Database/Emollient/Ethylhexyl Ethylhexanoate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Ethylhexyl Ethylhexanoate natural?

No. Both the 2-ethylhexyl alcohol part and the 2-ethylhexanoyl acid part are petrochemical, propylene-derived oxo products.

INCI nameEthylhexyl Ethylhexanoate
CAS7425-14-1
FormulaC16H32O2 · 256.42 Da
FunctionEmollient · Fragrance
FeedstockEsterification of petrochemical 2-ethylhexanol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, both…

How we scored it

C16H32O2 256.4: 2-ethylhexanol (propylene via butyraldehyde, oxo) + 2-ethylhexanoic acid (same C8 oxo source). Natural mass 0 / 256.4 = 0.00.
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

Esterification of petrochemical 2-ethylhexanol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, both made from propylene by hydroformylation and aldol chemistry. No commercial plant-based route exists for these branched C8 units.

In plain English

A light, fast-spreading emollient ester that leaves skin and hair with a smooth, non-greasy feel. It is made by joining two branched eight-carbon building blocks, 2-ethylhexanol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid, both from petrochemical propylene.

CosIng definition: Ethylhexyl Ethylhexanoate is the ester of 2-ethylhexanol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Ethylhexyl Ethylhexanoate

2-ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexanoate

PubChem CID 23906 ↗

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. 2Ethylhexyl Ethylhexanoate. PubChem CID 23906. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYLHEXYL ETHYLHEXANOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYLHEXYL ETHYLHEXANOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYLHEXYL%20ETHYLHEXANOATE