Octyldodecanol on your skin: a safety profile

What is octyldodecanol?

The IUPAC name is 2-octyldodecan-1-ol.

Also known as: 2-octyldodecan-1-ol, branched C20 alcohol, beta-Chloroethyldifurfurylamine hydrochloride, DIFURFURYLAMINE, N-(2-CHLOROETHYL)-, HYDROCHLORIDE.

IUPAC name

2-octyldodecan-1-ol

CAS number

5333-42-6

Molecular formula

C20H42O

Molecular weight

298.56 g/mol

SMILES

C1=COC(=C1)CN(CCCl)CC2=CC=CO2.Cl

PubChem CID

9371

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Octyldodecanol. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter octyldodecanol

• sunscreen
• body_lotion
• moisturizer
• water_resistant_formulations

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Octyldodecanol:

• Plant-derived oils with established safety profiles (jojoba, squalane, shea butter)
  Trade-offs: Consumer preference for 'natural' label; many natural fragrance compounds are potent allergens (limonene, linalool, eugenol); 'natural' ≠ 'safe'; often more expensive than synthetic equivalents.
  Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
• Ceramide-based formulations (biomimetic skin barrier repair)
  Trade-offs: Alternative emollient; skin feel, spreadability, and occlusion properties differ; comedogenicity should be assessed for facial use; stability in final formulation needs verification.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Glycerin-based humectant systems as partial replacement
  Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions