DEGEE / DGM Diethylene Glycol MonoEthyl Ether / Ethoxydiglycol

Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (DEGEE), also known by its chemical name 2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol or under the trade names such as Carbitol, Transcutol, and others, is a solvent belonging to the glycol ether family. It is a clear, colourless liquid with a mild odour and is miscible with water, alcohols, and many organic solvents.

Properties and Uses

• Chemical name: Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether

• Typical abbreviations: DEGEE, DEGE, ethyldiglycol, Carbitol Dowanol DE

• Formula: C₆H₁₄O₃

• Molar mass: ~134.17 g/mol

• CAS number: 111-90-0

• Appearance: Clear, colourless liquid

• Odour: Mild, faintly ether-like

• Boiling point: Around 195–205 °C

• Flash point: Typically around 90–96 °C (closed cup) → combustible, but not highly flammable

• Density: ~1.01–1.03 g/mL at 20 °C

• Viscosity: Low–moderate (mobile liquid)

• Solubility:

  • Miscible with water

  • Also dissolves many resins, oils, dyes, inks, and fragrances

• Volatility: Lower than short-chain alcohols or acetone → slow-evaporating solvent

It’s part of the glycol ether family: basically a diethylene glycol backbone with an ethyl group on one end and an OH (alcohol) on the other, so it behaves like a polar, water-miscible solvent that can also dissolve oily materials.

DEGEE has several properties that make it valuable in various industrial and commercial applications:

• Solvent Properties: Due to its excellent solubilizing power, DEGEE is used as a solvent and coupling agent in a wide range of products, including inks, dyes, resins, and paints. It helps to dissolve substances that are otherwise difficult to mix.

• Low Volatility: It has a relatively low volatility, which makes it useful in applications where a slow evaporation rate is desired, such as in coatings, cleaning products, and as a component in hydraulic fluids.

• Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: In the cosmetics industry, DEGEE is utilized as a solvent for dyes and as a component in skincare products, deodorants, Reed diffusers  and perfumes. Its low toxicity and good skin compatibility make it suitable for such applications.  

What is it used for?

1. Using DEGEE in Fragrance Bases (General)

What it does:

• Good solvent for fragrance oils, essential oils and many aroma chemicals.

• Completely miscible with water and alcohol, so it’s handy in:

  • Water/alcohol systems

  • Alcohol-free systems (paired with other glycols or solvents)

• Slow-evaporating, so it can act a bit like a fixative, stretching out the scent.

Typical use levels (as a solvent in fragrance bases):

• As the main solvent in an alcohol-free base: 30–80% of the base

• As a co-solvent in an ethanol base: 5–30% of the fragrance solution

You’d normally blend it with:

• Ethanol / isopropanol (for fine fragrances & body sprays), or

• DPG / TEC / IPM for more oily systems (diffusers etc.).

2. Room Sprays

You can use DEGEE in two main ways:

A) Alcohol-free / low-flammability room spray

A simple base might look like:

• DEGEE: 30–60%

• DPG or Triethyl Citrate (TEC): 10–30% (extra solvency + fixative)

• Fragrance oil: 5–15%

• Water: balance, plus a solubiliser if you’re going quite aqueous

Pros:

• Much less flammable than ethanol-heavy sprays

• Slower evaporation → longer lasting on fabrics and soft furnishings

Watch out for:

• Heavier, more “wet” spray feel vs ethanol

• Need to test on fabrics for spotting / staining (usually fine if well diluted)

B) Co-solvent in alcohol-based sprays

• Ethanol / perfumer’s alcohol: main carrier

• DEGEE: 5–20% as a co-solvent and mild fixative

• Fragrance: 5–20%

Here, DEGEE helps:

• Dissolve tricky fragrance components

• Reduce the harshness of high-proof alcohol

• Improve dry-down smoothness

3. Reed Diffusers

For reed diffusers, you want:

• Good solvency for fragrance

• A moderate evaporation rate

• Low odour, good stability

DEGEE can work as either the main solvent or as a co-solvent with other diffuser bases.

Example diffuser base options

Option 1 – DEGEE + DPG

• DEGEE: 30–60%

• DPG: 20–50%

• Fragrance oil: 15–25%

Option 2 – DEGEE + a “standard” diffuser solvent

If you’re also using a proprietary base (like an isoparaffin / glycol ether blend):

• Diffuser base solvent: 50–70%

• DEGEE: 10–30%

• Fragrance: 15–25%

DEGEE helps with:

• Solubilising tricky fragrance components

• Smoothing evaporation so the scent is not “all top note then gone”

Always test:

• Wick rise (how well the liquid travels up the reeds)

• Scent throw over at least a couple of weeks

4. Cosmetics / Personal Care

Here it gets more regulatory and conservative, because now you’re putting it on skin.

DEGEE is used in:

• Deodorants / body sprays

• Creams, lotions, gels

• Some hair products

• Occasionally as a fragrance solvent in leave-on products

Typical usage ranges in cosmetics:

• Leave-on products (lotions, creams, sprays):
  Often 1–10%, sometimes up to ~15% depending on product type and region.

• Rinse-off products (shower gels, shampoos):
  Can be higher, but usually unnecessary – 1–5% is common.

Functions:

• Solvent / co-solvent for actives, fragrances, preservatives.

• Humectant / wetting agent, improves spread and feel.

• Can help with clarity in clear gels and toners.

Important:

• You should make sure you’re using a cosmetic / pharma grade material, with an appropriate specification and safety data.

• Any cosmetic formula should still go through CPSR / product safety assessment if it’s being sold in the UK/EU.

5. Coatings, Paints & Inks

• Used as a coalescent / co-solvent in:

  • Water-based paints and varnishes

  • Printing inks

  • Wood stains and industrial coatings

• Functions:

  • Helps dissolve resins and pigments

  • Improves flow and levelling

  • Slows evaporation → gives the film time to form properly, reducing brush marks and defects.

6) Cleaning & Degreasing Products

• Common in hard-surface cleaners, industrial degreasers, and ink removers.

• Why:

  • Good at dissolving oils, inks, greases, and certain polymers

  • Completely miscible with water, so you can make clear aqueous concentrates.

• Often used with surfactants in professional cleaning formulations.

7) Pharmaceuticals & Agrochemicals

• Used as a solvent or co-solvent in some topical pharmaceutical preparations.

• Appears as a solvent or carrier in some pesticide or adjuvant formulations, especially where a water-miscible, slow-evaporating solvent is needed.

8) Miscellaneous Uses

• Textile auxiliaries: dyeing assistants, print pastes

• Electronics / precision cleaning: as a component in solvent systems

• Resin / polymer processing: helps dissolve or plasticise certain polymers

Safety and Regulatory Aspects

While DEGEE is considered to have low toxicity, it is always important to handle it with care, adhering to recommended safety guidelines. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and product labels should be consulted for specific handling instructions, personal protective equipment recommendations, and first-aid measures. Like with any chemical substance, regulatory guidelines dictate its safe use and handling, which can vary by country and specific application.

DEGEE's diverse range of applications showcases its versatility as a solvent and its importance in various industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical formulations.