Stearic acid

At a glance

Stearic acid is a saturated C18 fatty acid sourced from animal tallow and vegetable oils such as palm or cocoa butter; it is virtually odorless with a waxy, fatty note and is used as a fixative and base in perfumery.

Category
⚗️ Synthetic
Origin
animal fats or vegetable oils
Extraction
Chemical synthesis
Chemical family
Acid
CAS number
57-11-4
Profile
mild, waxy
IFRA status
Not restricted
● drafted · last checked 2026-09-01