Glycerin was first discovered in 1779 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, a chemist from Sweden. He was also the first to describe the properties of oxygen and a range of other elements such as hydrogen, barium, and chlorine.
Scheele accidentally discovered glycerin while boiling olive oil and lead monoxide. He named the substance “the sweet principle of fats” due to its slightly sweet taste. The name glycerin was later coined by the French chemist Michel-Eugène Chevreul (from glykys, a Greek word meaning sweet).
Glycerin is a non-toxic, transparent, viscous liquid that is water-soluble, has a high boiling point, and can be found in both animal and vegetable fats. Chemically, it behaves like an alcohol, capable of reacting under certain conditions but generally quite stable.
Glycerin is a key ingredient in many types of soap.
Glycerin is a key ingredient in many types of soap, however, soap production is also a way to create glycerin. Chemists sometimes even create industrially produced soap as a means to produce glycerin.
Glycerin is produced through the saponification process, which turns oils or fats into soap and glycerin by heating fats and adding an alkali such as sodium hydroxide or an alkaline solution. “Melt and pour” soaps, which are often molded into fun shapes, tend to have a high glycerin content.
As glycerol is a humectant, meaning it can attract and bind moisture, it is a common ingredient in beauty products used for moisturizing, such as lotions, conditioners, and shampoos. Glycerin in hair care products can help keep hair from becoming overly dry and split ends, and it is used in anti-dandruff and scalp itch shampoos.
Lotions and skincare products use glycerin for the same reason as its benefits for hair: to hydrate the skin, soften, and smooth rough patches of skin cells, creating a barrier to protect the skin from moisture loss.
Glycerin is the most commonly used humectant in skincare, as it draws moisture from the air and deeper layers of the skin, making the skin appear smooth and dewy.
Glycerin is most commonly used in skincare.
Glycerin is useful as a food additive. It has a slightly sweet taste, functioning as a milder sweetener than sugar. Glycerin is preferred over other sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol due to its more effective laxative properties when consumed.
Due to glycerin’s moisture-retaining properties, it helps preserve bread, pastries, and energy bars, preventing them from drying out. Its viscous texture also adds thickness and smoothness to liquids. Glycerin can be found in beverages, dressings, frosting, chewy candies, canned soups, gummies, and chewing gum.
With its natural sweetness, glycerin is used in medications such as cough syrups and lozenges to enhance palatability. It also serves as an excellent thickening agent for topical ointments. Glycerin suppositories draw water from the colon to facilitate bowel movements.
Glycerin is used in medications such as cough syrups and lozenges to enhance palatability.
Additionally, glycerin is utilized as an excipient – a neutral medium for active ingredients in products like eye drops, ear drops, and gel capsules.
Glycerin is also used as a freezing medium for preserving items like sperm, red blood cells, and other living tissues.
Glycerin has numerous applications in industry, being a key component in paints and plastics, used to coat items such as electrical wires. It is also used as a plasticizer, widely employed in food packaging paper because it is non-toxic and can prevent shrinkage.
Vegetable glycerin (VG) is used in e-cigarettes, favored for its superior properties. The high glycerin content in vape liquids creates a sweet flavor when using e-cigarette tobacco oils. Additionally, VG e-cigarette oils do not dry out the lips like other types.
