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

Is Octyldodecyl Lactate natural?

It depends. Lactic acid is a fermentation product, so the ester's natural share turns entirely on the Guerbet alcohol: oleochemical decanol gives a fully natural ester, petrochemical decanol leaves only the small lactoyl fragment natural. Same ruling as Octyldodecanol.

INCI nameOctyldodecyl Lactate
CAS57568-20-4
FormulaC23H46O3 · 370.6 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockFermentation lactic acid esterified with 2-octyldodecanol, a C20…

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-octyldodecanol from coconut/palm-kernel decanol, esterified with fermentation lactic acid1.00All carbons fatty-alcohol or fermentation derived.
petrochemical Guerbet alcohol2-octyldodecanol from Ziegler/oxo decanol, esterified with fermentation lactic acid0.20Only the lactoyl fragment counts: 73.1/370.6 = 0.20.
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 C23H46O3 370.6 Da. Lactoyl C3H5O2 73.1 Da (fermentation lactic acid) is natural in both routes; the octyldodecyl-oxy fragment C20H41O 297.5 Da is natural from coconut/palm decanol (NOI 1.00) or petrochemical from Ziegler/oxo decanol (73.1/370.6 = 0.20). 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

Fermentation lactic acid esterified with 2-octyldodecanol, a C20 Guerbet alcohol of oleochemical or petrochemical decanol.

In plain English

A lightweight skin-softening emollient made by combining a branched fatty alcohol (usually derived from coconut or palm fatty acids) with lactic acid, a natural fermentation product. Used in lotions and creams to improve skin feel.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acacia Dealbata Flower Wax 100% natural origin

A soft wax from mimosa flowers used to condition skin and add emollience. It is derived directly from…

 Acrocomia Aculeata Seed Butter 100% natural origin

A solid plant fat obtained from the seeds of the macauba palm, a South American tree, used to…

 Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract made from kiwi fruit, used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning and softening ingredient. Comes directly from…

 Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil 100% natural origin

A plant oil pressed from kiwi seeds, used to soften and condition skin. It's a natural vegetable oil…

 Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of baobab fruit, from the African baobab tree. Used as an emollient to soften and smooth…

 Adansonia Digitata Oil 100% natural origin

A rich vegetable oil pressed from the baobab tree's fruit pulp and leaves. Used to soften and condition…

Structure

2D structure of Octyldodecyl Lactate

2-octyldodecyl 2-hydroxypropanoate

PubChem CID 9885734 ↗

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 Lactate. PubChem CID 9885734. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3OCTYLDODECYL LACTATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4OCTYLDODECYL LACTATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OCTYLDODECYL%20LACTATE