Ingredient Dictionary

LAURYL ALCOHOL

Dodecan-1-ol is a primary alcohol that is dodecane in which a hydrogen from one of the methyl groups is replaced by a hydroxy group.

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 17 list it before the 1% line and 123 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 140 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 140

Definition

Dodecan-1-ol is a primary alcohol that is dodecane in which a hydrogen from one of the methyl groups is replaced by a hydroxy group. It is registered for use in apple and pear orchards as a Lepidopteran pheromone/sex attractant, used to disrupt the mating behaviour of certain moths whose larvae destroy crops. It has a role as an insect attractant, an insecticide, a pheromone, a cosmetic, a plant metabolite and a bacterial metabolite. It is a primary alcohol and a dodecanol.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 178A96NLP2 · registered name LAURYL ALCOHOL · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Keeps an emulsion from separatingEMULSION STABILISINGMixes and holds oil and water togetherSURFACTANT - EMULSIFYINGMakes skin soft and smoothSKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENTAdjusts thicknessVISCOSITY CONTROLLING

Safety & regulatory references

Korea’s toxic-substance GHS classification: Warning · H400 (category 1) · H410 (category 1)

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

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

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name ラウリルアルコール: 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

LAURYL ALCOHOLINCI라우릴알코올Korean label name (MFDS standard)1-DodecanolSynonymラウリルアルコールJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 112-53-8
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 203-982-0
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID5026918
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID906918

IUPAC: Dodecan-1-ol
Molecular formula: C12H26O
Molecular weight: 186.339 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Dodecanol is a colorless thick liquid with a sweet odor. Floats on water. Freezing point is 75 °F. (USCG, 1999) · Liquid, Other Solid
Odour: CHARACTERISTIC FATTY ODOR, UNPLEASANT AT HIGH CONCN BUT DELICATE & FLORAL ON DILUTION · Fatty repulsive odor
Boiling point: 498 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999) · 259 °C at 760 mm Hg
Melting point: 75 °F (USCG, 1999) · 24 °C
Solubility: In water, 4 mg/L at 25 °C · Soluble in ethanol, ether, slightly soluble in benzene
Density: 0.831 at 75.2 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.8309 at 24 °C/4 °C
Odour threshold: 0.0071 ppm
Melting/freezing point: 24~27 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 258~262 ℃
Flash point: 52 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 5.1 / 0.6 %
Vapour pressure: 0.000848 ㎜Hg ((25 ℃))
Vapour density: 7.4
Relative density: 0.820-0.830 ((24 C))
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 5.13
Auto-ignition temperature: 259-275 ℃
Viscosity: 2.86 cP (80 C)
Molecular weight: 186.32

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 78 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.

Fragrance13
Emulsifier11
Degradant/impurity (EPA)7
Lubricating agent7
Softener and conditioner5
Stabilizing agent5
Viscosity modifier4
Surfactant (surface active agent)4

14 other uses

Solvent3
Humectant3
Flavouring and nutrient2
Thickening agent2
Plasticizer2
Cleaning agent2
Solubility enhancer1
Chemical reaction regulator1
Intermediate1
Antioxidant1
Defoamer1
Monomers1
Pigment1
Processing aids not otherwise specified1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

4 skin studies and 3 eye studies are on record.

Classed as moderate1Classed as low2

The studies disagree (the most common conclusion covers 33%), so they do not establish that this ingredient is irritating. These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 7 studies

Moderate or Mild Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
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
Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to
Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening