Cetyl Alcohol

1Identification

Name

Cetyl Alcohol

IUPAC name

hexadecan-1-ol

CAS number

36653-82-4 (also reported: 29354-98-1, 36311-34-9)

EC number

253-149-0

Molecular formula

C16H34O

Molecular weight

242.44 g/mol

InChIKey

BXWNKGSJHAJOGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO

PubChem CID

2682

Synonyms

1-Hexadecanol, cetyl alcohol, Hexadecan-1-ol, Palmityl alcohol, Cetanol, Hexadecyl alcohol, Cetaffine, N-Hexadecanol, n-Cetyl alcohol, Cetylol, n-1-Hexadecanol, Cetal, Ethal, Ethol

Recommended uses

• CIR ingredient: Cetyl Alcohol
  Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
• Used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and shampoos (emollient and emulsion modifier) and to make face creams, lotions, lipsticks, toilet preparations, and antiperspirant sticks; Also used as a coupling agent, foam stabilizer in detergents, base for making sulfonated fatty acids, monomer lubricant in suspension polymerization, and to retard evaporation of water when spread as a film on reservoirs or sprayed on growing plants; [HSDB]
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
• Dressing Hair [Category: Other]
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
• Stabilizing agent Thickening agent Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable Intermediate Solvent Other Lubricating agent Surfactant (surface active agent)
  EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
• Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable Lubricating agent Other Solvent Opacifer Surfactant (surface active agent)
  EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)

Use categories: Fragrance Ingredients · Flavouring Agent -> FLAVOURING_AGENT -> JECFA Functional Classes · Flavoring Agents -> JECFA Flavorings Index · Plastics -> Polymer Type -> N.a.

Description

• Hexadecan-1-ol is a long-chain primary fatty alcohol that is hexadecane substituted by a hydroxy group at position 1. It has a role as a flavouring agent, a plant metabolite, a human metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is a hexadecanol and a long-chain primary fatty alcohol.
  ChEBI
• Cetyl alcohol, also known as 1-hexadecanol or n-hexadecyl alcohol, is a 16-C fatty alcohol with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)15OH. It can be produced from the reduction of palmitic acid. Cetyl alcohol is present in a waxy white powder or flake form at room temperature, and is insoluble in water and soluble in alcohols and oils. Discovered by Chevrenl in 1913, cetyl alcohol is one of the oldest known long-chain alcohol. It may be contained in cosmetic and personal care products such as shampoos, creams and lotions. Mainly it is used as an opacifier, emulsifier, and thickening agent that alter the thickness of the liquid, and increase and stabilize the foaming capacity.
  DrugBank
• cetyl alcohol has been reported in Camellia sinensis, Angelica gigas, and other organisms with data available.
  LOTUS - the natural products occurrence database

2Hazard identification

Signal word

Warning

Pictograms

GHS07

Classification source

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Precautionary statements

Hazards summary

• Higher alcohols are not highly toxic in the industrial setting; Can cause liver injury, somnolence, and respiratory depression in experimental animals; [HSDB] In high-dose feeding studies, causes somnolence in rats and ataxia in dogs; [RTECS] Safe when used as a flavoring agent in food; [JECFA] An irritant; [MSDSonline]
  Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases

3Composition / information on ingredients

This page describes the pure substance. Commercial products may be solutions or mixtures. Check Section 3 of your supplier's SDS for concentrations and other ingredients.

4First-aid measures

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 4 of the supplier's SDS.

5Fire-fighting measures

• To fight fire, use foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemical.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

6Accidental release measures

Spill cleanup

• AEROBIC: In a 5-day incubation study using an activated sludge seed from a municipal sewage treatment plant, 28.0% of initial 1-hexadecanol was mineralized (CO2 measurement)(1). A theoretical BOD of 0% was observed using the AFNOR (the French norm procedure) screening test and a 5-day incubation period(2). In standard 5-day BOD tests using emulsified 1-hexadecanol, 30-60% of initial 1-hexadecanol was oxidized(3). In studies designed to examine the biodegradability of 1-hexadecanol in thin films (monolayer) on water surfaces, it was found that biological destruction of the monolayer resulted in measurable consumption of the material with all substrates that were tested;
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• ANAEROBIC: The anaerobic degradation of 14-C-labeled 1-hexadecanol was studied in model sludge digester over a 28-day incubation period(1); 25.1% of radioactivity was recovered in methane gas and 72.0% was recovered in CO2 gas(1).
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

7Handling and storage

• In general, materials which are toxic as stored or which can decompose into toxic components ... should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place, out of direct rays of the sun, away from areas of high fire hazard, and should be periodically inspected ... incompatible materials should be isolated from each other.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

8Exposure controls / personal protection

No occupational exposure limits found in our sources.

9Physical and chemical properties

10Stability and reactivity

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 10 of the supplier's SDS.

11Toxicological information

Carcinogen classification

• No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
  Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)

12Ecological information

Environmental fate

• 1-Hexadecanol's production and use in perfumery, foam stabilizer in detergents, cosmetics, chemical intermediate, detergents, and pharmaceuticals may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. Its use to retard evaporation of water from reservoirs and growing plants will result in its direct release to the environment. If released to air, a vapor pressure of 6X10-6 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates 1-hexadecanol will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the atmosphere. Vapor-phase 1-hexadecanol will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 16 hours.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Ecotoxicity

• EC50 Scenedesmus subspicatus (Algae) 676 mg/L/72 hr; Effect: cell multiplication inhibition test
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

13Disposal considerations

• SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

14Transport information

Not available in the public sources we compile. Check Section 14 of the supplier's SDS.

How DOT hazard classes work →

15Regulatory information

• As the federal pesticide law FIFRA directs, EPA is conducting a comprehensive review of older pesticides to consider their health and environmental effects and make decisions about their future use. Under this pesticide reregistration program, EPA examines health and safety data for pesticide active ingredients initially registered before November 1, 1984, and determines whether they are eligible for reregistration. In addition, all pesticides must meet the new safety standard of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Residues of cetyl alcohol are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as an evaporation retardant (limit: not more than 5.0% of pesticide formulation) in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after harvest.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
• Diluents in color additive mixtures for food use exempt from certification. The following substances may be safely used as diluents in color additive mixtures for food use exempt from certification, subject to the condition that each straight color in the mixture has been exempted from certification or, if not so exempted, is from a batch that has previously been certified and has not changed in composition since certification. If a specification for a particular diluent is not set forth in this part 73, the material shall be of a purity consistent with its intended use. Cetyl alcohol is included on this list.
  Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Overview of SDS regulations (OSHA HazCom, WHMIS, REACH/CLP) →

16Other information

Compiled from PubChem CID 2682 and the sources it aggregates (attributed inline). Data retrieved 2026-10-12. This summary describes the pure substance and is not a supplier SDS.