Database/Emollient/Heptylundecanol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Heptylundecanol natural?

It depends. The natural route uses oleochemical nonanol or castor-derived heptanal and undecanal, while the other route uses petrochemical oxo or Ziegler alcohols from ethylene or propylene.

INCI nameHeptylundecanol
CAS5333-44-8
FormulaC18H38O · 270.5 Da
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockDominant supply is believed to be Guerbet dimerisation…

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
Guerbet condensation of petrochemical oxo or Ziegler C9 alcoholethylene or propylene (petrochemical)0.00~70%
Guerbet or aldol-hydrogenation from plant-derived C9 alcohol or castor C7 and C11 aldehydesvegetable oil or castor oil1.00~30%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

C18H38O Guerbet alcohol: plant-derived C9 (or castor C7/C11) feedstock gives 270.5 / 270.5 = 1.00; petrochemical oxo or Ziegler C9 alcohol gives 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

Dominant supply is believed to be Guerbet dimerisation of petrochemical oxo or Ziegler nonanol. A plant-derived grade can be made from oleochemical nonanol or castor-oil aldehydes.

In plain English

A branched, liquid fatty alcohol used as an emollient and solvent for oils and pigments. It spreads easily, feels light and keeps its liquid form in the cold. Its carbon chain can come from plant oils or from petrochemicals depending on the supplier.

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Structure

2D structure of Heptylundecanol

2-heptylundecan-1-ol

PubChem CID 95338 ↗

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. 2Heptylundecanol. PubChem CID 95338. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HEPTYLUNDECANOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HEPTYLUNDECANOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HEPTYLUNDECANOL