Database/Emollient/Octyldodecyl Benzoate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Octyldodecyl Benzoate natural?

It depends. The benzoate half is petrochemical; the octyldodecyl half is natural only when the Guerbet alcohol was built from natural fatty alcohol.

INCI nameOctyldodecyl Benzoate
CAS214680-48-5
FormulaC27H46O2 · 402.7 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockOctyldodecanol (Guerbet, natural or petrochemical) esterified with benzoic…

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
octyldodecanol from natural fatty alcoholoctyldodecanol made by Guerbet dimerisation of coconut/palm-kernel decanol, esterified with benzoic acid (petrochemical)0.70common for cosmetic gradesoctyldodecyl 281.5 Da natural of 402.7 Da; benzoate 121.1 Da petrochemical
octyldodecanol from petrochemical fatty alcoholoctyldodecanol from Ziegler/oxo decanol, esterified with benzoic acid0.00also commercialno natural-origin atoms
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Guerbet alcohols are route-dependent by site policy (see Octyldodecanol). Ester 402.7 Da = octyldodecyl fragment 281.5 Da + benzoate 121.1 Da (toluene-derived, petrochemical). Natural-alcohol route 281.5/402.7 = 0.70; petrochemical-alcohol route 0.0.
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

Octyldodecanol (Guerbet, natural or petrochemical) esterified with benzoic acid.

In plain English

A light, silky emollient ester that gives creams and lotions a smooth, non-greasy feel. Made from a branched coconut/palm-derived fatty alcohol combined with benzoic acid.

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Structure

2D structure of Octyldodecyl Benzoate

2-octyldodecyl benzoate

PubChem CID 86107 ↗

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. 2Octyldodecyl Benzoate. PubChem CID 86107. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3OCTYLDODECYL BENZOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4OCTYLDODECYL BENZOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OCTYLDODECYL%20BENZOATE