3
FormulaC12H26 · 170.33 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockPetroleum distillate or hydrodeoxygenated coconut fatty chains.

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
bio-based alkanehydrodeoxygenation of coconut/palm-kernel C12 fatty alcohol or acid (sold as plant-derived alkanes)1.00growing (emollient grades)every carbon from a natural fatty chain
petroleum n-paraffinC12 cut from petroleum distillate0.00traditionalno natural-origin atoms
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Straight-chain C12 alkane, matching the site's Undecane and Tridecane entries: petroleum-fraction route 0.0; bio-based route from coconut fatty chains 1.0. Route-dependent, never averaged.
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

Petroleum distillate or hydrodeoxygenated coconut fatty chains.

In plain English

A lightweight liquid hydrocarbon used as a fragrance fixative and solvent. Sourced from petroleum refining, chemically a simple paraffin similar to those found in mineral oil.

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Structure

2D structure of Dodecane

dodecane

PubChem CID 8182 ↗

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. 2Dodecane. PubChem CID 8182. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DODECANE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DODECANE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DODECANE