Rowan & Thistle

PLATE No. 035

Ingredient Collection

IBT50

Elaeis guineensis / Brassica napus

Illustrated plate for IBT50: an oil palm frond with a bunch of red-orange fruit (Elaeis guineensis), a fruit bunch with single fruits, a flowering rapeseed plant (Brassica napus) with yellow blooms, slender rapeseed pods with tiny black seeds, and a pile of small white pastilles.

Figure Key

  • Fig. 1 Oil Palm Fruiting Specimen Elaeis guineensis
  • Fig. 2 Oil Palm Fruit Bunch and Individual Fruits
  • Fig. 3 Flowering Rapeseed Brassica napus
  • Fig. 4 Rapeseed Pods and Seeds
  • Fig. 5 IBT50 Pastilles

The Ingredient

IBT50 is a plant-derived conditioning ingredient that helps give our formulas their soft, silky feel. On skin, it helps leave behind a smooth, conditioned finish. On hair, it adds softness and slip, helping strands feel smoother and easier to manage.

It is one of those behind-the-scenes ingredients that you may not notice by name—but you notice what it does to the way a product feels and performs.

From Plant to Ingredient

  1. IBT50, step 1 — Oil Palm & Rapeseed: an oil palm frond with a bunch of red-orange fruit beside a yellow-flowered rapeseed plant.

    1. OIL PALM & RAPESEED

    IBT50 begins with plant-based materials originating from oil palm and rapeseed.

  2. IBT50, step 2 — Fruit & Seed: a bunch of red-orange palm fruit with loose fruits, beside slender rapeseed pods and tiny black seeds.

    2. FRUIT & SEED

    The palm fruit and rapeseed seeds provide the plant-based starting materials used to create IBT50’s conditioning components.

  3. IBT50, step 3 — Finished Pastilles: a pile of small, smooth white pastilles.

    3. FINISHED PASTILLES

    After processing, the finished ingredient becomes small white to off-white pastilles, ready to be added to our formulas.

Why We Chose It

We chose IBT50 because it gives us beautiful conditioning without relying on a heavy, greasy finish. It works across both skin and hair care, helping us create products that feel rich and nourishing while still rinsing or absorbing beautifully.

What You'll Notice

  • Softer Feel — Leaves skin and hair feeling noticeably softer and conditioned.
  • Silky Finish — Adds a smooth, silky feel without an overly greasy finish.
  • Easier Detangling — Gives hair added slip, helping strands separate with less tugging.
  • Smoother Texture — Helps rough-feeling skin and hair feel smoother and more comfortable.

Botanical Profile

Scientific Name
Elaeis guineensis / Brassica napus
INCI Name
Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Plant Part Used
Palm & rapeseed-derived
Final Ingredient
Pastilles
Origin
Southeast Asia & Europe · Made in the USA

A Closer Look

The “methosulfate” in Behentrimonium Methosulfate can sound a little alarming if you're used to seeing products advertised as “sulfate-free.” Despite the similar name, it isn't the cleansing sulfate people typically mean when they talk about sulfates in shampoo. Behentrimonium Methosulfate is used for conditioning, helping give skin and hair a softer, smoother feel.

Products Featuring IBT50 Featured In

An illustrated guide to the botanicals, ingredients, and materials that shape Rowan & Thistle

© Rowan & Thistle 2026