Ingredient Dictionary

CAPROIC ACID

Hexanoic acid is a C6, straight-chain saturated fatty acid.

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 12 list it before the 1% line and 4 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 16 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 16

Definition

Hexanoic acid is a C6, straight-chain saturated fatty acid. It has a role as a plant metabolite and a human metabolite. It is a straight-chain saturated fatty acid and a medium-chain fatty acid. It is a conjugate acid of a hexanoate.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 1F8SN134MX · registered name Caproic Acid · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Gives the product a scentPERFUMINGMixes and holds oil and water togetherSURFACTANT - EMULSIFYINGWashes away surface impuritiesCLEANSINGListed as a fragrance-composition material (not a claim that it adds scent)FRAGRANCESurfactant that lifts dirtSURFACTANT - CLEANSING

Safety & regulatory references

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

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report: Safety Assessment of Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Salts as Used in Cosmetics

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

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

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name カプロン酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される脂肪酸である。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

CAPROIC ACIDINCI카프로익애씨드Korean label name (MFDS standard)Hexanoic acidSynonymカプロン酸Japanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 142-62-1
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 205-550-7
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID7021607
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID101607

IUPAC: Hexanoic acid
Molecular formula: C6H12O2
Molecular weight: 116.16 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: liquid
Melting/freezing point: -3 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 205 ℃
Flash point: 102 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 9.3 / 1.3 %
Vapour pressure: 0.0435 ㎜Hg (at 25C)
Water solubility: 10300 ㎎/ℓ (at 25C)
Vapour density: 4.0 ()
Relative density: 0.9274 ()
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 1.92
Auto-ignition temperature: 380 ℃
Molecular weight: 116.18

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: KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 23 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.

Fragrance5
Flavouring and nutrient3
Intermediate2
Lubricating agent2
Preservative2
Surfactant (surface active agent)2
Monomers1
Processing aids not otherwise specified1

5 other uses

Cleaning agent1
Emulsifier1
pH regulating agent1
Solvent1
Deodorizer1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

10 skin studies and 3 eye studies are on record.

Classed as highly irritating5

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 13 studies

Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Category 8.2C (Category 1C)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Ambiguous
skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 431: In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Human Skin Model Test (13 April 2004) according to other guideline: EU method B40: Skin Corrosion (30 May 2008) according to other guideline: L'Oreal Standard Operating Procedure: "EpiSkinTM SKIN IRRITATION TEST METHOD 15 min - 42 hours" - ECVAM Skin Irritation Validation Study - VALIDATION OF THE EpiSkinTM TEST METHOD 15 min - 42 hours FOR THE PREDICTION OF ACUTE SKIN IRRITATION OF CHEMICALS according to
Category 1
Skin Irritation · Screening
Corrosive
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Corrosive
skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 431 (In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Human Skin Model Test. 13 April 2004) equivalent or similar to
Corrosive
skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 430 (In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Transcutaneous Electrical Resistance Test (TER)) adopted April 2004 equivalent or similar to
Corrosive
skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 430: In vitro Skin Corrosion: Transcutaneous Electrical Resistance Test (TER), April 2004 equivalent or similar to
Corrosive
skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 431: In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Human Skin Model Test (13 April 2004) according to other guideline: EU method B40: (Skin Corrosion. 30 May 2008) according to
Category 8.3A (Category 1)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Corrosive or Irritation Persists for > 21 days
eye irritation: in vitro / ex vivo · Screening · other guideline: OECD Guideline 437: Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Test Method for Identifying Ocular Corrosives and Severe Irritants (adopted 7 Sept 2009) according to
Category 1
Eye Irritation · Screening