Cetyl Alcohol

Plant derived fatty alcohol with hair conditioning, mild emollient and moisturizing properties. Also functions as a non-gelling thickener, stabilizer, opacifier for cosmetic creams and lotions.Cetyl alcohol is a gentle fatty alcohol used as an emollient (moisturizing ingredient), emulsifier, thickener, and carrying agent for other ingredients. It can be derived naturally, as in coconut fatty alcohol, or made synthetically. Both forms are considered safe and effective for skin.
It is one of the longest-known fatty alcohols, having been discovered in 1913, when a French chemist isolated it from whale oil (hence the name “cetyl”, which is derived from Cetacea, the taxonomical infraorder in which whales are classified).
It is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol.