Database/Cleansing/Sodium Cetyl Sulfate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Sodium Cetyl Sulfate natural?

Yes. Cetyl alcohol is treated as an oleochemical C16 fatty alcohol, and sulfate plus sodium are mineral, both natural, with no ethylene-oxide content.

INCI nameSodium Cetyl Sulfate
CAS1120-01-0
FormulaC16H33NaO4S · 344.5 Da
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by sulfating cetyl alcohol from coconut or…

How we scored it

Cetyl 241.43 (natural C16 oleochemical alcohol) + sulfate/sodium 103.05 (mineral, natural), no ether/EO groups; 344.5/344.5 = 1.0.
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

Made by sulfating cetyl alcohol from coconut or palm-kernel oil and neutralising with sodium hydroxide. A petrochemical Ziegler/oxo route to the C16 alcohol is a less common alternative worth a supplier check.

In plain English

A cleansing and foaming surfactant made from a coconut or palm-derived fatty alcohol combined with sulfate and sodium. It helps products lather and remove oil and dirt.

Structure

2D structure of Sodium Cetyl Sulfate

sodium hexadecyl sulfate

PubChem CID 23695542 ↗

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. 2Sodium Cetyl Sulfate. PubChem CID 23695542. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3SODIUM CETYL SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4SODIUM CETYL SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SODIUM%20CETYL%20SULFATE