Database/Skin Conditioning/Hexyldecyl Palmitate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Hexyldecyl Palmitate 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 Palmitate
FunctionSkin Conditioning
Feedstockpalmitic 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 palmitic acid1.00Every carbon fatty-acid derived.
petrochemical Guerbet alcohol2-hexyldecanol from oxo/Ziegler octanol, esterified with palmitic acid0.50Only the acyl fragment counts: 239.4/480.9 = 0.50.
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 C32H64O2 480.9 Da. The palmitic acid acyl fragment C16H31O 239.4 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 (239.4/480.9 = 0.50). 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

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

In plain English

A skin-conditioning oil made by combining a fatty alcohol with palm-type fatty acid, giving a light, silky feel in lotions and creams.

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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 PALMITATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3HEXYLDECYL PALMITATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HEXYLDECYL%20PALMITATE