Is Phenoxyethanol natural?

Manufactured by reacting petrochemical phenol with ethylene oxide, both derived from petroleum/natural-gas cracking. No commercially significant natural-origin route exists.

The industrial synthesis of Phenoxyethanol typically involves the reaction of ethylene oxide with phenol. This reaction is an etherification process where phenol acts as the nucleophile, attacking the epoxide ring of ethylene oxide.

The reaction is usually carried out under basic conditions, often catalyzed by alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). The phenol is first deprotonated to form the phenoxide ion, which is a stronger nucleophile. This phenoxide ion then reacts with ethylene oxide in an addition reaction.

Alternatively, the reaction can be performed by reacting phenol with 2-chloroethanol. In this route, phenol is reacted with 2-chloroethanol in the presence of a base, such as sodium hydroxide, to form the sodium salt of phenol (sodium phenoxide). This phenoxide then undergoes nucleophilic substitution with 2-chloroethanol, displacing the chloride ion and forming the ether linkage.

Regardless of the specific intermediate, the crude Phenoxyethanol product is then subjected to purification steps. These typically include distillation under reduced pressure to remove unreacted starting materials, byproducts (such as diethylene glycol phenyl ether), and catalyst residues. The final product is a colorless liquid with a faint, pleasant odor.

Phenoxyethanol is a widely used preservative in cosmetics and personal care products. Its main job is to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold, which helps keep your products safe and extends their shelf life. It's often found in everything from lotions and shampoos to makeup and baby wipes.

While it's effective at preserving products, it's important to know how it's made. The most common way Phenoxyethanol is produced industrially starts with chemicals derived from petroleum. This means it's not considered a naturally derived ingredient according to the ISO 16128 standard, which assesses the natural origin of cosmetic ingredients.

CosIng definition: Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula: