Ethanol is a versatile, high-purity alcohol widely used as a solvent, carrier, cleansing agent and formulation aid across cosmetic, personal-care, pharmaceutical, laboratory and industrial applications.

In cosmetic formulations, ethanol is valued for its excellent solvency, rapid evaporation and ability to dissolve a wide range of ingredients including fragrances, essential oils, botanical extracts and selected active ingredients. It can help create lightweight, fast-drying products with a fresh application feel.

Ethanol is particularly useful in perfumes, body sprays, deodorants, facial mists, hair sprays, sanitizing formulations, cleansing products and cosmetic extraction processes, depending on the required grade and applicable regulations.

The performance and suitability of ethanol depend strongly on its purity, denaturant system, water content and intended application. For cosmetic products, the appropriate cosmetic or pharmaceutical-grade material should always be selected.

INCI Name

Alcohol

Chemical Name

Ethanol / Ethyl Alcohol

CAS Number

64-17-5

Chemical Formula

C₂H₅OH

Product Type

Solvent / Carrier / Volatile Alcohol

Key Features & Benefits

• High-purity ethanol for professional formulation applications
• Excellent solvent properties
• Fast evaporation
• Helps dissolve fragrances and essential oils
• Suitable for many botanical and cosmetic extracts
• Provides a lightweight, non-oily application
• Useful in sprayable formulations
• Helps improve drying time
• Suitable for perfumes and fragrance products
• Useful in deodorant and body-spray formulations
• Suitable for selected hair-care products
• Useful in cosmetic cleansing formulations
• Suitable for extraction and processing applications
• Compatible with many water-soluble and alcohol-soluble ingredients
• Available in different purity and grade specifications
• Easy to incorporate into suitable formulations

Cosmetic Applications

Perfume & Fragrance Products

Ethanol is one of the most widely used carriers in fine-fragrance formulations.

Suitable for:

• Perfumes
• Eau de Parfum
• Eau de Toilette
• Body Sprays
• Fragrance Mists
• Perfume Concentrates
• Fragrance-Based Personal Care Products

Skin Care Applications

Ethanol can be incorporated into selected formulations such as:

• Facial Mists
• Toners
• Cleansing Products
• After-Shave Products
• Astringent-Type Cosmetic Products
• Body Sprays
• Refreshing Skin Sprays
• Certain Active Delivery Formulations

Hair Care Applications

Ethanol can be used as a solvent and fast-evaporating carrier in:

• Hair Sprays
• Styling Sprays
• Hair Fragrance
• Hair Mists
• Scalp Sprays
• Leave-On Spray Formulations
• Selected Hair Styling Products

Deodorant & Personal Care Applications

Suitable applications can include:

• Body Sprays
• Deodorant Sprays
• Personal Fragrance
• Foot Sprays
• Refreshing Body Mists
• After-Shave Products
• Personal Hygiene Sprays

Botanical Extraction

Ethanol is widely used as a solvent for extracting selected compounds from botanical materials.

It can be used in the preparation or processing of:

• Botanical Extracts
• Herbal Extracts
• Plant-Based Ingredients
• Fragrance Extracts
• Cosmetic Active Extracts

Solvent Properties

Ethanol is a versatile solvent with compatibility across a wide range of cosmetic ingredients.

It can be useful for dissolving or carrying:

• Fragrance Oils
• Essential Oils
• Perfume Materials
• Selected Botanical Extracts
• Selected Cosmetic Actives
• Aroma Compounds
• Certain Organic Ingredients

Formulation Advantages

Excellent Solvency

Ethanol can dissolve a broad selection of fragrance, botanical and cosmetic ingredients, making it a valuable formulation solvent.

Fast Evaporation

Its volatile nature supports rapid evaporation, which is particularly useful for perfumes, sprays and mists.

Lightweight Sensory

When appropriately formulated, ethanol-based products can provide a light, clean and refreshing application feel.

Spray-Friendly

Ethanol is widely used as a carrier in sprayable cosmetic and personal-care products.

Fragrance Carrier

It provides an effective medium for distributing fragrance materials in perfume and body-spray formulations.

Suitable Product Types

• Perfumes
• Eau de Parfum
• Eau de Toilette
• Body Mists
• Body Sprays
• Deodorant Sprays
• Hair Sprays
• Hair Mists
• Facial Mists
• Toners
• After-Shave Products
• Cleansing Products
• Botanical Extracts
• Fragrance Products
• Personal Care Sprays
• Cosmetic Formulation Bases

How to Use

Ethanol is normally incorporated into the formulation according to the product’s intended application and required alcohol concentration.

For Perfume Formulations

Blend ethanol with the appropriate fragrance concentrate under controlled conditions. Allow suitable maturation time if required by the formulation.

For Spray Formulations

Combine ethanol with compatible fragrance, active and supporting ingredients according to the formulation procedure. Ensure all components are completely dissolved and the final product remains stable and clear where required.

For Botanical Extraction

Use the selected ethanol/water ratio according to the extraction process and target botanical compounds.

Product Information

Parameter	Details
Product Name	Ethanol
INCI Name	Alcohol
Chemical Name	Ethanol / Ethyl Alcohol
CAS Number	64-17-5
Chemical Formula	C₂H₅OH
Product Type	Solvent / Carrier
Physical Form	Liquid
Appearance	Clear, Colourless Liquid
Odour	Characteristic Alcohol Odour
Water Solubility	Miscible
Main Functions	Solvent, Carrier, Volatile Ingredient
Applications	Cosmetics, Personal Care, Fragrance, Extraction
Recommended Usage	Application & formulation dependent
Grade	Cosmetic/Technical/Pharmaceutical grade depending on supply
Storage	Cool, dry, well-ventilated location
Packaging	As supplied by manufacturer/supplier

Important Grade Selection

Ethanol is available in different grades and specifications. For cosmetic manufacturing, always select a grade appropriate for the intended product.

Important parameters may include:

• Ethanol purity
• Water content
• Denaturant type
• Methanol content
• Other volatile impurities
• Odour profile
• Regulatory compliance
• Applicable pharmacopoeial or cosmetic specifications

Storage

• Store in a cool and well-ventilated area.
• Keep containers tightly closed.
• Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames.
• Protect from direct sunlight.
• Store away from incompatible materials.
• Use appropriate storage facilities for flammable liquids.
• Follow the supplier’s current SDS storage requirements.