BTMS 25 (Behentrimonium Methosulfate & Cetearyl Alcohol)

BTMS-25 is a cationic (positively charged) emulsifying wax. Because it’s cationic it is also “conditioning”—it adsorbs (creates a very fine coating) on skin and hair, giving an amazing finish that is unique to cationic ingredients. It contains 25% of the active ingredient, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (compared to BTMS-50, which contains 50%). We find BTMS-25 makes thicker/firmer products than BTMS-50 due to the higher concentration of a hardening/thickening ingredient (cetearyl alcohol).

Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol

Small white waxy beads

For emulsions, 1–10% of the overall product; -25% of the oil phase to emulsify.

(We suggest 3% to 5% with 3% oils for a light lotion.

6% to 10% with up to 20% oils will give a thicker cream.)

Using solid fats as part of the oil phase will also add extra thickness.

Lotions, emulsified scrubs, creams, hair conditioners, detanglers, deep conditioning relaxers, and many other popular personal care products. 

60°C (140°F)

5–7 (2% solution)

Cationic (positive)

Can be a bit fishy, but this usually doesn’t come through in finished products if used below 10–15%.

Oil

It gives our products the most luxurious, wonderful skin feel and leaves hair feeling stunning—easy to comb through and all kinds of silky. It also functions as a complete emulsifying wax, emollient, and offers noticeable thickening.

If you want to make hair care products, definitely yes. It is also wonderful as the emulsifier in lotions and as a conditioning add-in for body butters and balms!

Great conditioning skin and hair feel.

Non-cationic emulsifying waxes (Polawax, Emulsifying Wax NF, Olivem 1000 etc.) are not good alternatives for BTMS-25 as they are not going to bring that conditioning element to your formulation. They’ll emulsify the product, but that’s it. This is likely not going to ruin the product, but it will definitely negatively impact the performance. If it’s a hair conditioner you will definitely notice a decline in detangling and the silkiness of the hair. If it’s a conditioning body butter, there’s really no reason to use something Polawax in place of the BTMS-25; the BTMS-25 was included primarily for the conditioning element, not the emulsifying element, so using a non-cationic emulsifying wax in its place is somewhat useless. 

In an anhydrous application can probably try replacing BTMS with 50% cetyl or cetearyl alcohol and 50% soft or liquid oil (more of whatever is in the recipe). 

That will likely require some tweaking for proper consistency, though. You would likely be better off looking for a body butter formula that doesn’t use BTMS-25 at all.

You could try incorporating a different cationic ingredient like a polyquaternarium into your formulation to replace the conditioning part of the BTMS-25, and then using a non-cationic emulsifying wax. You will need to watch solubility and usage rates, though.

Melt in the heated oil phase.

 BTMS-25 can be a bit stubborn about melting in a water bath, so you might need to give your heated oil phase a quick burst in the microwave to get it to melt fully.