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

Is Ethylhexyl Isononanoate natural?

No. Both the alcohol and the acid are made via petrochemical oxo-synthesis from propylene/butene streams.

INCI nameEthylhexyl Isononanoate
CAS71566-49-9
FormulaC17H34O2 · 270.5 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockEster of 2-ethylhexanol and isononanoic acid, both produced…

How we scored it

2-Ethylhexanol (oxo-process, petrochemical) esterified with isononanoic acid (oxo-process from diisobutylene, petrochemical). No natural fragment.
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

Ester of 2-ethylhexanol and isononanoic acid, both produced by hydroformylation (oxo process) of petrochemical olefins. No natural-origin route is used commercially for either fragment.

In plain English

A light, fast-absorbing emollient ester made from two synthetic petrochemical building blocks, 2-ethylhexanol and isononanoic acid. It gives lotions and sun-care products a silky, non-greasy feel.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethylhexyl Isononanoate

2-ethylhexyl 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoate

PubChem CID 116723 ↗

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 Isononanoate. PubChem CID 116723. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYLHEXYL ISONONANOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYLHEXYL ISONONANOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYLHEXYL%20ISONONANOATE