Database/Emollient/Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate natural?

Mostly. The trimethylolpropane backbone is synthesised from petrochemical butyraldehyde and formaldehyde; the three C8/C10 fatty-acid arms are coconut-derived.

INCI nameTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
CAS11138-60-6
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockCoconut-derived caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) fatty acids…

How we scored it

TMP core (C6H14O3, petrochemical, 131.2 Da after 3 OH lost) triple-esterified with coco-derived C8/C10 acids (avg 141.2 Da each, natural) → 423.7/554.9 = 0.76.
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

Coconut-derived caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) fatty acids are esterified onto trimethylolpropane, a synthetic polyol made from petrochemical butyraldehyde and formaldehyde. No natural TMP route is used commercially.

In plain English

A light, silky emollient oil that smooths skin; made by combining coconut-derived fatty acids with a synthetic polyol backbone.

CosIng definition: Decanoic acid, mixed esters with octanoic acid and 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethly)-1,3-propanediol

Natural alternatives with the same function

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. 2TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRICAPRYLATE/TRICAPRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRICAPRYLATE/TRICAPRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE%20TRICAPRYLATE/TRICAPRATE