Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Best type of (denatured) alcohol for use in a topical?

  • Best type of (denatured) alcohol for use in a topical?

    Posted by zink on December 22, 2014 at 11:48 pm

    There’s a range of denatured alcohols available for formulators, e.g. perfumers alcohol containing 0.12% t-butyl alcohol and 0.0006% Bitrex (Denatonium Benzoate). 

    My question is, what type(s) of denatured alcohol are most suitable for use in a topical for e.g. face skin and where/how can you get it? 

    JohnM replied 9 years, 3 months ago 5 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • nasrins

    Member
    December 23, 2014 at 5:49 am

    do we have types of denatured? I didnt know…here I just buy denatured alcohol and dont care which percentages of bitrex or any other material it has

  • belassi

    Member
    December 23, 2014 at 11:47 am

    Unless you are planning to export “drinkers perfume” to Saudi Arabia, why not just use regular ethanol?

  • bill_toge

    Member
    December 23, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    @Zink, which country/geographic region is your product intended to be marketed in?

  • zink

    Member
    December 23, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    USA. Which regular ethanol, Belassi?

  • belassi

    Member
    December 23, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    ethanol is ethanol … C2H5OH. I buy 90% pure ethanol (no denaturing additives) from one or other of the chemical factors. However I only use it for container sterilisation.

  • bill_toge

    Member
    December 24, 2014 at 7:36 am

    in which case, you can find all the denatured alcohol formulas that are authorised for use in lotions and creams in 27 CFR part 21, subsection D

  • JohnM

    Member
    December 24, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Depending on volumes, using drinkers alcohol can be an issue.  This is taxed extensively and can be very expensive.

    Denatured alcohol is not consumable so it does not incur the taxes.
    We use SDA 40B and occasionally SDA 38A as the smell is not very strong.
    Certified organic denatured alcohol is also available.
    John
    Biddiscombe Labs

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