Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl alcohol
- Role
- A fatty alcohol that gives the formula body and helps stabilise the emulsion.
- Catalog formulas
- 6
- Type
- Texture
- Verified
- 09.11.2026
What does this ingredient do in an antiperspirant?
Hexadecan-1-ol, a fatty alcohol with a 16-carbon chain. INCI functions: emollient, emulsifier, emulsion stabiliser, viscosity controlling agent and opacifier.
Part of a system, not a label in isolation
In cream deodorants, roll-ons and sticks it helps maintain consistency and uniformity. It is not an antiperspirant active ingredient.
The CIR concluded that Cetyl Alcohol is safe in the present practices of use (1988 report on fatty alcohols, conclusion confirmed in 2005; concentrations up to 50%).
It is generally used as a mild structuring ingredient; an individual reaction to the finished product is possible.
It is a fatty alcohol, not ethanol (Alcohol) or Alcohol Denat.: the FDA notes that fatty alcohols act on the skin quite differently from ethyl alcohol. Nor should it be confused with Cetearyl Alcohol, a mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols.
Products containing Cetyl Alcohol
Links are based on the complete published INCI list for the exact product version.
Sources
The conclusions apply to the stated conditions and jurisdictions, not automatically to every concentration or product.
- EU CosIng: Cetyl Alcohol Supports: INCI functions
- COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe): Cetyl Alcohol Supports: substance identity
- CIR: Quick Reference Table (summary of conclusions, 2014) Supports: safety conclusion, use concentrations
- FDA: Alcohol Free labeling Supports: difference from fatty alcohols