"A practical supplier guide to caprylic/capric triglyceride (CAS 73398-61-5): what it is, key specifications, why formulators use it as a lightweight dry-oil emollient and active solvent, how it pairs with squalane, glycerin, ethylhexylglycerin and brightening actives, where it appears across personal care, and buyer notes."
-Deshangchemical-chemechemi
What Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Actually Is
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (INCI name: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CAS 73398-61-5) is the quiet workhorse "dry oil" sitting behind thousands of cosmetic formulas. It is a mixed ester of glycerol with two medium-chain fatty acids, caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10), recovered from coconut or palm kernel oil and then fractionated. The result is a colorless, nearly odorless oily liquid that spreads easily and disappears into the skin without the heavy, greasy film you get from mineral oil or untreated vegetable oils.
If you have ever used a serum, a facial oil, or a "non-greasy" body lotion that felt weightless, there is a good chance this material was part of the reason. Formulators keep it on the short list because it does its job quietly: it carries actives, softens the skin surface, and never smells like anything.
Specification Snapshot
For buyers and chemists who need the numbers, here is what the standard cosmetic grade looks like:
- CAS Number: 73398-61-5
- EINECS: 277-452-2
- INCI: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- Appearance: Colorless, clear oily liquid
- Density: 0.94–0.96 g/cm³
- Melting point: below −5 °C (stays liquid in the fridge)
- Boiling point: above 300 °C
- Shelf behavior: stable and oxidation-resistant, because the medium-chain fatty acids are low in unsaturated bonds
That last point matters more than it sounds. Because the oil is already saturated, it does not go rancid the way unrefined plant oils do. Products built around it stay stable on the shelf and survive warm shipping without picking up off-notes.
Why Formulators Keep It on the Short List
The appeal is sensory first and functional second. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride gives a light, silky slip that makes a formula feel more expensive than its price tag. It is non-comedogenic at the doses used, absorbs quickly, and leaves a soft, powdery after-feel rather than a shine. On its own it is a gentle emollient; inside a system it is a solvent, a dispersant, and a texture modifier.
It is also a dependable solvent for oil-soluble actives. Many of the ingredients that do the real work in a serum, retinol (Vitamin A1), ester forms of vitamin C, and lipophilic derivatives such as capryloyl salicylic acid, need an oil phase they can dissolve into cleanly. This triglyceride is the phase of choice because it is thin, stable, and neutral in smell, so the active keeps its activity and the finished product keeps its clarity.
Pairing It With Other Components
No single material carries a formula, and this one plays well with others. It is frequently blended with other light lipids such as squalane, which adds cushion and a slightly richer finish while keeping the overall feel dry. Together they build the weightless oil phase that high-end face oils are built on.
On the water side, it is paired with humectants like glycerin and skin-conditioning sugars such as D-Trehalose. The oil phase slows water loss at the surface while the humectants pull moisture up from below, so the skin reads as hydrated rather than simply coated.
For brightening and tone-evening systems, it is a natural carrier alongside water-phase actives such as Alpha-Arbutin and N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine, both of which benefit from a balanced, stable emulsion built on a reliable oil phase. Because the oil itself is inert, it does not fight with multifunctional additives such as ethylhexylglycerin, which is often added for its mild preservative-boosting and skin-softening properties.
Where You Will Find It
Beyond facial care, caprylic/capric triglyceride shows up across the personal-care shelf. In hair care it adds slip to conditioners and helps silicone-free formulas feel detangled. In color cosmetics it disperses pigments and gives lip products a smooth, non-waxy melt. In sunscreens it is used to solubilize and spread oil-dispersible UV filters and works alongside inorganic filters such as zinc oxide to improve spreadability. It even appears in topical pharmaceutical and food-grade systems where a neutral, stable, low-viscosity lipid is required.
Handling and Buyer Notes
From a manufacturing standpoint this is an easy ingredient to live with. It is a liquid at room temperature and below freezing, pumps cleanly, and does not need heating to incorporate. Keep it in a sealed container away from direct sunlight and extreme heat, and it will hold its specifications through normal storage. Because it is a natural-derived lipid, batches are typically supplied with a certificate of analysis covering appearance, acidity, and peroxide values, so formulators can document their incoming quality.
For brands running private-label or contract manufacturing, the grade matters. Cosmetic-grade material should be colorless, low-odour, and free of residual catalyst. Ask for the COA, confirm the CAS and EINECS on the documentation, and request a sample before committing to a full drum. A small bench trial in your actual base tells you more than a spec sheet ever will.
Sourcing and Samples
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is rarely the headline act in a product, but it is often the reason a formula feels good enough to repurchase. If you are building a light serum, a dry body oil, or a stable emulsion and need a reliable, odorless oil phase, it earns its place in the formula.
We supply cosmetic-grade Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (CAS 73398-61-5) with full documentation and samples available. Reach out for pricing, lead time, and technical support for your specific application.
