Database/Solvent/Isooctane
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isooctane natural?

No. Classic petroleum-refinery alkylate hydrocarbon, chemically unrelated to fatty-acid chains; entirely petrochemical.

INCI nameIsooctane
CAS540-84-1
FormulaC8H18 · 114.23 Da
FunctionSolvent
FeedstockProduced industrially by acid-catalysed alkylation of isobutane with…

How we scored it

2,2,4-Trimethylpentane, made by refinery alkylation of isobutane and isobutylene, both petroleum-refining products. No natural fragments.
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

Produced industrially by acid-catalysed alkylation of isobutane with isobutylene, both petroleum refinery streams. No natural or oleochemical route exists.

In plain English

A fast-evaporating solvent used to help dissolve other ingredients in cosmetic formulations. Made from petroleum refining, unrelated to plant oils.

Natural alternatives with the same function

1,10-Decanediol 100% natural origin

A ten-carbon diol (a chain with an alcohol group at each end), a waxy white solid used as…

 Aqua 100% natural origin

Plain water, the most common cosmetic ingredient. It acts as the solvent base that dissolves and carries the…

 Avena Sativa Seed Water 100% natural origin

An oat hydrosol: the water collected when oat seeds are steam-distilled, used as a water-based solvent in skin…

 C10-18 Triglycerides 100% natural origin

A light conditioning oil made from glycerin and a mix of plant fatty acids. It smooths and softens…

 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride 100% natural origin

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is a popular ingredient in skincare and cosmetics, often described as a "fractionated coconut oil" derivative.…

 Coconut Alkanes 100% natural origin

A lightweight, silky emollient oil used as a natural alternative to silicone. It's made entirely from coconut oil…

Structure

2D structure of Isooctane

2,2,4-trimethylpentane

PubChem CID 10907 ↗

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. 2Isooctane. PubChem CID 10907. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOOCTANE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOOCTANE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOOCTANE