Abstract: Cosmetic quality isooctyl neodecanoate is manufactured by contacting an alcohol mixture containing a major amount of isooctyl alcohol with neodecanoic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst and at a temperature of from about 160.degree. C. to about 230.degree. C. to yield a crude ester product; treating the crude ester product at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. with a basic material to reduce the sulfur level of said crude ester product to less than about 20 ppm; distilling the product thus recovered at a temperature in the range of about 150.degree. C. to about 185.degree. C. and at a pressure in the range of from about 1 to about 20 mm Hg; steam stripping the distilled product in the presence of an antioxidant to deodorize; and recovering a yield of cosmetic quality isooctyl neodecanoate. The purified ester product is useful in cosmetic formulations.