Differences and Usage of Lauryl Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside

Question

What are the differences between Lauryl Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside, and how should they be used in formulations?

Answer 1

Difference Between Lauryl Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside

Both Lauryl Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside are gentle, non-ionic surfactants derived from natural sources like coconut or palm oil and glucose from corn. They are often used as alternatives to harsher surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and are suitable for sensitive skin.

While they share many similarities, the main differences lie in their chemical structure, specifically the length of their carbon chains, which affects their properties:

Carbon Chain Length:
- Decyl Glucoside has a shorter carbon chain (C8-C10).
- Lauryl Glucoside has a longer carbon chain (C12-C14).
Water Solubility:
- Decyl Glucoside is generally easier to dissolve in water.
- Lauryl Glucoside is more difficult to dissolve in water due to its longer chain.
Cleaning Performance:
- Lauryl Glucoside is considered to have better cleaning performance than Decyl Glucoside.

Coco Glucoside (C8-C14) is also available and is positioned between Lauryl Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside, offering easier water solubility than Lauryl Glucoside while maintaining good cleaning performance.

How to Use Them

Both Lauryl Glucoside and Decyl Glucoside are commonly used in rinse-off products such as:

Shampoos
Liquid soaps
Facial cleansers

They act as gentle detergents. However, they have a high pH (around 11.5), so it is crucial to adjust the pH of the final formulation to a skin-friendly range (ideally 5-6.5) using acids like Citric Acid or Lactic Acid. Failure to adjust the pH can cause skin irritation.

They are viscous liquids and may become cloudy or precipitate, especially in cold temperatures. Warming them gently to 50-60°C will liquefy them for easier mixing.

Neither Lauryl Glucoside nor Decyl Glucoside provides significant foam on their own. They are often used in combination with other surfactants that boost foam and lather. They also do not thicken formulas well on their own.

Thickening Formulas

To thicken formulas using Lauryl Glucoside or Decyl Glucoside, you can use various thickeners:

SugarThick™ (provides clear formula)
ClearClean™ (results in cloudy formula)
Xanthan Gum (provides clear formula)
EasyThick™ (provides clear formula)
Mild-Wash™ and/or Coco-Foam™ together with Flora Foam™ (recommended for clear formula, better bubbles, and long-lasting lather)

Usage Rate: The recommended usage rate for both is typically 5-25%, with 5% suggested for sensitive skin.

Answer 2

Update as of 2026-05-24

Current catalog note: Lauryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, and Coco Glucoside are separate glucoside surfactants. If an older link for Decyl Glucoside opens Coco Glucoside, use the current Decyl Glucoside item instead.

The original guidance is still broadly useful, but the differences should be treated as formulation-dependent. Decyl Glucoside is generally easier to incorporate and often chosen for mild, lighter-feeling cleansing systems. Lauryl Glucoside is generally more viscous and may contribute more body and detergency, but final cleansing feel, foam, clarity, viscosity, and mildness depend on the whole surfactant blend, active matter, pH, electrolyte level, fragrance/solubilizer, and thickener choice. Coco Glucoside may sit between or overlap these profiles because it has a broader coconut-derived alkyl chain distribution.

For use: glucosides should be properly wetted, mixed, and dispersed into the water/surfactant phase until uniform. If the concentrated raw material is thick, cloudy, or partly crystallized from cold storage, warm gently around 50–60°C and mix until uniform before weighing or adding. Always measure and adjust the pH of the fully mixed finished product; many skin and hair rinse-off cleansers commonly target about pH 5.0–6.5, but the final target should also suit the preservative system and product type.

For more foam or easier viscosity building, combine the glucoside with a compatible co-surfactant or surfactant thickener as needed. Current catalog examples include Coco-Foam-50™, SugarThick™, and EasyThick™, selected according to the desired clarity, viscosity, and formula style.