Are methyl alcohol, propylene alcohol, cetyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol intoxicants, and does "intoxicating alcohol" refer only to ethyl alcohol or ethanol, especially since these types of alcohol are ingredients in many creams, medical preparations, and foods?

Determining what intoxicates among alcohols and what does not is the domain of chemists. The majority of contemporary scholars consider intoxicating alcohol to be khamr (wine/intoxicant) and impermissible to consume.

If alcohol transforms into another non-intoxicating substance during manufacturing, then its use is permissible. Similarly, if the alcohol content is very low and its effect is not apparent in the product, there is no harm in consuming it.

There is a respected opinion among some contemporary scholars that alcohol is not khamr in its essence. This opinion offers leniency and ease, and there is no harm in acting upon it.