Solvents, Co-solvents, and Solubilization Systems in Home and Personal Care Formulations: Classification, Functions, and Selection Guide
Solvents, Co-solvents, and Solubilization Systems in Home and Personal Care Formulations: Classification, Functions, and Selection Guide
1 Why Solvents and Solubilizing Aids Can Determine Formulation Success
Many stability problems in home and personal care products do not come only from the main active ingredients, surfactants, or fragrances themselves, but from an unsuitable solvent and solubilization system design. A transparent hand wash may become cloudy after fragrance is added; a serum may crystallize after low-temperature storage; a concentrated detergent may separate in winter; a kitchen cleaner may have insufficient degreasing power while giving off a strong irritating odor; a sunscreen or color cosmetic may spread unevenly and leave obvious residue. These issues are all related to solvents and solubilizing aids.
The value of solvents and solubilizing aids is not simply to “dissolve raw materials.” Their role is to keep the formulation stable during manufacturing, storage, transportation, and use, while also balancing cleaning performance, skin feel, odor, safety, regulatory requirements, and packaging compatibility.
1.1 Solvents Help Ingredients Enter the Formulation System
The core function of a solvent is dissolution and carrying. It determines whether an ingredient can enter the formulation system and also affects the product form, flowability, evaporation rate, skin feel, and cleaning performance.
In home and personal care products, ingredients that commonly require solvents for dissolution include:
Poorly soluble ingredient | Common issue | Related products |
Fragrances and essential oils | Cloudiness, oil floating, re-clouding | Hand washes, shower gels, fragrance waters, cleaners |
Preservatives | Poor dissolution, precipitation, unstable preservative system | Skin care products, hair and body care products, aqueous products |
Oil-soluble actives | Crystallization, precipitation, unstable emulsification | Serums, lotions, sunscreens, color cosmetics |
Oils, waxes, and sebum soils | Insufficient cleaning power, obvious residue | Kitchen cleaners, makeup removers, hard-surface cleaners |
Oil-soluble organic ultraviolet (UV) filters | Insufficient dissolution, uneven spreading, precipitation | Sunscreens, color cosmetics |
1.2 Solubilizing Aids Support Long-term System Stability
The focus of solubilizing aids is not simply to increase dissolving power, but to improve the compatibility and long-term stability of poorly soluble ingredients within the system. They are commonly used to address fragrance re-clouding, essential oil floating, active ingredient crystallization, low-temperature separation in high-surfactant systems, and abnormal viscosity. Common solubilization approaches include co-solvency, solubilization, and hydrotrope-assisted stabilization.
1.3 Common Dissolution and Stability Issues in Home and Personal Care Products
Formulation issue | Main cause | Solution direction |
Cloudiness after fragrance addition | Insufficient compatibility between the fragrance and the water phase or surfactant system | Select a suitable solubilizer and adjust the surfactant-to-solubilizing aid ratio |
Essential oil floating | Hydrophobic substances are not stably incorporated | Increase surfactant-type solubilizers or optimize the fragrance pre-dissolution system |
Active ingredient crystallization | Solubility decreases due to storage temperature changes | Optimize co-solvents, oil-phase solvents, and low-temperature stability |
Poor preservative dissolution | Mismatch between preservative polarity and the system | Pre-dissolve with polyols, glycols, or a small amount of alcohol |
Low-temperature separation in concentrated detergents | Insufficient compatibility among high surfactant levels, fragrance, and electrolytes | Use hydrotropes and optimize the surfactant and salt system |
Obvious solvent odor or irritation | Excessive volatility, polarity, or dissolving power | Reduce dosage, combine with milder solvents, and verify use safety |
Packaging swelling or leakage | Incompatibility between solvents and plastics, rubber, or label materials | Conduct packaging compatibility testing and adjust solvent type |
2 Functional Definitions of Solvents and Solubilizing Aids
2.1 Solvents: Dissolving and Carrying the System
A solvent is a liquid component capable of dissolving other components. It may be an aqueous solvent or a non-aqueous solvent. In home and personal care formulations, solvents mainly perform five functions:
Function | Formulation significance |
Dissolution | Helps actives, fragrances, preservatives, oils, or cleaning auxiliaries enter the system |
Carrying | Serves as the continuous phase and determines whether the product is an aqueous solution, gel, spray, emulsion, or oil-based product |
Evaporation | Adjusts quick-drying properties, freshness, residue, and odor release |
Cleaning | Helps dissolve oily soils, sebum, makeup, waxes, or hydrophobic soils |
Skin feel | Improves spreading, lubrication, freshness, softness, or smoothness |
2.2 Co-solvents: Improving the Dissolving Capacity of the Continuous Phase
A co-solvent is a component used together with the main solvent to improve the overall dissolving capacity of the system. Co-solvents usually do not rely on micellar structures. Instead, they help poorly soluble ingredients enter the system by modifying the polarity, hydrogen-bonding interactions, and solvation capacity of the continuous phase.
Common co-solvents include ethanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, and dipropylene glycol. Co-solvents are commonly used for: ① pre-dissolving preservatives; ② assisting the dissolution of water-soluble or moderately polar actives; ③ pre-dissolving fragrances; ④ reducing low-temperature crystallization; and ⑤ adjusting skin feel and moisturization.
2.3 Solubilizers: Helping Hydrophobic Ingredients Enter the Water Phase
Solubilizers usually refer to ingredients with surfactant-like structures that can help small amounts of hydrophobic substances enter an aqueous system. They often form micelles or similar aggregates, encapsulating fragrances, essential oils, or oil-soluble ingredients in the aqueous system, thereby reducing cloudiness, oil floating, and re-clouding.
Common surfactant-type solubilizers mainly include ethoxylated castor oil or hydrogenated castor oil derivatives, such as PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil; polysorbates, such as polysorbate 20; polyether-type nonionic solubilizers, such as PPG-26-Buteth-26; and some alkyl polyglucosides, such as caprylyl/capryl glucoside.
Solubilizers are mainly used in: ① clear fragrance waters; ② clear toners; ③ fragrance solubilization in hand washes and shower gels; ④ solubilization of essential oils and small amounts of oil-soluble actives; and ⑤ fragrance stabilization in water-based cleaners.
2.4 Hydrotropes: Improving Compatibility in Complex Aqueous Systems
Hydrotropes are usually not used as primary surfactants. Their core function is to improve the compatibility of components in complex aqueous systems. They can help improve system solubility, cloud point, low-temperature cloudiness or separation risk, and viscosity performance. They may also affect foam, with the specific effect depending on the surfactant type, dosage, and overall system composition.
Typical hydrotropes include aromatic sulfonates such as sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium toluene sulfonate, and potassium toluene sulfonate. They are commonly used in high-surfactant, high-fragrance, high-electrolyte, or concentrated aqueous systems. Urea can also be used in certain aqueous systems for solubilization support, moisturization, and structural adjustment, but it does not belong to the aromatic sulfonate hydrotropes mentioned above and should be evaluated according to the specific formulation system.
3 Classification of Common Solvents and Solubilizing Aids in Home and Personal Care Formulations
3.1 Overview of Common Solvents and Solubilizing Aids in Home and Personal Care Formulations
Category | Typical ingredients | Position in the system | Main function | Advantages | Limitations | Suitable products |
Water | Purified water, deionized water | Main water-phase solvent | Carries water-soluble ingredients | Low cost, broad applicability, strong safety perception | Does not dissolve oily substances; microbial risk exists | Aqueous products, hair and body care products, cleaners |
Low-carbon alcohols | Ethanol, isopropanol | Volatile polar solvents | Dissolution, quick drying, degreasing, cooling sensation | Fast evaporation, fresh feel, able to dissolve some fragrances and preservatives | Flammable, obvious odor, may cause irritation or dryness | Perfumes, sprays, glass cleaners, leave-on or no-rinse products |
Polyols/glycol co-solvents | Glycerin, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, dipropylene glycol | Water-phase co-solvents | Solubilization support, moisturization, preservative boosting | Relatively mild; can provide both moisturization and solubilization support | High levels may feel sticky; limited effect on strongly hydrophobic substances | Skin care, hair and body care, preservative pre-dissolution |
Glycol ethers | Dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether | Cleaning solvents | Degreasing, coupling, cleaning performance enhancement | Effective for oily soils and some resin-like soils | Odor, irritation, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and regulatory requirements need attention | Household cleaners, hard-surface cleaners, kitchen cleaners |
Ester oil-phase solvents | C12-15 alkyl benzoate, dicaprylyl carbonate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, isononyl isononanoate | Oil-phase solvents | Dissolve oil-soluble ingredients; improve spreading and skin feel | Broad skin-feel design flexibility and good spreading | May feel oily or occlusive, or affect emulsion stability | Skin care, sunscreens, color cosmetics, makeup removers |
Light hydrocarbons/isoparaffins | Isododecane, isohexadecane | Oil phase or volatile oil-phase solvents | Quick drying, spreading, reducing greasiness, supporting film formation | Lightweight and low viscosity; suitable for color cosmetics, sunscreens, and quick-drying oil-phase systems | Some types are highly volatile; flammability, odor residue, packaging compatibility, and VOC regulations should be evaluated | Color cosmetics, sunscreens, hair sprays, quick-drying skin care products |
Hydrocarbon oil-phase carriers | Hydrogenated polyisobutene, mineral oil, petrolatum | Non-volatile oil-phase carriers | Emolliency, lipid replenishment, gloss enhancement, spreading improvement, makeup removal support | Good stability, lubrication, and occlusivity; suitable for oil-based systems | Some grades have a strong oily feel, residue, and occlusivity; skin-feel acceptance and rinseability should be evaluated | Cleansing oils, skin care creams and balms, lip products, hair oils |
Silicone oils/siloxanes | Dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, caprylyl methicone | Oil phase or volatile solvents | Smoothness, spreading, film formation, hair conditioning | Clear skin-feel advantages and good spreadability | Cyclic siloxanes such as D4, D5, and D6 are restricted under EU REACH; product type and residual-limit requirements should be considered | Color cosmetics, sunscreens, hair care, skin care |
Terpenes | d-Limonene, terpineol | Naturally derived oil-based solvents | Degreasing, fragrance contribution, dissolving oily soils | Strong degreasing power and distinct odor profile | Easily oxidized, may cause sensitization, obvious odor residue | Cleaners, degreasing products |
Surfactant-type solubilizers | PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, alkyl polyglucosides | Water-phase solubilization system | Solubilize fragrances, essential oils, and oil-soluble ingredients | Suitable for clear aqueous products and hair/body care systems | May affect foam, viscosity, skin feel, and re-clouding | Clear aqueous products, hand washes, shower gels, fragrance products |
Hydrotropes | Sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium/potassium toluene sulfonate and other aromatic sulfonates | High-surfactant aqueous systems | Improve compatibility, cloud point, low-temperature stability, and viscosity | Suitable for concentrated and high-surfactant systems | Do not provide primary detergency; excessive use may affect foam and viscosity | Laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, hard-surface cleaners, concentrated cleaners |
3.2 Key Differences Among Low-carbon Alcohols, Polyols, Solubilizers, and Hydrotropes
In home and personal care formulations, low-carbon alcohols, polyol/glycol co-solvents, surfactant-type solubilizers, and hydrotropes can all be used to improve solubility, but they solve different problems. Low-carbon alcohols and polyols mainly modify the dissolving capacity of the continuous phase. Surfactant-type solubilizers mainly help small amounts of hydrophobic ingredients enter the water phase. Hydrotropes mainly improve the compatibility and low-temperature stability of high-surfactant aqueous systems.
Type | Main problem addressed | Problems not suitable for this type alone |
Low-carbon alcohols | Quick drying, fresh feel, dissolution of some fragrances and preservatives, mild degreasing | Long-term stability of high levels of hydrophobic ingredients; dosage must be controlled in formulations requiring low irritation |
Polyol/glycol co-solvents | Co-dissolution of actives and preservatives, moisturization, skin-feel adjustment; some types provide preservative-boosting effects | Clear solubilization of relatively high levels of fragrance or essential oil; removal of heavy oily soils |
Surfactant-type solubilizers | Help fragrances, essential oils, and small amounts of oil-soluble ingredients enter the water phase, reducing cloudiness, oil floating, and re-clouding | Solving low-temperature separation, abnormal cloud point, and viscosity loss of high-surfactant concentrated systems on their own |
Hydrotropes | Improve compatibility in high-surfactant aqueous systems and adjust cloud point, low-temperature stability, and viscosity performance | Providing primary detergency; replacing surfactant-type solubilizers to independently achieve clear solubilization of fragrances or essential oils |
3.3 Main Advantages and Use Limitations of Different Categories
Solvents, co-solvents, and solubilization-related ingredients have no absolute advantages or disadvantages. The key is whether they are suitable for the specific formulation system. Selection should comprehensively evaluate dissolving capacity, system stability, odor, skin feel, irritation potential, regulatory applicability, packaging compatibility, and cost.
Clear aqueous products should focus on low-temperature re-clouding, long-term crystallization, and fragrance re-clouding risks, rather than simply pursuing stronger dissolving power. Surfactant-containing aqueous systems should balance the compatibility among fragrance, surfactants, electrolytes, solubilizers, and hydrotropes, rather than simply relying on increasing the amount of solubilizer. Degreasing cleaners need to balance cleaning power, odor residue, material compatibility, and use safety. Oil-phase or volatile solvent systems should also consider solubility, spreadability, evaporation rate, residue, film-forming performance, rinseability, and regulatory applicability.
4 Selection Logic for Four Typical Formulation Systems
4.1 Clear Aqueous Systems
Clear aqueous systems mainly refer to water-based products with low surfactant levels or no surfactants, including toners, serums, clear sprays, and some clear functional aqueous products. The core requirements of these systems are that the active ingredients and preservative system are fully dissolved, that the product remains clear and stable after low-temperature and long-term storage, and that it provides a suitable skin feel.
Formulation situation | Solvent or solubilizing aid selection | Key points to note |
High concentration of water-soluble actives | Use water as the main solvent, with polyol/glycol co-solvents such as propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, and hexylene glycol | Focus on verifying low-temperature crystallization, re-clouding, and long-term storage stability |
Preservative is not easily dissolved | Propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, or a small amount of ethanol may be used for pre-dissolution | Preservative efficacy, irritation, odor, and system stability should all be evaluated |
Small amounts of oil-soluble actives or fragrance cause cloudiness | Use surfactant-type solubilizers and combine with an appropriate amount of co-solvent to adjust clarity | Excessive solubilizer levels may bring stickiness, foam, or skin-feel changes |
Crystallization or re-clouding after low-temperature storage | Adjust co-solvent type and dosage; reduce the amount of poorly soluble ingredient if necessary | Do not judge only by room-temperature clarity; low-temperature, freeze-thaw, and long-term storage tests should be conducted |
Sticky skin feel | Reduce the amount of high-viscosity humectants and optimize the polyol/glycol combination | Balance solubility, moisturized feel, and freshness |
4.2 Surfactant-based Aqueous Systems
Surfactant-based aqueous systems mainly refer to hair and body care products and cleaning products based on water and surfactants, including shampoos, shower gels, hand washes, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and some water-based cleaners. In these systems, the role of solvents and solubilizing aids is not mainly to solve active-ingredient dissolution issues found in ordinary aqueous products, but to improve compatibility among surfactants, fragrances, electrolytes, and oily ingredients, thereby reducing cloudiness, oil floating, low-temperature separation, viscosity abnormalities, and foam reduction.
System situation | Solvent or solubilizing aid selection | Key points to note |
Fragrance or essential oil affects transparency after addition | Select a surfactant-type solubilizer compatible with the surfactant system, such as PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, polysorbates, PPG-26-Buteth-26, or certain alkyl polyglucosides | Solubilizers affect not only clarity, but also foam, viscosity, and rinse-off feel |
High surfactant content, prone to cloudiness or separation at low temperature | Use hydrotropes such as sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, or sodium toluene sulfonate | Hydrotropes mainly improve compatibility, cloud point, and low-temperature stability; they do not provide primary detergency |
Significant viscosity fluctuation after salt or fragrance addition | Adjust the surfactant structure, salt level, fragrance, solubilizer, and hydrotrope ratio together | Do not rely only on increasing thickeners to correct viscosity, as this may further affect stability |
System contains conditioning oils or small amounts of oily ingredients | Select surfactant-type solubilizers, emulsifying aids, or dispersion systems according to the oil-phase ratio | When the oil-phase level is high, complete transparency should not be forced |
Obvious foam reduction | Check whether the fragrance, oily ingredients, solubilizer, and hydrotrope are affecting the foam structure | Adjust the primary surfactant and co-surfactant combination if necessary |
4.3 Cleaning and Degreasing Systems
Cleaning and degreasing systems include kitchen cleaners, hard-surface cleaners, glass cleaners, degreasers, and some no-rinse cleaning products. The core requirements of these systems are cleaning power, quick drying, low residue, acceptable odor, and compatibility with the target surface and packaging materials.
Product target | Selection direction | Key points to note |
Light oily soils and quick drying | Low-carbon alcohols such as ethanol and isopropanol | Flammability, odor residue, skin and eye irritation |
Heavy oily soils | Glycol ethers and terpenes combined with surfactants | Odor residue, VOC, irritation, material compatibility, and regulatory compliance requirements |
Glass and glossy surfaces | Low-residue alcohols and aqueous systems | Avoid water marks, streaks, and film-forming residue |
Concentrated cleaners | Hydrotropes, co-solvents, and surfactants in combination | Cloud point, low-temperature stability, and dilution stability |
Multi-material surfaces | Select solvent combinations with good compatibility and combine them with surfactants, chelating agents, or alkaline agents | Compatibility with plastics, rubber, coatings, and metals |
4.4 Oil-phase and Volatile Solvent Systems
Oil-phase and volatile solvent systems are mainly used in sunscreens, color cosmetics, makeup removers, hair oils, hair sprays, and some skin care products. In these systems, solvents not only dissolve oil-soluble ingredients but also influence spreading, film formation, quick drying, residue, and rinseability.
Main need | Selection direction | Key points to note |
Dissolving oil-soluble actives or UV filters | Ester oil-phase solvents, hydrocarbon solvents | Solubility, low-temperature precipitation risk, and impact on film formation |
Improving softness and spreadability | Ester oil-phase solvents | Oily feel, residue, and emulsion stability |
Lightweight and quick-drying performance | Isoparaffins, volatile silicones | Evaporative residue, odor, flammability, and regulatory applicability |
Improving smoothness | Silicone oils | Rinseability, film feel, and regulatory applicability |
Removing makeup or oily residues | Esters, hydrocarbons, and oils in combination | Removal power, residue, and eye-area irritation risk |
5 Common Misconceptions
5.1 Ethanol Is Not a Universal Solubilizing Aid
Ethanol can improve the solubility of some fragrances, preservatives, and active ingredients, and can also provide quick-drying and fresh sensory properties. However, it cannot solve the long-term stability problems of all hydrophobic substances. High levels of ethanol may also bring irritation, dryness, obvious odor, flammability, and packaging compatibility issues.
5.2 Clarity Does Not Equal Stability
A formulation that is clear immediately after preparation only indicates temporary uniformity at the current temperature and state. Low temperature, freeze-thaw cycles, long-term storage, fragrance batch changes, and electrolyte changes may all lead to re-clouding, crystallization, or separation.
5.3 More Solubilizer Is Not Always Better
Excessive solubilizer levels may lead to stickiness, foam reduction, poorer rinse-off feel, increased irritation, and abnormal viscosity. The solubilizer dosage should be determined comprehensively based on clarity, low-temperature stability, foam, skin feel, and long-term storage.
5.4 Hydrotropes Are Not Primary Cleaning Agents
The value of hydrotropes lies in improving the compatibility, cloud point, low-temperature stability, and viscosity performance of high-surfactant aqueous systems. They cannot replace primary surfactants and do not independently provide the main cleaning function.
5.5 Naturally Derived Solvents Are Not Necessarily Low Risk
Terpenes and other naturally derived solvents may have strong degreasing power and a distinct odor profile, but they may also pose risks such as oxidation, sensitization, irritation, odor residue, and packaging compatibility issues. Natural origin cannot replace safety assessment and stability verification.
6 Product Tables of Solvents, Solubilizing Aids, and Related Functional Raw Materials for Home and Personal Care Formulations
The products listed below are mainly intended for scientific research, formulation screening, compatibility testing, and method development. When used in cosmetics, personal care products, or cleaning products, the raw material grade, regulatory applicability, COA, SDS, impurity control, and safety assessment requirements should be confirmed according to the specific application.
Table 1 Basic Solvents and Water-phase Co-solvents
Category | CAS No. | Aladdin Cat. No. | Name | Specification or purity | Product features and applications |
Low-carbon alcohol / volatile solvent | 64-17-5 | E111989 | Ethanol | Premium grade reagent, water ≤0.3% | Used in quick-drying aqueous products, fragrance systems, clear formulations, and pre-dissolution experiments for certain raw materials |
Low-carbon alcohol / volatile solvent | 67-63-0 | Isopropanol (IPA) | Preparative chromatography grade, ≥99.8% | Used in cleaning and degreasing, quick-drying cleaning systems, and hard-surface cleaning experiments | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 56-81-5 | Glycerin | Anhydrous grade, UltraBio™, molecular biology grade, ≥99.5% (GC) | Used for water-phase moisturization, co-solvency, reduction of water activity, and stability research in aqueous formulations | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 57-55-6 | 1,2-Propanediol | AR, ≥99% | Used for co-solvent screening of actives, preservatives, and fragrances; suitable for skin care and hair/body care formulation experiments | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 504-63-2 | 1,3-Propanediol | Standard for GC, ≥99.5% (GC) | Used in water-phase co-solvent research, formulation analysis, gas chromatography method development, and comparative testing of moisturizing systems | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 107-88-0 | 1,3-Butanediol | Anhydrous grade, ≥99% | Used for moisturization and co-solvency research in skin care toners, serums, and hair/body care systems | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 2163-42-0 | 2-Methyl-1,3-propanediol | ≥98% | Used for solubilization support of water-phase actives, skin-feel adjustment, and stability research in clear formulations | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 5343-92-0 | 1,2-Pentanediol | ≥98% | Used for moisturization, solubilization support, preservative boosting, and stability testing of clear aqueous products | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 6920-22-5 | 1,2-Hexanediol | ≥98% | Used for preservative boosting, fragrance and active ingredient solubilization support, and formulation screening in skin care and hair/body care products | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 1117-86-8 | 1,2-Octanediol | ≥96% | Used for preservative boosting, solubilization support in oil-water systems, and compatibility research in functional formulations | |
Polyol / glycol co-solvent | 107-41-5 | 2-Methyl-2,4-pentanediol (MPD) | ≥99% | Used for co-solvency, viscosity reduction, cleaning-system compatibility, and stability research in aqueous formulations | |
Fragrance / low-volatility co-solvent | 25265-71-8 | Dipropylene glycol, mixture of isomers (DPG) | ≥99% | Used as a fragrance solvent and in fragrance systems, aqueous co-solvent systems, and odor stability research | |
Fragrance / low-volatility co-solvent | 24800-44-0 | Tripropylene glycol | ≥97% (mixture of isomers) | Used as a fragrance solvent and in low-volatility co-solvent systems and fragrance formulation experiments |
Table 2 Functional Polar Solvents, Fragrance Solvents, and Water-phase Solubilizing Aids
Category | CAS No. | Aladdin Cat. No. | Name | Specification or purity | Product features and applications |
Functional polar solvent | 111-90-0 | Ethoxydiglycol (DEGMEE) | Chemical pure (CP), ≥98% | Used for solubilization support of actives, fragrances, and preservatives; suitable for clear aqueous products and functional formulation screening | |
Functional polar solvent | 5306-85-4 | Dimethyl isosorbide | ≥98% (GC) | Used for solubilization support of functional ingredients and compatibility research in skin care aqueous products and serum systems | |
Fragrance / preservative-related solvent | 100-51-6 | Benzyl alcohol | AR, ≥99% | Used as a fragrance solvent, auxiliary solvent in preservative systems, and for oil-water phase compatibility research | |
Fragrance / preservative-related solvent | 122-99-6 | Phenoxyethanol (2-phenoxyethanol, ethylene glycol phenyl ether) | ≥99% | Used in preservative systems, fragrance solubilization support, and compatibility research in personal care formulations | |
Fragrance-related solvent | 60-12-8 | 2-Phenylethanol | Standard for GC, ≥99.5% (GC) | Used in fragrance systems, odor modification, preservative boosting, and fragrance stability research | |
Fragrance / functional solvent | 102-76-1 | Triacetin | AR, ≥98.5% | Used as a fragrance solvent, fragrance carrier, oil-phase solubilizing aid, and fixative in fragrance experiments | |
Fragrance / functional solvent | 77-93-0 | Triethyl citrate (TEC) | ≥98% | Used in fragrances, deodorant formulations, oil-phase systems, and solubilization support research in functional formulations | |
Fragrance / oil-phase solubilizing aid | 120-51-4 | Benzyl benzoate | ≥99%, refined grade | Used as a fragrance solvent, fixative, oil-phase solubilizing aid, and in fragrance formulation stability research | |
Hydrotrope | 1300-72-7 | Sodium xylene sulfonate solution | Mixture of isomers, 40 wt.% in H₂O | Used in high-surfactant aqueous systems, concentrated cleaners, low-temperature stability testing, and cloud-point adjustment experiments | |
Hydrotrope | 657-84-1 | Sodium p-toluenesulfonate | ≥96% | Used for coupling in aqueous cleaning systems, surfactant compatibility, and stability research in concentrated formulations | |
Water-phase solubilizing aid / humectant | 57-13-6 | U432960 | Urea | Crystalline, pharmaceutical grade, Ph. Eur., BP, ChP, JP, USP | Used for water-phase solubilization support, moisturization, keratin softening, and stability research in aqueous formulations |
Table 3 Surfactant-type Solubilizers and Nonionic Auxiliary Solubilizing Raw Materials
Category | CAS No. | Aladdin Cat. No. | Name | Specification or purity | Product features and applications |
Surfactant-type solubilizer | 9005-64-5 | Tween 20 (TWEEN® 20) | Viscous liquid | Used for solubilization of fragrances, essential oils, and aqueous systems, and for re-clouding studies in clear formulations | |
Surfactant-type solubilizer | 9005-65-6 | Tween® 80 | Viscous liquid, preservative-free, low peroxide, low carbonyl | Used for solubilization of oil-soluble ingredients, emulsification systems, and fragrance stability research | |
Surfactant-type solubilizer | 61788-85-0 | PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil | Cosmetic grade, HLB 14.0 | Used for solubilization experiments involving fragrances, essential oils, clear aqueous products, and hair/body care systems | |
Surfactant-type solubilizer | 61791-12-6 | Polyoxyl castor oil EL (Kolliphor EL) | pH range: 6.0–8.0 | Used for solubilization of oil-soluble ingredients, fragrance solubilization support, and research on nonionic surfactant systems | |
Polyether-type nonionic solubilizer / stabilizer | 9003-11-6 | K434429 | Kolliphor® P 407 | Oxyethylene content 71.5–74.9% | Used in nonionic solubilization, micellar systems, clear formulation stability, and rheology research in aqueous systems |
Mild surfactant / auxiliary solubilizer | 68515-73-1 | Decyl glucoside (APG) | Moligand™, 60% in H₂O | Used in mild cleansing, fragrance-assisted solubilization, and compatibility research in hair/body care formulations | |
Re-lipidizing nonionic surfactant / auxiliary solubilizer | 68201-46-7 | PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate | ≥98% | Used in cleansing, makeup removal, mild solubilization, re-lipidizing effects, and rinse-off skin-feel research |
Table 4 Glycol Ether Cleaning Solvents and Terpene Solvents
Category | CAS No. | Aladdin Cat. No. | Name | Specification or purity | Product features and applications |
Glycol ether cleaning solvent | 34590-94-8 | Dipropylene glycol methyl ether | ≥98% | Used in hard-surface cleaning, kitchen degreasing, low-volatility cleaning systems, and coupling experiments in aqueous formulations | |
Glycol ether cleaning solvent | 29911-28-2 | Dipropylene glycol butyl ether (DPNB) | ≥98%, mixture of isomers | Used for heavy oily soil cleaning, hard-surface cleaning, and solubilization support experiments in concentrated cleaners | |
Glycol ether cleaning solvent | 5131-66-8 | Propylene glycol butyl ether | ≥99% (GC) | Used in kitchen cleaning, oily soil removal, hard-surface cleaning, and compatibility research in aqueous cleaning systems | |
Glycol ether cleaning solvent | 112-34-5 | B110650 | Diethylene glycol butyl ether | ≥99.5%, for surfactant analysis | Used in cleaning and degreasing, low-residue cleaning systems, and surfactant compatibility experiments |
Terpene / naturally derived solvent | 5989-27-5 | (R)-(+)-Limonene | ≥95%, contains 0.03% alpha-tocopherol as stabilizer | Used as a naturally derived cleaning solvent, for oily soil removal, fragrance contribution, and cleaner stability research | |
Terpene / fragrance and cleaning-related solvent | 98-55-5 | α-Terpineol | ≥95% (GC), mixture of isomers | Used in fragrance systems, fragrance contribution in cleaners, oily soil cleaning, and compatibility research for terpene solvents |
Table 5 Oil-phase Solvents, Light Hydrocarbons, and Silicone Oil Raw Materials
Category | CAS No. | Aladdin Cat. No. | Name | Specification or purity | Product features and applications |
Oil-phase solvent / emollient ester | 110-27-0 | Isopropyl myristate | ≥98% | Used as an oil-phase solvent, for spreading, makeup removal, fragrance solvent applications, and emollient system experiments | |
Oil-phase carrier / emollient ester | 73398-61-5 | Medium-chain triglycerides | USP, European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) | Used as a skin care oil-phase carrier, in makeup-removal systems, oil-soluble ingredient dispersion, and emulsification research | |
Oil-phase solvent / emollient ester | 1680-31-5 | Dicaprylyl carbonate | ≥98% | Used as a dry-feel oil-phase solvent, for skin-feel adjustment, and in sunscreen and color cosmetic oil-phase system research | |
Oil-phase solvent / emollient ester | 29806-73-3 | 2-Ethylhexyl palmitate | ≥95% | Used in emolliency, makeup removal, color cosmetic oil-phase solvents, and oil-soluble ingredient dispersion experiments | |
Oil-phase solvent / emollient ester | 7491-02-3 | Diisopropyl sebacate (DIPS) | ≥99% | Used as a light oil-phase solvent and in spreadability research for sunscreen and color cosmetic systems | |
Light hydrocarbon / isoparaffin | 31807-55-3 | Isododecane | Mixture of isomers, ≥80% | Used in quick-drying oil-phase systems, color cosmetic film formation, lightweight skin feel, and evaporative residue research | |
Light hydrocarbon / isoparaffin | 4390-04-9 | 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-Heptamethylnonane (HMN) | ≥97% (GC) | Used as a light oil-phase solvent and in isoparaffin systems, color cosmetics, and volatile oil-phase research | |
Silicone oil-based oil-phase skin-feel modifier | 2116-84-9 | 1,1,1,5,5,5-Hexamethyl-3-phenyl-3-(trimethylsiloxy)trisiloxane | ≥97% | Used for silicone oil-based skin-feel adjustment, gloss adjustment, oil-phase spreading, and hair care system research |
Note: The above are representative Aladdin products related to scientific research and formulation studies. For more product specifications, grades, and COA information, please search by “product name / CAS / catalog number” on the Aladdin website.
References
[1] European Commission. CosIng Database: Cosmetic Ingredient Functions — Solvent.
[2] OECD. SIDS Initial Assessment Report: Hydrotropes. SIAM 21, 18–20 October 2005.
[3] European Commission. Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1328 of 16 May 2024 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning D4, D5 and D6. Official Journal of the European Union, 2024.
[4] American Cleaning Institute. Glossary of Cleaning Product Terminology.
[5] American Cleaning Institute. Ingredient Function Glossary: Development of Exposure Assessments for Ingredients in Household Cleaning Products.
[6] HERA Project. Human and Environmental Risk Assessment on Ingredients of Household Cleaning Products: Hydrotropes. 2005.
[7] European Parliament and Council. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on Cosmetic Products.
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