Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Sorbitan Laurate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Sorbitan Laurate natural?

Yes. Both sorbitan and lauric acid are natural-origin, derived from plant sugar and coconut oil respectively.

INCI nameSorbitan Laurate
CAS1338-39-2
FormulaC18H34O6 · 346.5 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying sorbitol, a plant-derived sugar alcohol,…

How we scored it

Sorbitan (from sorbitol) + lauric acid, ester condensation; both fragments natural. 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.

How it’s made

Acid-catalysed ring closure of sorbitol (intramolecular SN2). Sorbitan is the ring at the core of every sorbitan ester and polysorbate. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the scores for the whole family.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying sorbitol, a plant-derived sugar alcohol, with lauric acid typically sourced from coconut oil. No petrochemical processing step is involved.

In plain English

An emulsifier used in creams, lotions and cleansers to help blend oil and water. Made from sorbitol, a plant-derived sugar alcohol, combined with lauric acid, a fatty acid typically from coconut oil. Fully plant-derived.

CosIng definition: Sorbitan laurate

Structure

2D structure of Sorbitan Laurate

[(2R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]-2-hydroxyethyl] dodecanoate

PubChem CID 11046239 ↗

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. 2Sorbitan Laurate. PubChem CID 11046239. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3SORBITAN LAURATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4SORBITAN LAURATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SORBITAN%20LAURATE