Cetyl Alcohol: properties, uses, pros, cons, safety

Cetyl Alcohol is a long chain fatty alcohol. It is a long chain fatty alcohol and it is also called palmityl alcohol, discovered by the chemist Michel Chevreul in France in 1817.

Synonyms: Cetyl alcohol, 1-hexadecanol, hexadecan-1-ol, n-hexadecyl alcohol, hexadecyl alcohol, Palmityl alcohol

Definition

Cetyl alcohol is a saturated, linear C16 fatty alcohol used mainly as a structuring agent and emulsion aid in cosmetic formulations. It is typically a waxy solid at room temperature and is used to increase body, consistency, stability, and the sensorial profile of emulsions.

Raw materials required. Industrially, cetyl alcohol is produced from C16 oleochemical feedstocks derived from oils and fats or from corresponding intermediates rich in C16 chains. Production commonly requires hydrogen and catalysts for conversion steps, followed by purification to reach the target grade and specifications.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Cetyl is derived from the Latin "cetus", meaning whale. Cetyl alcohol was originally isolated from whale oil, but today it is primarily produced from vegetable oils and petroleum.

Raw Materials Used in Production.

• Oils and fats, notably palm oil or coconut oil, are often the primary source for cetyl alcohol.

Step-by-step Summary of Industrial Production Process.

• Hydrogenation: Fatty acids obtained from oils and fats are subjected to a hydrogenation process.
• Reduction: The resulting fatty acid esters are then reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to form alcohols, including cetyl alcohol.
• Distillation: Cetyl alcohol is then separated from the other alcohols via distillation.
• Refinement: It is further purified to remove any remaining impurities.

Form and Color.

Cetyl alcohol typically appears as a white wax or flakes.

 What is it for?

It is a chemical substance frequently used in cosmetics as a non-ionic emollient, emulsifier or thickening agent as a pharmaceutical excipient and in medicine.

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Emulsion stabiliser. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsion stabilisers improve the formation and stability of single and double emulsions. as well as their shelf-life. It should be noted that in the structure-function relationship, the molar mass of the ingredient used plays an important role.

Surfactant - Foam booster. It has the effect of introducing gas bubbles into the water and affects the cleaning process by helping to spread the cleanser. Since sebum has an inhibiting effect on the bubble, more foam is produced in the second shampoo.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Opacifying agent. It is useful into formulations that may be translucent or transparent to make them opaque and less permeable to light.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities. 

Viscosity control agent. It controls and adapts, Increasing or decreasing, viscosity to the required level for optimal chemical and physical stability of the product and dosage in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. 

Commercial Applications:

Cosmetics Industry. Cetyl alcohol is widely used in cosmetics as an emollient, emulsion stabilizer, and thickener. It's often found in creams, lotions, and hair conditioners.

Pharmaceutical. It can be used as an auxiliary agent in the formulation of medicinal creams and ointments.

Soap Production. Cetyl alcohol can be used to enhance the consistency and emulsifying properties of soaps.

Food Industry. While less common, it can be used as an additive in some food formulations.

Industrial use

Used as a raw material for derivatives such as esters and surfactants, as well as a technical ingredient where waxy-solid behaviour and rheology modification are needed.

Calories and identification data and specifications

Physico-chemical properties (indicative)

Functional role and practical mode of action

Cetyl alcohol contributes to structure primarily through waxy and lamellar organisation within the oil phase and at the oil–water interface. In emulsions, it supports the formation of a rheological network that increases viscosity, improves “body”, and reduces the tendency to phase separation, while also enhancing slip and after-feel.

It is not denatured ethanol or a volatile solvent alcohol. It is a fatty alcohol with low volatility, used for structuring and sensorial effects rather than evaporative performance.

Formulation compatibility

In O/W emulsions, cetyl alcohol is frequently used alongside other lipids and emulsifier systems to increase consistency and improve stability. In anhydrous systems, it can tune melting profile, hardness, and glide in balms and sticks. In surfactant-based cleansers, it can influence opacity and viscosity, with performance depending on the surfactant blend and process conditions.

Processing temperature control is essential. The oil phase should be heated above the melting range to ensure complete melting and uniform distribution, and cooling and shear should be managed to minimise graininess and undesired crystallisation.

Indicative use guidelines

In creams and lotions, use levels often fall in the range of 0.5–5%, depending on the target texture and synergy with other structurants. In haircare conditioners and masks, it is used to support body and slip, with the final level driven by the overall conditioning system. In sticks and balms, it is selected as part of the wax matrix to adjust hardness and glide. Final levels should be set based on stability testing, sensorial targets, process capability, and finished-product specifications.

Quality, grades, and specifications

Identity should be verified against INCI, CAS, and EC identifiers and the supplier’s analytical profile. Purity and grade are typically defined through GC and related parameters suited to the supplier’s specification. Appearance, odour, physical form, and absence of visible contaminants are practical release checks. Batch-to-batch reproducibility can be controlled through internal limits on melting range and performance in a reference formulation. Storage should be in tightly closed containers, protected from heat and contamination, avoiding absorption of ambient odours.

Safety, regulatory, and environmental considerations

Cetyl alcohol is generally regarded as a low-concern cosmetic ingredient in common use conditions. Standard industrial hygiene remains appropriate for waxy solids: minimise dust generation where applicable, avoid unnecessary prolonged contact, and apply PPE consistent with the SDS and workplace risk assessment.

In EU cosmetics, it is not treated as a fragrance allergen requiring declaration and does not typically fall under dedicated allergen-labelling obligations. Compliance is managed through finished-product safety assessment and supply-chain documentation.

Environmental profile depends on grade, impurities, use pattern, and supply chain. Handling and disposal should follow SDS guidance and local waste rules.

Formulation troubleshooting

Conclusion

Cetyl alcohol is a widely used C16 fatty alcohol in cosmetics for emolliency, viscosity building, opacity, and emulsion stability. Key success factors are thermal management during processing, balanced structurant selection, and consistent supplier and batch quality control.

Mini-glossary

INCI. International nomenclature used for cosmetic ingredient labelling.
Co-emulsifier. Ingredient that supports the primary emulsifier to improve stability and structure.
SDS. Safety Data Sheet.
GMP. Good Manufacturing Practice, manufacturing best practices to ensure quality and process control.
HACCP. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, risk analysis and critical control methodology in regulated supply chains.

Most significant studies

Cetyl alcohol has been used to produce soporolipids, glycolipid biosurfactants that have been shown to exhibit antitumor activity (1).

Drug release. Based on this study, it can be concluded that cetyl alcohol microspheres and indomethacin capsule (Microcid SR) capsule are bioequivalent in terms of the rate and extent of absorption (2).

The protective effects of synthetic lung surfactant Exosurf® (containing cetyl alcohol) against endotoxin-induced inflammation have been demonstrated (3).

• Molecular Formula   C₁₆H₃₄O   or   [CH₃(CH₂)₁₄CH₂OH]
• Molecular Weight   242.447 g/mol
• CAS 36653-82-4
• EINECS 253-149-0

Synonyms

• cetylalcohol
• 1-Hexadecanol
• Hexadecan-1-ol
• Normal primary hexadecyl alcohol
• N-Hexadecanol
• n-Hexadecyl alcohol
• n-1-Hexadecanol
• Loxanwachs SK
• Crodacol C

References_______________________________________________________________________

(1) Nawale L, Dubey P, Chaudhari B, Sarkar D, Prabhune A. Anti-proliferative effect of novel primary cetyl alcohol derived sophorolipids against human cervical cancer cells HeLa.  PLoS One. 2017 Apr 18;12(4):e0174241. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174241. eCollection 2017.

Abstract. Sophorolipids (SLs) are glycolipid biosurfactants that have been shown to display anticancer activity. In the present study, we report anti-proliferative studies on purified forms of novel SLs synthesized using cetyl alcohol as the substrate (referred as SLCA) and their anticancer mechanism in human cervical cancer cells. Antiproliferative effect of column purified SLCA fractions (A, B, C, D, E and F) was examined in panel of human cancer cell lines as well as primary cells. Among these fractions, SLCA B and C significantly inhibited the survival of HeLa and HCT 116 cells without affecting the viability of normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The two fractions were identified as cetyl alcohol sophorolipids with non-hydroxylated tail differing in the degree of acetylation on sophorose head group. At an IC50 concentration SLCA B (16.32 μg ml-1) and SLCA C (14.14 μg ml-1) blocked the cell cycle progression of HeLa cells at G1/S phase in time-dependent manner. Moreover, SLCA B and SLCA C induced apoptosis in HeLa cells through an increase in intracellular Ca2+ leading to depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and increase in the caspase-3, -8 and -9 activity. All these findings suggest that these SLCAs could be explored for their chemopreventive potential in cervical cancer.

(2) Gupta NV, Gowda DV, Balamuralidhara V, Khan MS. Preparation and Comparative Bioavailability Studies of Indomethacin-Loaded Cetyl Alcohol Microspheres.  J Pharm (Cairo). 2013;2013:109837. doi: 10.1155/2013/109837. 

Abstract. The purpose of the present study was to compare the in vitro release and to find out whether the bioavailability of a 75 mg indomethacin capsule (Microcid SR) was equivalent to optimized formulation (indomethacin-loaded cetyl alcohol microspheres). Indomethacin-loaded cetyl alcohol microspheres were prepared by meltable emulsified cooling-induced technique. Surface morphology of microspheres has been evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. A single dose, randomized, complete cross over study of IM microspheres was carried out on 10 healthy male and female Albino sheep's under fasting conditions. The plasma was separated and the concentrations of the drug were determined by HPLC-UV method. Plasma indomethacin concentrations and other pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were statistically analyzed. The SEM images revealed the spherical shape of fat microspheres, and more than 98.0% of the isolated microspheres were in the size range 12-32 μm. DSC, FTIR spectroscopy and stability studies indicated that the drug after encapsulation with fat microspheres was stable and compatible. Both formulations were found to be bioequivalent as evidenced by in vivo studies. Based on this study, it can be concluded that cetyl alcohol microspheres and Microcid SR capsule are bioequivalent in terms of the rate and extent of absorption.

(3) Bi L, Wehrung D, Oyewumi MO. Contributory roles of innate properties of cetyl alcohol/gelucire nanoparticles to antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities of quercetin.  Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2013 Aug;3(4):318-29. doi: 10.1007/s13346-013-0130-6.

Abstract. The protective effects of synthetic lung surfactant Exosurf® (containing cetyl alcohol) against endotoxin-induced inflammation have been demonstrated in the literature. Thus, it is envisioned that nanoparticles loaded with quercetin (Q-NPs) prepared with binary mixtures of cetyl alcohol (CA) and Gelucire 44/14® (gelucire) as matrix materials will be capable of overcoming some of the protracted challenges confronting clinical application of quercetin and possess innate protective activity against inflammatory responses, which could be synergistic with quercetin. The NPs were stable in simulated biological media while retaining their particle size and spherical morphology. Further analysis by gel permeation chromatography, spectroscopic analysis (ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) indicated entrapment of quercetin in NPs. Q-NPs effectively enhanced xanthine oxidase inhibitory and free radical scavenging effect of quercetin. Furthermore, Q-NPs showed marked reduction (compared to quercetin alone) in production of nitric oxide and cytokine (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) from lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Superiority of Q-NPs over quercetin alone was confirmed from in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy studies in BALB/c mice. Data from additional studies with blank NPs (without quercetin) showed that the NPs reported herein most likely possessed intrinsic protective properties against LPS-induced inflammation. Although further mechanistic studies are warranted, the overall work depicted a novel approach of possible exploiting innate protective properties of NPs in quercetin delivery for treating oxidative stress and inflammation.