Database/Emollient/Tetradecane
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Tetradecane natural?

It depends. An emollient hydrocarbon that is sold both as a petroleum paraffin and as a plant-derived alkane.

INCI nameTetradecane
CAS629-59-4
FormulaC14H30 · 198.39 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockPetroleum distillate or hydrodeoxygenated coconut fatty chains.

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
bio-based alkanehydrodeoxygenation of coconut/palm-kernel C14 fatty alcohol or acid (sold as plant-derived alkanes)1.00growing (emollient grades)every carbon from a natural fatty chain
petroleum n-paraffinC14 cut from petroleum distillate0.00traditionalno natural-origin atoms
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Straight-chain C14 alkane, matching the site's Undecane and Tridecane entries: petroleum-fraction route 0.0; bio-based route from coconut fatty chains 1.0. Route-dependent, never averaged.
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

Petroleum distillate or hydrodeoxygenated coconut fatty chains.

In plain English

An oily liquid used as a lightweight emollient that helps products spread smoothly on skin. It is typically derived from petroleum distillation.

CosIng definition: Tetradecane is the saturated straight chain alkane that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Tetradecane

tetradecane

PubChem CID 12389 ↗

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. 2Tetradecane. PubChem CID 12389. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3TETRADECANE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4TETRADECANE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=TETRADECANE