Cetyl Alchol

PRODUCT DESCRIPTIION:

INCI Name: Cetyl Alcohol
Chemical Name: 1-Hexadecanol
Alternate Names: Hexadecan-1-ol, Palmityl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol
Chemical Formula: C₁₆H₃₄O
Appearance:White to off-white waxy flakes, beads or solid.
Odor:Mild characteristic fatty odor to practically odorless, depending on grade.
Molecular Weight: 242.44 g/mol
Shelf Life: 24 Months

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol derived from natural sources, commonly used in cosmetic and personal care formulations as an emollient, thickener, and stabilizer. It enhances the texture and feel of creams, lotions, and hair care products, giving them a smooth, rich consistency. Known for its ability to improve moisture retention, Cetyl Alcohol is widely incorporated into various skincare and haircare formulations.

Despite its name, Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol and is chemically different from drying alcohols such as ethanol. It helps provide body and structure to creams, lotions, conditioners and other formulations while contributing a smooth, soft and silky skin or hair feel.

Cetyl Alcohol is particularly useful when a formulation requires increased viscosity without creating an excessively heavy or waxy texture. It can also improve the spreadability and overall sensory properties of emulsions and hair-care products.

Benefits:
Cetyl Alcohol helps increase the viscosity and consistency of cosmetic formulations, giving creams and lotions a smooth and stable structure. It acts as an emollient and helps leave the skin feeling soft, smooth and conditioned.

In hair-care formulations, Cetyl Alcohol can improve slip and spreadability, helping conditioners and hair masks feel smoother during application. It can also contribute to a creamy texture and help reduce the perception of roughness or dryness.

It is commonly used alongside emulsifiers and other fatty alcohols to improve the stability, consistency and sensory characteristics of cosmetic formulations.

How to Use:
Cetyl Alcohol is generally added to the oil phase of an emulsion and heated until completely melted. It is then combined with the aqueous phase during the emulsification process according to the formulation procedure.

For anhydrous products such as balms, body butters and solid formulations, Cetyl Alcohol can be melted together with the other oil-soluble ingredients before cooling and further processing.

It is suitable for use in:

• Face creams and moisturizers

• Body lotions and creams

• Hair conditioners

• Hair masks and treatments

• Body butters

• Cleansing creams

• Balms and anhydrous formulations

• Sunscreen and cosmetic emulsions

• Other personal-care formulations

Recommended Usage:
Typically 1–10%, depending on the desired consistency, texture and function of the formulation.

• 1–3%: Light viscosity modification and texture enhancement

• 3–5%: Creams, lotions and conditioners requiring moderate structure

• 5–10%: Rich creams, conditioners, hair masks and more highly structured formulations

The appropriate usage level depends on the complete formulation, the other emulsifiers and thickeners being used, and the desired final texture. Formulators should conduct stability and compatibility testing when developing a new product.

Solubility:
Cetyl Alcohol is insoluble in water. It is soluble or dispersible in oils and many organic solvents and is normally incorporated into the heated oil phase of cosmetic emulsions.

Formulation Note:
Cetyl Alcohol can be used alone or in combination with other fatty alcohols such as Cetearyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol. The final concentration should be selected according to the required viscosity, texture, stability and sensory properties of the finished formulation. As with all cosmetic raw materials, a compatibility and stability assessment is recommended before commercial production.

Usage Considerations:

When formulating with Cetyl Alcohol, it is essential to follow recommended concentrations to achieve the desired texture and stability. Proper blending techniques help ensure a consistent and uniform formulation.

Storage:
Store in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight, excessive heat and moisture. Keep the container tightly closed when not in use. Avoid prolonged exposure to humidity and store in the original packaging under recommended conditions.

Maduras Herbals offers high-quality Cetyl Alcohol for cosmetic and personal care applications. If you’re searching for where to buy Cetyl Alcohol or want to buy Cetyl Alcohol online, we provide bulk supplies tailored for cosmetic manufacturers. As a trusted supplier of cosmetic ingredients, we specialize in pure and high-performance cosmetic components, including fruit-derived extracts, herbal powders, cold-pressed oils, essential oils, and soap bases. Our Cetyl Alcohol meets industry standards, making it a preferred choice for skincare, haircare, and personal care formulations.

Disclaimer: 

The above information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. As these are cosmetic and formulation-grade chemicals, variations in colour, consistency, strength, and performance may occur between batches due to sourcing, purity level and/or make/brand. These chemicals are supplied strictly as raw materials for use across multiple industries and may not follow any single standard. Since each industry has its own specifications and performance requirements, customers are responsible for testing samples in their formulations and confirming compatibility before purchasing larger quantities. Customers can request up to 3 different samples. Sample sizes will be decided by us (Maduras Herbals Pvt Ltd). These samples are free***, but shipping charges apply. We also recommend purchasing products in standard packaging sizes. All purchases on our website fall under B2B transactions. Laboratory test reports can be arranged on request at an additional cost.

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