Cassia leaf & twig oil is steam-distilled from the young twigs and leaves of the cassia tree, Cinnamomum cassia. Most of the raw material is prunings from cassia plantation care. The oil contains about 70–88% cinnamaldehyde and has a clear, spicy cinnamon scent.
This is the cassia oil Vietnam produces most. It is used to remove odours, repel mosquitoes and ants, and flavour food, soaps and cleaning products.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl
- Trade name
- Cassia oil (leaf & twig)
- Part used
- Leaves, young twigs
- Method
- Steam distillation
- Appearance
- Yellow-brown; heavier than water; spicy cinnamon scent
- Main compounds
- trans-Cinnamaldehyde 70–88% (ISO 3216 reference); coumarin, 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde
- Storage
- Dark glass bottle, tightly closed, in a cool place
What is cassia leaf & twig oil?
Cassia bark oil is distilled from the bark. Cassia leaf & twig oil (tinh dầu quế cành, lá) is distilled from the leaves and young twigs. Growers prune these every year so the trees stay airy and grow straight.
The raw material is plentiful, cheap and available all year. That is why this is the cassia oil Vietnam produces and exports most.
On the international market, this oil is usually just called “cassia oil”. It is yellow-brown, heavier than water, and smells of spicy cinnamon, a little sharper than bark oil. Most crude oil from the stills in the former Yen Bai province is sold to refining businesses in Vietnam and abroad.
Do not confuse it with “cinnamon leaf oil” distilled from Sri Lankan cinnamon leaves. That oil is rich in eugenol, smells like clove and contains almost no cinnamaldehyde. The two oils have different uses and standards.
From prunings to essential oil: a “waste-to-value” raw material
A cassia plantation gives prunings only a few years after planting, while the main bark harvest takes 10–15 years. By selling twigs and leaves to stills, growers get earlier and steadier income in the years of waiting for trees to mature.
The former Yen Bai area alone produces tens of thousands of tonnes of cassia twigs and leaves each year.
Using the prunings also means less burning of crop waste on the hillsides. It keeps cassia plantations airy and less prone to pests and disease. The spent leaves after distillation can be composted into organic fertiliser or used as fuel for the still itself.
Uses
Traditional use
In traditional Vietnamese medicine, cassia twig (quế chi) is described as pungent, sweet and warm. It is traditionally used to:
- relieve colds, promote sweating and ease chills;
- ease aching limbs and joints caused by cold;
- warm the stomach and stimulate digestion.
Cassia twig appears in many classical remedies for colds and body aches. In folk practice, upland people also boil cassia leaves in water for steam baths and bathing when they catch a chill. Traditional medicine advises caution for pregnant women and people with a “hot” constitution.
What research says
- Antibacterial and antifungal: in laboratory tests, cinnamaldehyde inhibits bacteria and moulds. This is the basis for using cassia oil to remove odours and to clean kitchens and bathrooms.
- Mosquito repellent: studies show cassia oil repels mosquitoes and kills mosquito larvae.
- Ant repellent: some tests show ants avoid areas wiped with, or dotted with, cassia oil.
For information only; not a substitute for medical advice.
Applications by industry
| Industry | Applications |
|---|---|
| Flavours | Cinnamon flavour for industrial drinks, cakes and sweets |
| Cleaning | Soap, dishwashing liquid, floor cleaners |
| Household | Room diffusing, scented wax, insect-repellent products |
| Pharmaceuticals, balms | Warming massage oils |
| Raw material | Isolating natural cinnamaldehyde |
Scent and blending
Cassia leaf & twig oil smells spicy, warm and a little sharp, with less sweetness than bark oil. This scent suits cleaning products because it feels “clean and warm”.
- Blend with orange, lemon or Java citronella for floor cleaners with a pleasant scent.
- Blend with mint to repel mosquitoes and ants while keeping a fresh feel.
- Blend with star anise or ginger for candles and scented wax in cold seasons.
How to use at home
- Room diffusing: 2–3 drops in a diffuser.
- Wiping kitchens and floors, repelling ants: 5–10 drops in a bucket of water; also wipe skirting, door sills and ant trails.
- Repelling mosquitoes: put a few drops on a cotton ball near a window or in a corner of the room; replace after 1–2 days.
- Freshening bins and shoe cupboards: 2–3 drops on cotton or a paper liner.
Safe use
- Do not apply to skin; wear gloves when mixing cleaning water.
- Keep away from the eyes; do not swallow; keep out of reach of children.
- Do not diffuse at high strength in a closed room with young children, people with asthma or pets. Pregnant women should not use it.
- If swallowed: do not try to induce vomiting; rinse the mouth and call emergency services (115 in Vietnam) or go to a medical facility. On skin: wipe with cooking oil, then wash with soap.
- Do not mop natural stone or unsealed wood with water containing cassia oil; test on a hidden corner first.
How to spot good oil and how to store it
- The oil is clear and yellow-brown with a clear cinnamon scent. It should not smell burnt or of solvent.
- Cassia oil is heavier than water, so it sinks when dropped into a glass of water. This is normal, but it is not enough to prove the oil is pure.
- Keep it tightly closed in a cool place. Old oil darkens and thickens through oxidation.
Cassia leaf & twig or cassia bark: which to choose?
| Need | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Floor cleaners, soap, odour control | Cassia leaf & twig |
| Repelling mosquitoes and ants indoors | Cassia leaf & twig |
| Premium food flavours, perfume | Cassia bark |
| Candles, warm-scented wax | Either, depending on budget |
Why source cassia oil from Vietnam?
Cassia oil comes mainly from China and Vietnam, the two big growers of Cinnamomum cassia. Vietnam has a few clear strengths for leaf & twig oil.
- Large, steady raw material base: Vietnam has about 180,000 ha of cassia, and the former Yen Bai area alone produces tens of thousands of tonnes of prunings each year.
- Year-round supply: prunings follow the plantation care calendar, so leaf and twig are available through the year.
- A by-product, not a separate crop: the oil comes from material that growers prune anyway. This gives growers extra income and reduces burning of crop waste.
- Testing at the still: Thảo Dược Xanh (Blue Herbs) tests a sample from each still before buying crude oil, and files a COA for each batch.
Quality specifications
The main specifications are cinnamaldehyde and coumarin. ISO 3216 for cassia oil sets trans-cinnamaldehyde at about 70–88%. Where an oil falls in this range depends on the raw material and the distillation.
Coumarin is limited in food in many markets, so each batch’s COA states its level clearly.
Each batch comes with a COA and an MSDS. For oil used in food, businesses need a batch that meets food-flavour requirements and must declare the intended use clearly when exporting.
Reference figures; actual specifications are given on each batch’s COA.
What buyers usually ask for
Buyers of cassia leaf & twig oil usually check these points:
- Cinnamaldehyde and coumarin on the COA, with relative density and refractive index, compared with ISO 3216.
- A GC or GC-MS chromatogram, to see the full profile and check for blending or added synthetic cinnamaldehyde.
- Crude or refined: whether the buyer needs crude oil straight from the still or a further processed grade.
- MSDS (SDS) for shipping and safe handling.
- A sample before contract, to test in their own lab or product. Contact the company to discuss sample needs.
- Intended use: food flavour, cosmetic, cleaning product or insect repellent. Each is regulated differently.
- Fragrance compliance: for cosmetics and scented products, buyers check IFRA limits for cinnamaldehyde and the allergen labelling rules of their market.
Growers & cooperatives
The company buys fresh or sun-dried cassia twigs and leaves, free of mould and without large branches. Priority areas:
- Lao Cai: Van Yen and Tran Yen (formerly Yen Bai province); Bac Ha, Bao Yen, Van Ban.
- Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and other cassia areas.
Requirements when selling:
- Leaves and young twigs under about 1 cm thick; keep larger branches separate.
- Dry leaves free of black mould and damp smell; fresh leaves delivered within 2–3 days.
- Cooperatives with their own still can sell crude oil to the company after sample testing.
Buying runs all year, following the pruning calendar. The company commits to sustainable harvesting: it does not buy material from forest clearing or from special-use (protected) forests.
To get started, call or message on Zalo: +84 983 299 529. See also the Raw material sourcing page.
How does a cassia still in the uplands work?
In cassia-growing communes, a still is usually a large steel pot set over a wood fire or a steam boiler. The pot connects to a condenser pipe cooled with stream water.
Twigs and leaves are packed into the pot. Steam passes through, carries the oil with it and condenses into a water–oil mixture that runs into a separator.
Cassia oil is heavier than water, so it settles at the bottom, and the distiller drains off the oil. One batch takes a few hours. Oil quality depends heavily on how dry the leaves are, how long the distillation runs and how clean the equipment is.
A rusty pot or a dirty condenser makes the oil darker and gives it a burnt smell. That is why the company tests a sample from each still before agreeing to buy crude oil. The company also shows cooperatives how to clean their equipment and keep batch records for traceability.
The water left after the oil is separated (hydrosol) still has a light cinnamon scent and can be used for cleaning floors. The spent leaves are dried as fuel for the next batch or composted. In this way, a still produces almost no waste.
Extraction process
- Collect pruned twigs and leaves; remove large branches and foreign matter.
- Distil fresh, or wilt in the sun and cut short.
- Steam-distil, collect the oil from the bottom of the separator and filter.
- Test the oil and file the COA under the batch code.
Frequently asked questions
Is cassia leaf & twig oil inferior to bark oil?
No, it simply suits different uses: leaf & twig oil suits household and industrial products, while bark oil suits premium flavours.
How do I use cassia oil to keep ants away?
Wipe ant trails with water mixed with cassia oil and put a few drops on cotton where ants often appear. Repeat after 1–2 days.
Does cassia oil repel mosquitoes?
Studies show it repels mosquitoes; the effect is short, so it needs to be reapplied often.
What is coumarin in cassia oil?
A natural compound found in cassia that is limited in food. The COA states its level.
How much oil does a tonne of twigs and leaves give?
It depends on how dry the material is and the share of leaves; dry leaves give more oil than fresh ones. The company tests a sample before giving a price.
Does the company buy crude oil from cooperative stills?
Yes, after sample testing.
Is "cassia oil" the same as "cinnamon leaf oil"?
No. Cassia oil comes from Cinnamomum cassia and is rich in cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamon leaf oil comes from Sri Lankan cinnamon leaves and is rich in eugenol.
Why does cassia oil from different stills smell different?
Leaf dryness, distillation time and equipment cleanliness all change the oil. This is why each batch is tested and coded.
Read more: Cassia bark oil Java citronella oil Camphor oil Vietnamese herbal essential oils
Supplying cassia leaf & twig raw material, or interested in contract growing?
Thảo Dược Xanh buys raw materials and provides technical support to farmers and cooperatives in Vietnam.
References: Cây quế – Đỗ Tất Lợi · Tận dụng dư địa cho tinh dầu quế (Nông nghiệp & Môi trường) · Phát triển bền vững ngành quế (Nhân Dân)