Database/Emollient/Ethylhexyl Myristate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Ethylhexyl Myristate natural?

Mostly. Myristic acid is oleochemical from coconut or palm kernel oil, while 2-ethylhexanol is made from propylene by the oxo process, so only the myristoyl chain counts as natural.

INCI nameEthylhexyl Myristate
CAS29806-75-5
FormulaC22H44O2 · 340.6 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockMyristic acid from palm kernel or coconut oil…

How we scored it

Myristoyl C14H27O 211.4 Da natural (coconut/palm kernel); 2-ethylhexyl-O C8H17O 129.2 Da petrochemical (oxo alcohol). 211.4 / 340.6 = 0.62 (cf. ethylhexyl palmitate 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

Myristic acid from palm kernel or coconut oil is esterified with petrochemical 2-ethylhexanol made from propylene by the oxo process. No significant plant-derived 2-ethylhexanol route exists in cosmetic supply.

In plain English

A light, oily emollient that makes creams and lotions feel smooth and spread easily. It is an ester of myristic acid (from coconut or palm kernel oil) with 2-ethylhexanol, an alcohol made from petrochemicals.

CosIng definition: 2-Ethylhexyl myristate

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Structure

2D structure of Ethylhexyl Myristate

2-ethylhexyl tetradecanoate

PubChem CID 122530 ↗

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 Myristate. PubChem CID 122530. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYLHEXYL MYRISTATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYLHEXYL MYRISTATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYLHEXYL%20MYRISTATE