Octyldodecanol is a chemical compound, a water-insoluble alcohol, miscible with ethanol (96 per cent).

It occurs as a colourless transparent liquid.

Cosmetics

Octyldodecanol is among the components, used as raw materials in cosmetics, that most influence the quality criticality of cosmetic products in gel or cream form and the variables that constitute formula optimisation. 

It is used to prepare many chemical compounds including Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, a popular skin conditioner, which is able to increase viscosity in cosmetic formulations.

Included in cosmetic formulations as a co-factor of skin permeation where it presumably acts as a plasticizer, conferring flexibility and improving fluidity (1). Also used in detergents as a dispersant.

Other uses

Fibres, emollient

Printing inks, additive

Lubricating oils, advanced additive

Octyldodecanol studies

Typical optimal commercial product characteristics 2-Octyl-1-dodecanol  99%

• Molecular Formula  C₂₀H₄₂O
• Linear Formula   CH₃(CH₂)₉CH[(CH₂)₇CH₃]CH₂OH
• Molecular Weight    298.5
• Exact Mass    298.323578
• CAS  5333-42-6
• UNII    461N1O614Y
• EC Number   226-242-9
• DSSTox Substance ID  DTXSID3036288
• IUPAC  2-octyldodecan-1-ol
• InChI=1S/C20H42O/c1-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-16-18-20(19-21)17-15-13-10-8-6-4-2/h20-21H,3-19H2,1-2H3  
• InChl Key      LEACJMVNYZDSKR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES   CCCCCCCCCCC(CCCCCCCC)CO
• MDL number  MFCD01310428
• PubChem Substance ID    329823173
• SCHEMBL 4873
• NSC   2405
• NACRES NA.24 

Synonyms:

• 1-Dodecanol, 2-octyl-
• 2-Octyl-1-dodecanol
• 2-Octyl dodecanol
• 9-Icosanol
• 2-octyldodecan-1-ol
• 2-Octyldodecanol
• Eutanol G
• 2-Octyldodecyl alcohol
• Kalcohl 200GD
• Kalcohl 200G
• NSC 2405
• Guerbet C20
• Risonol 20SP
• Fine Oxocol 2000
• OHV 180
• Jarcol I 20
• NJCOL 200A
• Eutanol G-PH
• Kollicream OD
• Tegosoft G 20
• Octyldodecanol
• Octyldodecyl alcohol
• Eutanol G-JP

References_______________________________________________________________

(1) Ikuhiro Kakubari, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Toshiyuki Takayasu, Hitoshi Yamauchi, Satoshi Takayama, Kozo Takayama Effects of Ethylcellulose and 2-Octyldodecanol Additives on Skin Permeation and Irritation with Ethylene–Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Matrix Patches Containing Formoterol Fumarate    https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.29.1717