What function does CETYL PALMITATE serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, CETYL PALMITATE carries the following function designation(s): FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT.

What other records share CAS 540-10-3?

CAS 540-10-3 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains CETYL PALMITATE?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 7496515/10/2010

CETYL PALMITATE

Hexadecyl hexadecanoate

CETYL PALMITATE is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 540-10-3

CAS 540-10-3PubChem CID 10889

Cetyl Palmitate

Palmityl palmitate is a palmitate ester resulting from the formal condensation of palmitic acid with palmityl alcohol. It is used as a thickener and emollient in cosmetics. It has a role as a metabolite. It is functionally related to a hexadecan-1-ol. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: hexadecyl hexadecanoate

Molecular formula: C32H64O2
Molecular weight: 480.8 g/mol
Exact mass: 480.49063128 Da
XLogP3: 15.2
Topological polar surface area: 26.3 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 2
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

Palmityl palmitateHexadecanoic acid, hexadecyl estern-Hexadecyl hexadecanoatePALMITIC ACID, HEXADECYL ESTER5ZA2S6B08XCHEBI:75584WE(16:0/16:0)RefChem:918287

16 more reported names

208-736-6Hexadecyl palmitateCetinhexadecanyl hexadecanoateHexadecanoic acid hexadecyl esterStandamul 1616palmitic acid, cetyl esterC32H64O2UNII-5ZA2S6B08XCetyl palmitate [NF]CETYL PALMITATE [MI]Palmatic acid n-hexadecyl esterCETYL PALMITATE [USP-RS]CS-W011523Cetyl palmitate (NF)Palmitic Acid Hexadecyl Ester

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:75584
ChEMBL:CHEMBL2106073
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID5047114
PubMed:22797534
PubMed:22659127
PubMed:22523983
PubMed:22479626
PubMed:22465548
PubMed:22363853
PubMed:22327243
PubMed:22245538
PubMed:22244589
PubMed:22238508
PubMed:22227603
PubMed:22175030

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for CETYL PALMITATE

INCI name

CETYL PALMITATE

Description

Hexadecyl hexadecanoate

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 74965
Imported identity: CETYL PALMITATE
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for CETYL PALMITATE

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Key data

CAS

540-10-3

208-736-6

Restriction

—

Function

FRAGRANCE: Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.
SKIN CONDITIONING: Maintaining the skin in good condition.
SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT: Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#6007 · CETYL PALMITATE

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

CERATONIA SILIQUA GUMBINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, VISCOSITY CO…

CESTRUM NOCTURNUM BRANCH/FLOWER/LEAF WATERFRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING

CETYL ACETATEFRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

CETYL ALCOHOLEMULSION STABILISING, FRAGRANCE, OPACIFYING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING,…

CHAENOMELES SPECIOSA FLOWER EXTRACTFRAGRANCE

CHAMAECYPARIS LAWSONIANA WOOD OILFRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING

CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA OILFRAGRANCE, TONIC

CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA WATERFRAGRANCE

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How CETYL PALMITATE appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists CETYL PALMITATE as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

CETYL PALMITATE is also tagged with 3 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

CETYL PALMITATE is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, CETYL PALMITATE carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 540-10-3 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

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Source note for CETYL PALMITATE

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for CETYL PALMITATE from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research CETYL PALMITATE and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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