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List of Oils and Emulsifiers with HLB Values

Understanding HLB Values for Oils and Emulsifiers

The Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value is a key factor in determining the compatibility of oils and emulsifiers in formulations. A higher HLB value indicates greater water solubility, while a lower value suggests stronger oil affinity. Choosing the right emulsifier for your oil ensures stable and effective emulsions in applications such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food products.

Below, you'll find a regularly updated list of oils and emulsifiers along with their HLB values. If you don't see a specific ingredient listed, please contact us with a manufacturer specification sheet that includes the HLB value.

To calculate the required HLB for your formulation, use our HLB Calculator for quick and accurate results.

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Oils

Oils play a crucial role in emulsions, influencing texture, stability, and absorption. Each oil has a specific Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) requirement, which determines the type and amount of emulsifier needed for a stable formulation. Below is a list of commonly used oils along with their HLB values.

  • Andiroba (Carapa Guianensis) Oil
    Required HLB: 16.7
  • Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) Kernel Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Argan (Argania Spinosa) Oil
    Required HLB: 11
  • Avocado (Persea Americana) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Babassu (Attalea Speciosa) Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • Beeswax
    Required HLB: 12
  • Behenyl Alcohol
    Required HLB: 16
  • Borage (Borago Officinalis) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Brazil Nut (Bertholletia Excelsa) Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
    Required HLB: 13
  • Camelina Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Canola (Brassica Napus) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
    Required HLB: 5
  • Carnauba (Copernicia Prunifera) Wax
    Required HLB: 12
  • Carrot (Daucus Carota) Oil / Extract
    Required HLB: 6
  • Castor (Ricinus Communis) Oil
    Required HLB: 14
  • Ceresin
    Required HLB: 8
  • Cetearyl Alcohol
    Required HLB: 15.5
  • Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
    Required HLB: 8.22
  • Cetyl Alcohol
    Required HLB: 15.5
  • Cetyl Esters
    Required HLB: 10
  • Cetyl Palmitate
    Required HLB: 10
  • Citronella Oil
    Required HLB: 12.6
  • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
    Required HLB: 5
  • Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Butter
    Required HLB: 6
  • Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • Cyclomethicone
    Required HLB: 7.5
  • Cyclopentasiloxane
    Required HLB: 7.5
  • Diisopropyl Adipate
    Required HLB: 9
  • Dimethicone
    Required HLB: 5
  • Emu Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • Ethylhexyl Isononanoate (and) Isononyl Isononanoate
    Required HLB: 9
  • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate)
    Required HLB: 6
  • Ethylhexyl Palmitate / Octyl Palmitate
    Required HLB: 8
  • Ethylhexyl Salicylate (Octisalate)
    Required HLB: 6
  • Eugenol Oil
    Required HLB: 6
  • Evening (Oenothera Biennis) Primrose Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Hybrid Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) Oil
    Required HLB: 9
  • Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
    Required HLB: 3
  • Isopropyl Myristate
    Required HLB: 11.5
  • Isopropyl Palmitate
    Required HLB: 11.5
  • Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Oil
    Required HLB: 6
  • Kokum (Garcinia Indica) Seed Butter
    Required HLB: 8
  • Kukui (Aleurites Moluccana) Nut Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Lanolin
    Required HLB: 10
  • Laurel (Laurus Nobilis) Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Oil
    Required HLB: 12
  • Lignoceryl Erucate
    Required HLB: 6.81
  • Liquid Paraffin
    Required HLB: 11.8
  • Macadamia (Macadamia Integrifolia) Nut Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Mango (Mangifera Indica) Seed Butter
    Required HLB: 8
  • Mango (Mangifera Indica) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Meadowfoam (Limnanthes Alba) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 6
  • Mineral Oil
    Required HLB: 10
  • Myristyl Myristate
    Required HLB: 7.52
  • Neem (Azadirachta Indica) oil
    Required HLB: 9
  • Octyldodecanol
    Required HLB: 10.9
  • Olive (Olea Europaea) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea) Oil
    Required HLB: 6
  • Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
    Required HLB: 7.67
  • Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) Oil
    Required HLB: 12.3
  • Petrolatum
    Required HLB: 7
  • Pistachio (Pistacia Vera) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
    Required HLB: 7
  • PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
    Required HLB: 8.03
  • PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
    Required HLB: 13.49
  • Retinyl Palmitate
    Required HLB: 6
  • Rice (Oryza Sativa) Bran Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Rose Hips (Rosa Canina) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Leaf Extract
    Required HLB: 7
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Oil
    Required HLB: 15
  • Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • Sesame (Sesamum Indicum) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Shea (Butyrospermum Parkii) Butter
    Required HLB: 8
  • Soybean (Glycine Soja) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Squalane
    Required HLB: 7
  • Stearic Acid
    Required HLB: 15
  • Stearyl Alcohol
    Required HLB: 15.5
  • Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil
    Required HLB: 7
  • Tamanu (Calophyllum Inophyllum) Seed Oil
    Required HLB: 8
  • Tocopherol
    Required HLB: 6
  • Tridecyl Neopentanoate
    Required HLB: 9.88
  • Undecane (and) Tridecane
    BASF Cetiol® Ultimate
    Required HLB: 7.5
  • Wheat (Trititum Vulgare) Germ Oil
    Required HLB: 7

Emulsifiers

Emulsifiers help blend oil and water by balancing their hydrophilic and lipophilic properties. The HLB value of an emulsifier indicates whether it is better suited for oil-in-water (high HLB) or water-in-oil (low HLB) emulsions. Below is a list of emulsifiers along with their HLB values to assist in selecting the right one for your formulation.

  • Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate
    HLB: 5.1
  • Ceteareth-20
    HLB: 15.2
  • Cetearyl Glucoside
    HLB: 11
  • Cetearyl Glucoside (and) Cetearyl Alcohol
    BASF Emulgade® PL 68/50
    HLB: 11
  • Cetearyl Olivate (and) Sorbitan Olivate
    Hallstar Olivem® 1000
    HLB: 9
  • Ceteth-10
    HLB: 12.9
  • Ceteth-2
    HLB: 5.3
  • Ceteth-20
    HLB: 15.7
  • Cocamide MEA
    HLB: 13.5
  • Decyl Glucoside
    HLB: 13.5
  • Emulpharma Coreosome
    HLB: 9.5
  • Glyceryl Caprylate
    HLB: 6
  • Glyceryl Laurate
    HLB: 5.2
  • Glyceryl Oleate
    HLB: 3.5
  • Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
    HLB: 13
  • Glyceryl Stearate
    BASF Cutina® GMS V
    HLB: 3.8
  • Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate
    HLB: 11
  • Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
    Evonik AXOL® C 62 Pellets MB
    HLB: 12
  • Glyceryl Stearate SE
    BASF Cutina® GMS-SE
    HLB: 18
  • Glyceryl Stearate SE (and) Sucrose Stearate
    Evonik TEGO® Care SE 121 MB
    HLB: 13
  • Glycol Distearate
    HLB: 1
  • Glycol Stearate
    HLB: 2.9
  • Isoceteth-20
    HLB: 15.7
  • Isosteareth-20
    HLB: 15
  • Lauramide DEA
    HLB: 15
  • Laureth-23
    HLB: 16.9
  • Laureth-4
    HLB: 9.7
  • Lauryl Glucoside
    HLB: 11.5
  • Lecithin
    HLB: 4
  • Linoleamide DEA
    HLB: 10
  • Lysolecithin
    HLB: 11.5
  • Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
    Evonik TEGO® Care PS
    HLB: 12
  • Oleth-10
    HLB: 12.4
  • Oleth-10 / Polyoxyl 10 Oleyl Ether
    HLB: 12.4
  • Oleth-10 / Polyoxyl 10 Oleyl Ether NF
    HLB: 12.4
  • Oleth-2
    HLB: 4.9
  • Oleth-20
    HLB: 15.3
  • PEG-100 Stearate
    HLB: 18.8
  • PEG-20 Almond Glycerides
    HLB: 10
  • PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
    HLB: 15
  • PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
    HLB: 10.8
  • PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
    HLB: 5.5
  • PEG-4 Dilaurate
    HLB: 6
  • PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate
    HLB: 9
  • PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
    HLB: 15
  • PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
    HLB: 10
  • PEG-7 Olivate
    HLB: 11
  • PEG-8 Dioleate
    HLB: 8
  • PEG-8 Laurate
    HLB: 13
  • PEG-8 Oleate
    HLB: 11.6
  • PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
    HLB: 19.1
  • Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
    HLB: 4.5
  • Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
    HLB: 12
  • Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate (and) Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
    BASF TEGO® Care PBS6 MB
    HLB: 13
  • Polyoxyl Castor Oil
    BASF Cremophor EL • BASF Kolliphor® EL
    HLB: 13
  • Polysorbate 20
    Alkest® TW 20 • BASF Kolliphor® PS 20 • Croda Tween™ 20 • KLK Kotilen-20
    HLB: 16.7
  • Polysorbate 60
    HLB: 14.9
  • Polysorbate 80
    Alkest® TW 80 • BASF Kolliphor® PS 80 • Croda Tween™ 80 • KLK Kotilen-80 • Seppic Montanox™ 80
    HLB: 15
  • Polysorbate 85
    HLB: 11
  • Propylene Glycol Isostearate
    HLB: 2.5
  • Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
    HLB: 10.6
  • Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
    HLB: 8.3
  • Sorbitan Isostearate
    HLB: 4.7
  • Sorbitan Laurate
    HLB: 8.6
  • Sorbitan Monolaurate
    Croda Span™ 20 • E493
    HLB: 9
  • Sorbitan Monostearate
    Croda Span™ 60 • E491
    HLB: 5
  • Sorbitan Monostearate
    HLB: 4.7
  • Sorbitan Oleate
    HLB: 4.3
  • Sorbitan Olivate
    Hallstar Olivem® 900
    HLB: 4.5
  • Sorbitan Sesquioleate
    HLB: 3.7
  • Sorbitan Stearate (and) Sucrose Cocoate
    HLB: 6
  • Sorbitan Trioleate
    HLB: 1.8
  • Sorbitan Tristearate
    Croda Span™ 65 • E492
    HLB: 2
  • Stearamide MEA
    HLB: 11
  • Steareth-100
    HLB: 18.8
  • Steareth-2
    HLB: 4.9
  • Steareth-20
    HLB: 15.3
  • Steareth-21
    HLB: 15.5
  • Sucrose Stearate
    HLB: 13

Understanding the HLB values of oils and emulsifiers is essential for creating stable and effective formulations. By using the right combination, you can achieve the desired consistency, performance, and longevity in your products. For accurate HLB calculations, try our HLB Calculator.

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What is HLB?

The Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) is a measure of the balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic portions of a surfactant molecule. The HLB value is used to determine the type of emulsion that can be formed by a surfactant.

The HLB value is a number between 0 and 20. A low HLB value (0–6) indicates a lipophilic surfactant that is more soluble in oil, while a high HLB value (8–18) indicates a hydrophilic surfactant that is more soluble in water.

The HLB value of a surfactant blend is calculated by taking the weighted average of the HLB values of the individual surfactants in the blend.