Database/Plasticiser/Octanediol
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Octanediol natural?

No. The eight-carbon chain is taken from petrochemical butadiene-derived building blocks, with hydrogen leaving no petroleum mass beyond the carbon skeleton.

INCI nameOctanediol
CAS629-41-4
FormulaC8H18O2 · 146.23 Da
FunctionPlasticiser
FeedstockDominant route assumed: hydrogenation of suberic acid esters…

How we scored it

1,8-Octanediol C8H18O2, 146.2 Da: straight C8 chain from petrochemical butadiene-derived suberic acid or its esters by hydrogenation, so 0/146.2 = 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 route assumed: hydrogenation of suberic acid esters made from petrochemical butadiene (via cyclooctene). Suberic acid from nitric-acid oxidation of castor oil would give a natural chain (1.0) but is unverified as a significant cosmetic source; this is the 1,8-isomer, not caprylyl glycol (1,2-octanediol).

In plain English

A short-chain diol used as a plasticiser to keep films and formulas flexible. It is made industrially, mainly from petroleum-derived building blocks, and is not the same as caprylyl glycol (1,2-octanediol).

Natural alternatives with the same function

Camphor 100% natural origin

A cooling, sharp-scented ingredient traditionally distilled from camphor tree wood, though most today is made from pine tree…

 Diethyl Sebacate 100% natural origin

An emollient and fragrance solvent made from sebacic acid, derived from castor oil, and ethanol. Both building blocks…

 Epoxidized Soybean Oil 100% natural origin

Soybean oil that has had oxygen added across its double bonds to form epoxide rings, improving stability. Used…

 Isosorbide Dicaprylate/Caprate 100% natural origin

A light, silky ester used as an emollient and plasticiser that softens skin and helps products spread. It…

 Rhizobian Gum 100% natural origin

A polysaccharide gum made by fermenting sugars with Rhizobium bacteria. Used to form films, fix hairstyles, and control…

 Tilia Tomentosa Bud Extract 100% natural origin

A soothing plant extract made from linden tree buds, used to condition skin and hair. It comes directly…

Structure

2D structure of Octanediol

octane-1,8-diol

PubChem CID 69420 ↗

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. 2Octanediol. PubChem CID 69420. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3OCTANEDIOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4OCTANEDIOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OCTANEDIOL