Database/Emollient/Ethylhexyl Isopalmitate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Ethylhexyl Isopalmitate natural?

Mostly. The branched C16 acyl comes from oleochemical fatty acid (natural), while 2-ethylhexanol is a petrochemical oxo alcohol made from propylene.

INCI nameEthylhexyl Isopalmitate
CAS93843-32-4
FormulaC24H48O2 · 368.6 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockDominant route is esterification of oleochemical iso-C16 fatty…

How we scored it

C24H48O2 368.6 Da. Isopalmitoyl C16H31O 239.4 natural; 2-ethylhexyl-oxy C8H17O 129.2 petrochemical. 239.4 / 368.6 = 0.65.
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

Dominant route is esterification of oleochemical iso-C16 fatty acid with 2-ethylhexanol from the propylene oxo process. Isopalmitic acid made synthetically also exists, so supplier confirmation of the acid origin is advisable.

In plain English

A light oil (emollient) that spreads easily and gives a soft, silky feel. It is an ester of a branched palmitic-type fatty acid from vegetable oils with 2-ethylhexanol, an alcohol made from petrochemical propylene.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethylhexyl Isopalmitate

2-ethylhexyl 14-methylpentadecanoate

PubChem CID 53749398 ↗

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 Isopalmitate. PubChem CID 53749398. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYLHEXYL ISOPALMITATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYLHEXYL ISOPALMITATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYLHEXYL%20ISOPALMITATE