Caprylyl/capryl xylosides are gentle detergents created by reacting plant-derived fatty acids with sugar. ‘Caprylyl’ and ‘capryl’ are names to describe fatty acid molecules of different length - 8 carbons long for caprylyl and 10 for capryl. The ‘xyloside’ in its name indicates that a xylose (sugar derived from wood or plant biomass) molecule is attached to these fatty acids. As surfactants (cleaners), caprylyl/capryl xylosides are effective at creating lather and also used to mix oils and other ingredients which typically are not capable of mixing into water, a process known as solubilizing. This ingredient is produced from renewable vegetable and plant-derived raw materials.