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

Is Octyldodecyl Stearate natural?

It depends. Octyldodecanol is a Guerbet dimer of decanol, and decanol is made both from coconut/palm-kernel oil and from petrochemical ethylene or olefins, so the ester's natural share depends on which alcohol the supplier used. Same ruling as Octyldodecanol and Isocetyl Stearate.

INCI nameOctyldodecyl Stearate
CAS22766-82-1
FormulaC38H76O2 · 565.0 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockStearic acid (palm/tallow) 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 stearic acid1.00Every carbon is fatty-acid derived; Guerbet condensation only removes water.
petrochemical Guerbet alcohol2-octyldodecanol from Ziegler/oxo decanol, esterified with stearic acid0.47Only the stearoyl fragment counts: 267.5/565.0 = 0.47.
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 C38H76O2 565.0 Da. Stearoyl C18H35O 267.5 Da is oleochemical in both routes; the octyldodecyl fragment C20H41O 297.5 Da is natural when the Guerbet alcohol is built from coconut/palm decanol (NOI 1.00) and petrochemical when built from Ziegler or oxo decanol (267.5/565.0 = 0.47). Headline shows the natural route; both are sold.
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

Stearic acid (palm/tallow) esterified with 2-octyldodecanol, a C20 Guerbet alcohol whose decanol precursor is either oleochemical or petrochemical.

In plain English

An emollient ester made from a branched fatty alcohol and stearic acid, typically both derived from coconut or vegetable oil sources. Used to condition skin.

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Structure

2D structure of Octyldodecyl Stearate

2-octyldodecyl octadecanoate

PubChem CID 90834 ↗

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 Stearate. PubChem CID 90834. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3OCTYLDODECYL STEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4OCTYLDODECYL STEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OCTYLDODECYL%20STEARATE