Emulsifying wax
Emulsifying wax NF is a self-emulsifying wax made by blending cetearyl alcohol with a small proportion of a polyoxyethylene derivative of a sorbitan fatty acid ester, usually polysorbate 60. The fatty alcohols come from palm, coconut or other vegetable oils, or from petrochemical sources. It is sold as white flakes or pastilles that form oil-in-water creams and lotions when melted with the oil phase. Brands should check the INCI declaration, since products sold as emulsifying wax differ in composition.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cetearyl alcohol with polysorbate 60 made to the National Formulary monograph; the grade most suppliers mean by the name.
Branded blends (for example cetearyl alcohol with ceteareth-20, or with sodium cetearyl sulfate) sold under similar names; each has its own INCI list.
Blends based on glucosides, glyceryl stearate or olive-derived esters, marketed as alternatives but behaving differently in formulas.
Grades made from mass-balance or segregated certified palm-based fatty alcohols.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store emulsifying wax sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight, since flakes can soften and fuse in warm storage. It is chemically stable. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, typically with a retest of acid value and appearance for older stock.
Different suppliers' emulsifying waxes are not interchangeable, so record the supplier, INCI composition and melting range for each lot, and rerun a test batch when switching sources. Keep palm-origin and RSPO paperwork with each lot if claims depend on them.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists emulsifying wax (CAS 8014-38-8, referencing USP-NF) as an approved ingredient with non-medicinal purposes of emulsifying agent and solubilizing agent.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The same database entry restricts emulsifying wax to topical use.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Watertown, CT
Connecticut wax company that refines and supplies beeswax, plant waxes, petroleum waxes, emulsifying waxes and esters for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and industrial uses.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include emulsifying wax NF, proprietary emulsifying waxes, pEG-free and plant-based alternatives and rSPO-certified. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity and composition, acid, hydroxyl, iodine and saponification values, melting range, pH of dispersion and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store emulsifying wax sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight, since flakes can soften and fuse in warm storage. It is chemically stable. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, typically with a retest of acid value and appearance for older stock.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists emulsifying wax (CAS 8014-38-8, referencing USP-NF) as an approved ingredient with non-medicinal purposes of emulsifying agent and solubilizing agent. The same database entry restricts emulsifying wax to topical use.
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