Database/Emollient/Hexyldecyl Oleate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Hexyldecyl Oleate natural?

It depends. 2-hexyldecanol is a Guerbet dimer of octanol, which is made both oleochemically and petrochemically, so the ester's natural share depends on the alcohol source. Same ruling as Isocetyl Stearate and Octyldodecanol.

INCI nameHexyldecyl Oleate
CAS94278-07-6
FormulaC34H66O2 · 506.9 Da
FunctionEmollient · Emulsifying Surfactant
Feedstockoleic acid esterified with 2-hexyldecanol, a C16 Guerbet…

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
oleochemical Guerbet alcohol2-hexyldecanol from coconut/palm-kernel octanol, esterified with oleic acid1.00Every carbon fatty-acid derived.
petrochemical Guerbet alcohol2-hexyldecanol from oxo/Ziegler octanol, esterified with oleic acid0.52Only the acyl fragment counts: 265.5/506.9 = 0.52.
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Ester C34H66O2 506.9 Da. The oleic acid acyl fragment C18H33O 265.5 Da is oleochemical in both routes; the branched C16 alkoxy fragment 241.4 Da is natural when the Guerbet alcohol is built from coconut/palm octanol (NOI 1.00) and petrochemical when built from oxo or Ziegler octanol (265.5/506.9 = 0.52). Headline shows the natural route.
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

oleic acid esterified with 2-hexyldecanol, a C16 Guerbet alcohol of oleochemical or petrochemical octanol.

In plain English

An emollient oil made by combining a fatty alcohol with a plant-oil fatty acid, giving a light, non-greasy feel in skin-care products.

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Structure

2D structure of Hexyldecyl Oleate

2-hexyldecyl (Z)-octadec-9-enoate

PubChem CID 6433037 ↗

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. 2Hexyldecyl Oleate. PubChem CID 6433037. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HEXYLDECYL OLEATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HEXYLDECYL OLEATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HEXYLDECYL%20OLEATE