Sodium octadecanoate is an organic sodium salt comprising equal numbers of sodium and stearate ions.
How much products actually contain
No product states its amount yet.
Of the products containing it, 79 list it before the 1% line and 4 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
12 of 82 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 82
GlossierGlossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar
RIREAll Kill Blackhead Remover Stick The Red
RIREAll Kill Blackhead Remover Stick
Harry'sHarry's Odor Control | Deodorant
wet n wildwet n wild Cooling Hydra De-Puffer For Eyes + Face
Peace Out SkincarePeace Out Skincare Pore Perfecting Stick
Dr. SquatchDr. Squatch Birchwood Breeze Invisible Glide Deodorant
Dr. SquatchDr. Squatch Coastal Mist Invisible Glide Deodorant
Dr. SquatchDr. Squatch Coconut Castaway Invisible Glide Deodorant
Dr. SquatchDr. Squatch Fresh Falls Invisible Glide Deodorant
Dr. SquatchDr. Squatch Lumberjack Lodge Invisible Glide Deodorant
Dr. SquatchDr. Squatch Mountain Meadow Invisible Glide Deodorant
Definition
Sodium octadecanoate is an organic sodium salt comprising equal numbers of sodium and stearate ions. It has a role as a detergent. It contains an octadecanoate.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII QU7E2XA9TG · registered name Sodium stearate · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Reviewed by CIR: Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessment - 2001/2002
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report: Safety Assessment of Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report of the Safety Assessment of Lithium Stearate, Aluminum Distearate, Aluminum Stearate, Aluminum Tristearate, Ammonium Stearate, Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Stearate, and Zinc Stearate
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name ステアリン酸Ｎａ: 本品は、ステアリン酸（＊）のナトリウム塩であり、次の化学式で表される。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 822-16-2
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 212-490-5
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID9027318
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID807318
- IUPAC
- Sodium octadecanoate
- Molecular formula
- C18H35NaO2
- Molecular weight
- 306.466 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Liquid, Dry Powder, Large Crystals · White to yellow powder or wax-like substance, Stearates are salts of octadecanoic acid, [ACGIH]
- Odour
- SLIGHT, TALLOW-LIKE ODOR
- Solubility
- SLOWLY SOL IN COLD WATER OR COLD ALC, FREELY SOL IN HOT SOLVENTS · INSOL IN MANY ORGANIC SOLVENTS
- Stability
- AFFECTED BY LIGHT
- pH
- AQ SOLN IS STRONGLY ALKALINE, DUE TO HYDROLYSIS, ALC SOLN IS PRACTICALLY NEUTRAL
- Vapour pressure
- 1.01E-12 ㎜Hg (25℃ (est.))
- Water solubility
- 0.000332 g/100㎖ (25℃ (est.))
- Relative density
- 1.02
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 4.13 (est.)
- Molecular weight
- 306.47
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 94 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.
- Emulsifier24
- Surfactant (surface active agent)23
- Processing aids not otherwise specified7
- Lubricating agent5
- Viscosity modifier4
- Cleaning agent4
- Softener and conditioner4
- Thickening agent3
14 other uses
- Fragrance3
- Catalyst2
- Dispersing agent2
- Heat stabilizer2
- Wetting agent (non-aqueous)2
- Antioxidant1
- Intermediate1
- Waterproofing agent1
- Anti-adhesive/cohesive1
- Propellants, non-motive (blowing agents)1
- Binder1
- Filler1
- Anti-caking agent1
- Flavouring and nutrient1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
2 skin studies and 2 eye studies are on record.
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
- Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening - Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Optimization of chemical transesterification of methyl stearate with sucrose using response surface methodology · 2026
- Enhancing Topical Anti-Inflammatory Activity with Psidium guajava L. and Moringa oleifera · 2025
- Soap is unsuitable on fragile skin at risk of breakdown. · 2006
- Direct Imaging of Sodium Stearate Crystals Dispersed in Waterpropylene Glycol Mixtures by Cryo-Electron Microscopy · 2001
- Influence of Panthenol, Chlorphenesin and Lignocatne on the Rheological Properties of Solidified Sodium Stearate-Based Sticks(SSSS) · 1984
Linked databases 20
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2 3 4
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Chinese