Cetyl Alcohol (CAS 36653-82-4) — Woody Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
Cetyl Alcohol
CAS 36653-82-4
What Is Cetyl Alcohol?
Cetyl alcohol is a waxy substance commonly found in skincare creams, lotions, and hair conditioners. It helps create smooth textures and prevents separation of ingredients. While it’s called ‘alcohol,’ it’s not drying like rubbing alcohol – this type actually helps moisturize by forming a protective barrier on skin.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Cetyl Alcohol Smell Like?
Cetyl alcohol has a barely perceptible waxy character – imagine the faint scent of a new candle before it’s lit, or the subtle aroma of a freshly opened jar of petroleum jelly. It lacks the sharpness of shorter-chain alcohols, presenting instead as a clean, neutral base with just a whisper of fatty warmth. In formulations, its odor contribution is negligible, serving primarily as a textural enhancer that allows other fragrance notes to shine without interference.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as an emulsion stabilizer, allowing the floral bouquet to maintain its integrity while contributing to the creaminess of the fragrance’s drydown.
Helps anchor the vanilla-oriental base while preventing separation of the complex oil mixture, enhancing longevity without adding noticeable scent.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Cetyl alcohol is a straight-chain 16-carbon fatty alcohol (C16H34O) produced through the reduction of palmitic acid or via Ziegler aluminum alkyl process. As a saturated primary alcohol, it exhibits typical alcohol reactivity but with reduced polarity due to its long hydrocarbon chain. Industrially, it’s often derived from palm or coconut oils through hydrogenation, though synthetic production avoids agricultural supply chain issues. The molecule’s amphiphilic nature – with a polar hydroxyl head and nonpolar alkyl tail – makes it valuable for stabilizing emulsions in cosmetic formulations.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 344 °C |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 49.3 °C |
| Flash Point | 175 °C |
| Density | 0.8187 g/cm³ at 50 °C |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.00000306 mmHg |
| Refractive Index | 1.4283 at 79 °C |
| XLogP | 7.3 |
| Appearance | White flakes or powder |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare Creams | 1-5% | Up to 10% | Texture modifier and emulsion stabilizer |
| Hair Conditioners | 0.5-3% | Up to 5% | Provides slip and detangling properties |
| Fragrance Bases | 0.1-2% | Up to 3% | Helps stabilize volatile top notes |
Classic Accords
Tip: Combine with other fatty alcohols to fine-tune melting points and texture in solid formulations.
Alternatives & Comparisons
C18 fatty alcohol with similar properties but higher melting point (58-60°C), useful when harder consistency is needed.
Blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols that offers intermediate properties and easier handling in cosmetic formulations.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
Not restricted by IFRA – approved for all cosmetic applications without concentration limits.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers cetyl alcohol safe as used in cosmetic formulations based on extensive historical use and toxicity data.
Sustainability
While traditionally derived from palm oil, synthetic production via petrochemical routes avoids deforestation concerns. Major manufacturers now offer RSPO-certified palm-derived versions and bio-based alternatives from sugar fermentation. Its high efficiency at low concentrations makes it relatively sustainable compared to other emollients requiring higher usage levels.
Explore Cetyl Alcohol
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References
- PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2682 (1-Hexadecanol) PubChem 2682
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (2008). Final report on the safety assessment of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol. PMID 19101847
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 36653-82-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 242.44 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 7.3🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 344 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 175 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | 1.004💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 17.2 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | odorless• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | alcohol💻 RDKit |
| “The pure material is virtually odorless. Lower grade commercial products may have a faint, sweet, oily odor and a bland taste.”📖 Arctander | |
| 1-Hexadecanol is odorless.📖 Fenaroli | |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “The pure material is virtually odorless. Lower grade commercial products may have a faint, sweet, oily odor and a bland taste. It finds some use in flavor compositions in minute traces in imitation chocolate flavors, mainly to introduce a mouthfeel, rather than a taste. The concentration used is abo”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 2554⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID4027991
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 242.447 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.829 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 334 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 50.639 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 159.367 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.448 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 290.149 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.955 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 6.755 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 6.755 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 9.9 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole🔬 EPA CTX |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 20.538 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.549 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 158.089 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 20.23 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 14 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 77.71 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 30.807 Å^3📊 OPERA |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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