Cetyl Palmitate
Cetyl Palmitate is a naturally derived ester formed by the reaction of cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It appears as a white to off-white waxy solid with a mild fatty odor. This compound is widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial formulations for its emollient, thickening, and texture-enhancing properties. Cetyl Palmitate imparts a smooth, creamy feel to products and contributes to improved stability and consistency in creams, lotions, balms, and ointments. Its film-forming and skin-conditioning attributes make it a preferred ingredient in personal care products as well as in specialty industrial applications.
Cetyl Palmitate
Primary Uses
- Cosmetics & Personal Care
- Functions as an emollient, thickener, and texture enhancer in creams, lotions, lipsticks, balms, and hair conditioners.
- Provides a smooth, velvety feel and improves the spreadability of topical products.
- Used as a stabilizer in oil-in-water emulsions to enhance consistency and shelf-life.
- Acts as a film-forming agent providing a protective barrier on the skin.
- Pharmaceuticals
- Used as a base and thickening agent in ointments, creams, and salves, improving skin feel and stability.
- Serves as an emollient in topical drug formulations for improved moisturizing and soothing effects.
Secondary Uses
- Industrial Applications
- Used in polishes, wax blends, and coatings to impart gloss and improve surface texture.
- Acts as a lubricant and anti-static agent in certain plastics and textile applications.
- Food Industry
- Occasionally used in food packaging or coatings, subject to regulatory approval.
- Research & Development
- Utilized as an ingredient in experimental formulations for novel cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.
1. Basic Identification Attributes
- Chemical Name (IUPAC): Hexadecyl hexadecanoate
- Common/Trade Name: Cetyl Palmitate
- CAS Number: 540-10-3
- HS Code: 2915.99.90
- Molecular Formula: C32H64O2
- Molecular Weight: 480.86 g/mol
- Synonyms:
- Cetyl hexadecanoate
- Palmityl cetyl ester
2. Physical & Chemical Properties
- Physical State: Solid waxy flakes or pastilles
- Color & Odor: White to pale yellow; mild fatty odor
- Melting Point: 45–50°C (113–122°F)
- Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
- Density: ~0.88 g/cm³ at 20°C
- Solubility:
- Insoluble in water
- Soluble in oils, alcohol, chloroform
- Flash Point: ~250°C (decomposition)
- Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions
3. Safety & Hazard Attributes
- Hazard Class (GHS): Not classified as hazardous
- NFPA Ratings:
- Health: 0
- Flammability: 1
- Reactivity: 0
- Exposure Limits: Not established
- Toxicity: Low toxicity; generally recognized as safe in cosmetic and pharmaceutical use
- Reactivity: Stable; may decompose at high temperatures
4. Storage & Handling Attributes
- Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry place away from heat and ignition sources
- Container Type: Sealed plastic or metal containers
- Shelf Life: Up to 3 years if stored properly
- Special Handling: Avoid dust and excessive heat; use PPE when handling bulk quantities
5. Regulatory & Compliance Attributes
- FDA Status: Approved for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
- REACH Status: Registered
- Transportation: Not regulated as hazardous
- Waste Disposal: Dispose in accordance with local environmental regulations
6. Environmental & Health Impact
- Ecotoxicity: Low environmental impact; biodegradable
- Persistence: Biodegradable
- Bioaccumulation: Not expected to bioaccumulate
- Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic or mutagenic
- Biodegradability: Readily biodegradable
Safety Handling Precautions
- PPE: Gloves and protective eyewear recommended when handling in bulk
- Handling: Avoid dust inhalation and skin contact with molten product
- Storage: Keep containers tightly sealed and stored away from heat sources
- Hygiene: Wash hands after handling; avoid ingestion and eye contact
First Aid Measures
- Inhalation: Move to fresh air if dust inhaled; seek medical attention if breathing difficulties occur
- Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water; seek medical advice if irritation develops
- Eye Contact: Flush with water for 15 minutes; consult physician if irritation persists
- Ingestion: Low toxicity; rinse mouth and seek medical advice if large amounts ingested
Firefighting Measures
- Fire Hazards: Combustible; may release smoke and toxic fumes on burning
- Extinguishing Media: Use foam, dry chemical powder, CO₂, or water spray
- Special Precautions: Firefighters should wear protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus
- Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons
Related products
Almond Butter
Almond Butter is a smooth, creamy paste made by grinding roasted or raw almonds into a nutrient-rich spread. It retains the natural oils and flavor of almonds, offering a mild, nutty aroma and rich, buttery texture. Almond Butter is packed with monounsaturated fats, protein, vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants, making it a highly valued ingredient in the food, nutraceutical, and personal care industries.
In cosmetics and skincare, Almond Butter is prized for its emollient properties, making it a popular base for creams, balms, and body butters. It provides skin-softening, moisturizing, and barrier-protecting benefits. In the food and beverage industry, it is used as a spread, in smoothies, baked goods, energy bars, and dairy alternatives. It is also included in specialty pet food and wellness formulations.
Baobab Oil
Baobab Oil is a luxurious, cold-pressed oil extracted from the seeds of the Adansonia digitata (baobab) tree, native to Africa. Rich in omega fatty acids (especially omega-3, 6, and 9), vitamins A, D, E, and F, and powerful antioxidants, Baobab Oil is prized for its deep moisturizing, skin-rejuvenating, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a light, non-greasy oil that absorbs quickly into the skin, making it ideal for a wide range of cosmetic and personal care applications.
Baobab Oil is especially suited for dry, sensitive, or mature skin. It supports skin elasticity, improves tone, and helps reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. In hair care, it nourishes and protects, leaving hair soft and manageable. Its natural stability and skin compatibility make it a premium ingredient in high-performance formulations.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees of the genus Apis. It is secreted by worker bees from specialized glands and used to build honeycomb cells. Beeswax is a complex mixture of esters, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons, characterized by a pale yellow to brown color, a pleasant honey-like aroma, and a firm yet pliable texture. It has excellent emulsifying, binding, and protective properties, making it widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, and industrial applications. Beeswax is prized for its natural origin, biodegradability, and skin-friendly characteristics.
Ceto Stearyl Alcohol
Ceto Stearyl Alcohol 1618TA is a high-quality fatty alcohol blend primarily composed of cetyl (C16) and stearyl (C18) alcohols. It appears as a white, waxy solid or flakes with a mild fatty odor. This blend is widely used as an emollient, thickener, and co-emulsifier in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial formulations. Ceto Stearyl Alcohol 1618TA offers excellent lubricity, thickening, and stabilizing properties, enhancing the texture, consistency, and moisturizing characteristics of creams, lotions, and hair care products. It serves as a skin conditioning agent and contributes to the structural integrity of emulsions.
Cetyl Alcohol Flakes
Cetyl Alcohol Flakes is a high-purity fatty alcohol derived mainly from natural sources such as palm oil and coconut oil. Presented as white to off-white waxy flakes, this product contains at least 98% pure cetyl alcohol, ensuring consistent performance and quality. It is valued for its excellent emollient, thickening, and emulsifying properties and is widely used in personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial formulations. The flake form facilitates easy handling, melting, and dosing in manufacturing processes. Cetyl Alcohol 98% Flakes contributes to the texture, stability, and moisturizing properties of various formulations, providing a non-greasy, smooth finish.
Fully Refined Paraffin Wax
Fully Refined Paraffin Wax is a highly purified, odorless, white to pale yellow wax obtained from the refining of petroleum-derived crude paraffin wax. It consists primarily of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) with chain lengths typically between C20 and C40. Due to its excellent chemical stability, non-toxicity, and versatility, Fully Refined Paraffin Wax is widely used across numerous industries including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food packaging, candle making, rubber processing, and electrical insulation. It exhibits a high melting point, low volatility, and good water resistance.
Illipe Butter
Illipe Butter is a natural, hard vegetable fat derived from the nuts of the Shorea stenoptera tree, native to the rainforests of Borneo. Known for its high melting point and rich moisturizing profile, Illipe Butter is prized in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food applications for its emollient qualities and stability. It closely resembles cocoa butter in composition and function, making it a sustainable alternative in formulations requiring consistency and long shelf life. The butter appears as a pale yellow to off-white solid with a mild, neutral aroma.
Olive Butter
Olive Butter is a natural, creamy, and rich emollient derived from cold-pressed olive oil combined with other natural butters (such as shea or cocoa butter) to create a luxurious skin-conditioning product. It is prized for its deep moisturizing, antioxidant-rich, and soothing properties, making it a popular ingredient in skincare, haircare, and cosmetic formulations. Olive Butter enhances skin elasticity, provides nourishment, and forms a protective barrier against environmental stressors.

Preservatives(food)
Flavor Enhancers
Acidulants
Sweeteners
Antioxidants
Colorants(food)
Nutraceutical Ingredients (food)
Nutrient Supplements
Emulsifiers
Collectors
Dust Suppressants
Explosives and Blasting Agents
Flocculants and Coagulants
Frothers
Leaching Agents
pH Modifiers
Precious Metal Extraction Agents
Antioxidants(plastic)
Colorants (Pigments, Dyes)
Fillers and Reinforcements
Flame Retardants
Monomers
Plasticizers
Polymerization Initiators
Stabilizers (UV, Heat)
Antifoaming Agents
Chelating Agents
Coagulants and Flocculants
Corrosion Inhibitors
Disinfectants and Biocides
Oxidizing Agents
pH Adjusters
Scale Inhibitors( water)
Antioxidants(cosmetic)
Emollients
Fragrances and Essential Oils
Humectants
Preservatives
Surfactants(cosmetic)
Thickeners
UV Filters
Fertilizers
Soil Conditioners
Plant Growth Regulators
Animal Feed Additives
Biostimulants
Pesticides (Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides)
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
Excipients
Solvents(pharmaceutical)
Antibiotics
Antiseptics and Disinfectants
Vaccine Adjuvants
Nutraceutical Ingredients (pharmaceutical)
Analgesics & Antipyretics
Analytical Reagents
Solvents(lab)
Chromatography Chemicals
Spectroscopy Reagents
microbiology-and-cell-culture-reagents
Molecular Biology Reagents
Biochemical Reagents
Inorganic and Organic Standards
Laboratory Safety Chemicals
Specialty Laboratory Chemicals(Special Laboratory Equipment)
Demulsifiers
Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids
Scale Inhibitors(oil)
Surfactants(oil)
Drilling Fluids
Dyes and Pigments
Bleaching Agents
Softening Agents
Finishing Agents
Antistatic Agents
Admixtures
Waterproofing Agents
Sealants and Adhesives
Curing Compounds
Concrete Repair Chemicals
Anti-Corrosion Coatings
Surfactants(cleaning)
Builders
Enzymes
Solvents (Cleaning)
Fragrances
Electronic Chemicals
Catalysts
Lubricants
Photographic Chemicals
Refrigerants
Automotive chemicals
Pyrotechnic Chemicals
Biodegradable Surfactants
Bio-based Solvents
Renewable Polymers
Carbon Capture Chemicals
Wastewater Treatment Chemicals
Pigments
Solvents(paint)
Specialty Coatings
Binders/Resins
Additives
Driers
Anti-Corrosion Agents
Functional Coatings
Application-Specific Coatings
Leavening Agents
Dough Conditioners
Flour Treatments
Fat Replacers
Decoratives
Preservatives(baking)
Plasticizers & Softeners
Reinforcing Agents
Adhesion Promoters
Vulcanizing Agents
Antidegradants
Blowing Agents
Fillers & Extenders
Accelerators & Retarders