Cetyl Alcohol

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    36653-82-4

    Molecular formula
    C16H34O

    SMILES
    CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO

    Safety labels

    Irritant
    Irritant

    Retention indicies (RI)

    • DB5: 1880.0
    • Carbowax: 2367.5

  • Odor profile

    Waxy 75.2%
    Fatty 62.38%
    Oily 58.46%
    Fruity 40.77%
    Floral 40.63%
    Clean 34.17%
    Sweet 31.16%
    Citrus 29.27%
    Soapy 28.35%
    Fresh 28.15%

    Scent© AI

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    7.3

    Molecular weight
    242.44 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra slow

    Melting point expt.

    • 49.3 undefined
    • 49.3 °C

    Boiling point

    • 344 undefined
    • 334 °C at 760 mm Hg

    Flash point est.
    154.44 ˚C

    Flash point expt.

    • 175 °C

    Solubility expt.

    • Insoluble
    • Slightly soluble in alcohol; soluble in acetone; very soluble in ether, benzene, chloroform
    • Soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether
    • In water, 4.1X10-2 mg/L at 25 °C
    • 1.34e-05 mg/mL at 25 °C
    • insoluble in water; soluble in ether
    • 1 gm in 3ml 90% alcohol (in ethanol)

  • Synonyms

    • 1-Hexadecanol
    • cetyl alcohol
    • Hexadecan-1-ol
    • 36653-82-4
    • HEXADECANOL
    • Cetanol
    • Palmityl alcohol
    • Hexadecyl alcohol
    • N-Hexadecanol
    • n-1-Hexadecanol
    • n-Cetyl alcohol
    • Cetaffine
    • Cetylol
    • Ethal
    • Ethol
    • Cetylic alcohol
    • n-Hexadecyl alcohol
    • Cetal
    • Crodacol C
    • Loxanwachs SK
    • Loxanol K extra
    • Elfacos C
    • Loxanol K
    • 1-Hexadecyl alcohol
    • Atalco C
    • Cetalol CA
    • Crodacol-CAS
    • Crodacol-CAT
    • Siponol CC
    • Lanol C
    • 1-Cetanol
    • Hyfatol 16
    • Cachalot C-50
    • Cachalot C-51
    • Cachalot C-52
    • Alcohol C-16
    • Aldol 54
    • Dytol F-11
    • palmitic alcohol
    • Cyclal cetyl alcohol
    • Alfol 16
    • Lorol 24
    • Adol 52
    • Adol 54
    • Hyfatol
    • Adol
    • Adol 52 NF
    • 1-Hexadecyl alc
    • 16-Hexadecanol
    • Epal 16NF
    • C16 alcohol
    • Cetylalkohol
    • Adol 520
    • Isocetyl alcohol
    • n-Hexadecan-1-ol
    • Cetyl alchol
    • 1-Hexanedecanol
    • Alcohol cetylicus
    • FEMA No. 2554
    • FEMA Number 2554
    • Hexadecyl alcohol, normal
    • Normal primary hexadecyl alcohol
    • CO-1670
    • CO-1695
    • Isohexadecyl alcohol
    • Adol 52NF
    • SSD RP
    • HSDB 2643
    • Lipocol C
    • UNII-936JST6JCN
    • Fancol CA
    • Cetyl alcohol NF
    • NSC 4194
    • NSC-4194
    • EINECS 253-149-0
    • 936JST6JCN
    • Crodacol C70
    • Rita CA
    • 1-Hydroxyhexadecane
    • Cetanol (TN)
    • Lanette 16
    • BRN 1748475
    • Philcohol 1600
    • Cetyl alcohol (NF)
    • Cetyl alcohol [NF]
    • Lorol C16
    • LorolL 24
    • DTXSID4027991
    • Cachalot C-50 NF
    • CHEBI:16125
    • AI3-00755
    • NSC4194
    • MFCD00004760
    • DTXCID607991
    • N-HEXADECYL-D33 ALCOHOL
    • EC 253-149-0
    • 4-01-00-01876 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
    • 124-29-8
    • NCGC00159368-02
    • NCGC00159368-05
    • CETYL ALCOHOL (II)
    • CETYL ALCOHOL [II]
    • Hexadecanol (VAN)
    • CETYL ALCOHOL (MART.)
    • CETYL ALCOHOL [MART.]
    • Cetyl alcohol; hexadecan-1-ol
    • CETYL ALCOHOL (USP-RS)
    • CETYL ALCOHOL [USP-RS]
    • Caswell No. 165D
    • CETYL ALCOHOL (EP MONOGRAPH)
    • CETYL ALCOHOL [EP MONOGRAPH]
    • 253-149-0
    • CAS-36653-82-4
    • 75736-52-6
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 001508
    • Cetyl alcohol (hexadecanol)
    • hexadecylalcohol
    • Hexadecanol NF
    • Ceraphyl ICA
    • n-hexadecylalcohol
    • C16H34O
    • Crodacol C95NF
    • Eutanol G16
    • Crodacol C95 NF
    • Laurex 16
    • Alfol 16RD
    • SSD (Salt/Mix)
    • Cetanol (JP18)

  • Applications

    1-Hexadecanol (also known as cetylic alcohol or cetyl alcohol) is a high-purity long-chain fatty alcohol widely used as an emollient, thickener and co-emulsifier in creams, lotions, shampoos and lipsticks, where it increases viscosity, stabilises emulsions and provides a silky skin feel; in pharmaceuticals it serves as an excipient for controlled release systems and as a wax matrix for ointments and tablets; in surfactant and detergent manufacture it is an intermediate for alkyl sulfates and ethoxylates; in the food industry it functions as a flavour carrier, foam booster and anticaking agent; it is additionally employed as a lubricant and scratch-resistant additive for plastics, rubber and fibres, as an antistatic agent, paint modifier, drilling-fluid additive, phase-change heat-storage material, and an emulsifying component in agrochemical formulations, valued for its biodegradability, low toxicity and high biocompatibility.

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 235.66
    methanol 123.75
    isopropanol 420.98
    water 0.01
    ethyl acetate 825.88
    n-propanol 367.67
    acetone 543.73
    n-butanol 509.44
    acetonitrile 160.73
    DMF 458.32
    toluene 272.86
    isobutanol 390.95
    1,4-dioxane 855.19
    methyl acetate 368.79
    THF 2566.45
    2-butanone 686.14
    n-pentanol 323.79
    sec-butanol 476.62
    n-hexane 441.91
    ethylene glycol 9.18
    NMP 770.53
    cyclohexane 1252.34
    DMSO 829.61
    n-butyl acetate 1402.92
    n-octanol 292.4
    chloroform 1376.65
    n-propyl acetate 958.9
    acetic acid 151.33
    dichloromethane 1307.81
    cyclohexanone 1725.76
    propylene glycol 40.87
    isopropyl acetate 817.98
    DMAc 512.92
    2-ethoxyethanol 389.24
    isopentanol 612.67
    n-heptane 720.19
    ethyl formate 281.34
    1,2-dichloroethane 1128.7
    n-hexanol 480.61
    2-methoxyethanol 462.14
    isobutyl acetate 666.09
    tetrachloromethane 471.48
    n-pentyl acetate 1032.15
    transcutol 1805.69
    n-heptanol 334.22
    ethylbenzene 244.25
    MIBK 771.98
    2-propoxyethanol 611.2
    tert-butanol 804.05
    MTBE 1062.36
    2-butoxyethanol 591.07
    propionic acid 218.89
    o-xylene 244.49
    formic acid 13.4
    diethyl ether 1064.21
    m-xylene 240.64
    p-xylene 332.01
    chlorobenzene 400.99
    dimethyl carbonate 100.83
    n-octane 175.53
    formamide 31.58
    cyclopentanone 1551.51
    2-pentanone 954.92
    anisole 388.27
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 1517.79
    gamma-butyrolactone 1229.4
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 596.33
    pyridine 704.47
    3-pentanone 666.41
    furfural 694.96
    n-dodecane 58.2
    diethylene glycol 164.47
    diisopropyl ether 561.76
    tert-amyl alcohol 698.56
    acetylacetone 733.4
    n-hexadecane 72.87
    acetophenone 437.29
    methyl propionate 467.73
    isopentyl acetate 1226.05
    trichloroethylene 1417.46
    n-nonanol 298.12
    cyclohexanol 881.27
    benzyl alcohol 217.46
    2-ethylhexanol 575.14
    isooctanol 382.96
    dipropyl ether 2015.41
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 470.3
    ethyl lactate 253.69
    propylene carbonate 706.59
    n-methylformamide 136.7
    2-pentanol 544.1
    n-pentane 304.58
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 908.33
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 800.72
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 381.29
    mesitylene 221.26
    ε-caprolactone 1280.59
    p-cymene 308.55
    epichlorohydrin 1286.86
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 1275.77
    2-aminoethanol 53.83
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 691.34
    sulfolane 1760.62
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 150.21
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 1840.07
    n-hexyl acetate 893.82
    isooctane 125.11
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 580.0
    sec-butyl acetate 793.82
    tert-butyl acetate 1080.72
    decalin 263.97
    glycerin 59.84
    diglyme 1329.79
    acrylic acid 105.66
    isopropyl myristate 377.78
    n-butyric acid 739.86
    acetyl acetate 375.85
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 187.35
    ethyl propionate 802.26
    nitromethane 316.47
    1,2-diethoxyethane 1332.43
    benzonitrile 325.1
    trioctyl phosphate 191.69
    1-bromopropane 1142.56
    gamma-valerolactone 1481.56
    n-decanol 200.82
    triethyl phosphate 460.44
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 376.39
    propionitrile 297.38
    vinylene carbonate 408.86
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 729.95
    DMS 313.04
    cumene 204.25
    2-octanol 305.6
    2-hexanone 852.12
    octyl acetate 385.33
    limonene 652.7
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 1193.51
    ethyl orthosilicate 517.49
    tributyl phosphate 270.33
    diacetone alcohol 797.71
    N,N-dimethylaniline 307.87
    acrylonitrile 212.42
    aniline 258.11
    1,3-propanediol 169.65
    bromobenzene 496.13
    dibromomethane 1094.9
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 1594.41
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 774.57
    tetrabutyl urea 359.13
    diisobutyl methanol 522.39
    2-phenylethanol 274.25
    styrene 270.57
    dioctyl adipate 474.26
    dimethyl sulfate 223.63
    ethyl butyrate 1375.29
    methyl lactate 150.72
    butyl lactate 524.13
    diethyl carbonate 597.38
    propanediol butyl ether 332.52
    triethyl orthoformate 1004.79
    p-tert-butyltoluene 299.42
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 486.31
    morpholine 1289.08
    tert-butylamine 697.67
    n-dodecanol 146.41
    dimethoxymethane 480.49
    ethylene carbonate 483.29
    cyrene 341.9
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 769.12
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 1091.12
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 505.34
    4-methylpyridine 647.21
    dibutyl ether 1246.03
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 522.39
    DEF 899.61
    dimethyl isosorbide 823.95
    tetrachloroethylene 1015.77
    eugenol 330.39
    triacetin 619.71
    span 80 415.35
    1,4-butanediol 57.8
    1,1-dichloroethane 1040.83
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 372.08
    methyl formate 94.66
    2-methyl-1-butanol 492.62
    n-decane 155.71
    butyronitrile 529.12
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 410.32
    1-chlorooctane 464.95
    1-chlorotetradecane 142.28
    n-nonane 178.56
    undecane 87.45
    tert-butylcyclohexane 218.83
    cyclooctane 322.77
    cyclopentanol 755.91
    tetrahydropyran 2147.03
    tert-amyl methyl ether 826.61
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 721.73
    1-hexene 680.31
    2-isopropoxyethanol 406.48
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 55.82
    methyl butyrate 1075.14

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Fissitigma shangtzeense, flower extract Fissitigma shangtzeense Tsiang et P.T. Li, fam. Annonaceae 0.43%
Rosa rugosa Rosa rugosa Thunb., var. plena Regel, fam. Rosaceae 0.01%
Blumea lanceolaria Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce, fam. Asteraceae (Compositae) 0.79%
Narcissus poeticus absolute 8023-75-4 Narcissus poeticus L., fam. Amaryllidaceae 0.1%
Mustard seed (China) 1 8007-40-7 Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss., fam. Brassicaceae (Crucifereae) 0.08%
Angelica root (Finland) 3 8015-64-3 Angelica archangelica L. var. sativa, fam. Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) 0.35%
Genet absolute 2 8023-80-1 Spartium junceum L., fam. Leguminosae (Papilionaceae) 0.01%
Sideritis condensata Sideritis condensata Boiss. et Heldr., fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.5%
Rose (Bulgaria) 4a 8007-01-0 Rosa damascena Mill., fam. Rosaceae 2.6%
Rose (Bulgaria) 4b 8007-01-0 Rosa damascena Mill., fam. Rosaceae 3.3%
Rose (Bulgaria) 4c 8007-01-0 Rosa damascena Mill., fam. Rosaceae 3.5%
Bactris gasipaes fruit Bactris gasipaes H.B.K., fam. Arecaceae 1.1%
Origanum husnuca-baserii (Turkey) Origanum husnucan-baserii H. Duman, Z. Aytac et A. Duran, fam. Lamiaceae 0.2%
Couroupita guianensis flower (Brazil) Couroupita guainensis Auble., fam. Lecythidaceae 0.2%
Rosemary (Morocco) 2 8000-25-7 Rosmarinus officinalis L., fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.25%
Cochlospermum tinctorium tubercle Cochlospermum tinctorium (Hook.), fam. Bixaceae (Cochlospermaceae) 0.3%
Tanacetum balsamita Tanacetum balsamita L., fam. Asteraceae (Compositae) 0.05%
St. John's wort (Yugoslavia) 84082-80-4 Hypericum perforatum L., fam. Guttiferae (Hypericaceae) 0.4%
Rocket leaf 1 Eruca sativa L., fam. Brassicaceae 0.14%
Cerastium candidissimum (Greece) Cerastium candidissimum Correns, fam. Caryophyllaceae 1.0%
Tamarind 4 leaf Tamarindus indica L., fam. Leguminosae 12.4%
Rocket leaf 2 headspace Eruca sativa L., fam. Brassicaceae 2.2%
Salvia aucheri (Turkey) 1a var. aucheri Salvia aucheri Benth. var. aucheri, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.3%
Salvia aucheri (Turkey) 1b var. canenscens Salvia aucheri Benth. var. canenscens, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 0.2%
Pinus canariensis (Spain-Tenerife) Pinus canariensis Sweet ex Sprengel, fam. Pinaceae 0.01%