Ingredient Dictionary

BEHENYL ALCOHOL

Docosan-1-ol is a long-chain primary fatty alcohol that is docosane substituted by a hydroxy group at position 1.

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 598 list it before the 1% line and 196 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 787 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 787

Definition

Docosan-1-ol is a long-chain primary fatty alcohol that is docosane substituted by a hydroxy group at position 1. It is a non-prescription medicine approved by the FDA to shorten healing time of cold sores. It has a role as an antiviral drug and a plant metabolite. It is a docosanol and a long-chain primary fatty alcohol.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 9G1OE216XY · registered name Docosanol · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Keeps an emulsion from separatingEMULSION STABILISINGMakes skin soft and smoothSKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENTHolds powders togetherBINDINGAdjusts thicknessVISCOSITY CONTROLLING

Safety & regulatory references

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

Reviewed by CIR: Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments: 2005/2006

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, and Behenyl Alcohol

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name ベヘニルアルコール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される脂肪族アルコールである。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

BEHENYL ALCOHOLINCI베헤닐알코올Korean label name (MFDS standard)1-DocosanolSynonymベヘニルアルコールJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 661-19-8
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 211-546-6
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID4027286
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID907286

IUPAC: Docosan-1-ol
Molecular formula: C22H46O
Molecular weight: 326.609 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Other Solid, Large Crystals, Liquid · Colorless waxy solid, [HSDB] Powder, [MSDSonline]
Boiling point: 180 °C at 0.22 mm Hg
Melting point: 65-72 °C · 72.5 °C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in ether, very soluble in ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, soluble in chloroform · Insoluble in water
Density: 0.8063 g/ml at 75 °C, 0.7986 g/ml at 85 °C, 0.7911 g/ml at 95 °C
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: 72.5 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 180 ℃(at 0.22 mm Hg)
Flash point: 210 ℃(closed cup)
Vapour pressure: 0.000000061 ㎜Hg
Water solubility: (7.5E-005mg/L(25℃), est.)
Vapour density: 11.3
Relative density: 0.8063 (at 75 ℃)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 9.68
Molecular weight: 326.6

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 32 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Softener and conditioner8
Solvent6
Emulsifier4
Binder3
Viscosity modifier3
Thickening agent1
Plasticizer1
Processing aids not otherwise specified1

5 other uses

Monomers1
Dispersing agent1
Defoamer1
Stabilizing agent1
Fragrance1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

3 skin studies and 1 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low3

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 4 studies

Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation)
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation)
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to