INCI
Cosmetic ingredient

T-BUTYL ALCOHOL

T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, also called tert-butanol, is a short, branched organic alcohol. Its technical name, 2-methylpropan-2-ol, describes a structure that differs from the other butyl alcohols, so similar-looking names on an ingredient list do not necessarily identify the same substance. Around room temperature, it can occur as a colorless liquid or solid and has a noticeable alcoholic odor.

Molecular structure of T-BUTYL ALCOHOL
2D molecular structure
CAS number
75-65-0
EC number
200-889-7
Molecular formula
C4H10O
Molecular weight
74.12
Chemical name
2-Methylpropan-2-ol
InChIKey
DKGAVHZHDRPRBM-UHFFFAOYSA-N

T-BUTYL ALCOHOL: what it is

T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, also called tert-butanol, is a short, branched organic alcohol. Its technical name, 2-methylpropan-2-ol, describes a structure that differs from the other butyl alcohols, so similar-looking names on an ingredient list do not necessarily identify the same substance. Around room temperature, it can occur as a colorless liquid or solid and has a noticeable alcoholic odor.

It belongs to the butanol family, but it is the tertiary isomer: the position of the alcohol group sets it apart from n-butanol, sec-butanol, and isobutanol. That structural difference affects physical behavior, including the transition between solid, liquid, and vapor states. On an ingredient list, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL and tert-butanol are useful names for recognizing this same substance.

T-BUTYL ALCOHOL: what it does in cosmetics

In cosmetics, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL can work as a solvent. In practical terms, a solvent helps dissolve or keep other components distributed through a mixture, supporting a more even-looking formula during manufacture and use. This is useful when ingredients with different characteristics need to remain combined in the same preparation.

It may also be used to denature alcohol, meaning that an alcohol base is made unsuitable for drinking, and to contribute to a preparation's scent profile. Those uses relate to the formula and its odor; they do not mean that the ingredient on its own moisturizes, treats skin, or delivers an active cosmetic effect. The final sensory result depends on the full composition and the amount used.

Catalogue presence

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