Home › Glossary › Isopropyl Myristate

Isopropyl Myristate

Q: Is Isopropyl Myristate natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Produced synthetically by esterification of isopropanol with myristic acid (derived from coconut or palm kernel oil). Simple, large-scale industrial production. The myristic acid is a natural-derived feedstock; the final product is considered semi-synthetic..

POPULAR AND WEIRD / neutral · emollient · carrier

Isopropyl Myristate

Category	POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	neutral · emollient · carrier
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A — synthetic ester
Appearance	Colorless clear oily liquid
Producing Countries	China, Germany, United States
Pyramid	Base

Nearly odorless, oily, faintly fatty. Isopropyl myristate is a texture molecule — used for how it feels on skin, not for how it smells.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Essentially odorless. A barely perceptible oily-fatty quality if concentrated. No aromatic character. Smooth, neutral. Its contribution is tactile — what it does to skin feel — not olfactory.

Evolution over time

Immediately

No perceptible scent.

After a few hours

No olfactory evolution. Functional carrier.

After a few days

No scent. Performance ingredient only.

The Full Story

CAS 110-27-0. An ester of isopropanol and myristic acid (a C14 fatty acid). IPM is a synthetic emollient used extensively in cosmetics and personal care products for its light, non-greasy skin feel. In perfumery, it is a carrier and fixative.

The scent is minimal — a very faint, slightly oily-fatty quality that is barely perceptible. IPM's value is tactile rather than olfactory: it provides a smooth, silky skin feel and helps fragrances adhere to skin. It is a common component of perfume oils, body oils, and solid perfumes where ethanol-free formulation is required.

IPM also functions as a mild fixative, slowing the evaporation of volatile materials and improving their substantivity on skin. It is one of several 'invisible' ingredients that perfumers rely on for performance rather than scent.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

—

Related: Cashmeran · Cashmere · Dipropylene Glycol · Leather · Saffiano Leather · Suede · Triethyl Citrate

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Isopropyl myristate was one of the first synthetic emollients to replace mineral oil in cosmetics. Its ability to penetrate the stratum corneum (outer skin layer) also made it valuable in pharmaceutical transdermal patches — some drug delivery patches use IPM to enhance skin absorption.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Produced synthetically by esterification of isopropanol with myristic acid (derived from coconut or palm kernel oil). Simple, large-scale industrial production. The myristic acid is a natural-derived feedstock; the final product is considered semi-synthetic.

Molecular Formula	C17H34O2
CAS Number	110-27-0
Botanical Name	N/A — synthetic ester
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	IPM, Myristic acid isopropyl ester
Physical Properties
Appearance	Colorless clear oily liquid
Boiling Point	192.00 to 193.00 °C. @ 20.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	> 230.00 °F. TCC ( > 110.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.84000 to 0.86000 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.42800 to 1.44300 @ 20.00 °C.
Melting Point	2.00 to 3.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

In Perfumery

Carrier, fixative, and emollient in oil-based and alcohol-free fragrance products. IPM improves skin substantivity of fragrances and provides a non-greasy vehicle for perfume oils. Used in roll-on perfumes, solid perfumes, body oils, and cosmetic formulations. Functions as a mild fixative by slowing evaporation of volatile aroma chemicals. Not a fragrance ingredient, but a formulation essential.