Camphor Oil

Camphor oil is steam-distilled from the leaves, branches or wood of the camphor tree (long não), Cinnamomum camphora. Oil from camphor-type trees usually contains 60–85% camphor, with a typical cool, sharp scent.

Camphor is familiar in balms, rubs and nasal inhalers. It is also used to repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and moths in the home.

Quick facts

Scientific name

Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl

Trade name

Camphor oil

Part used

Leaves, branches, wood

Method

Steam distillation

Appearance and odour

Colourless to pale yellow; cool, sharp scent

Main components

Camphor 60–85% (camphor type); 1,8-cineole, limonene

Storage

Dark glass bottle, tightly closed, out of children’s reach

What is camphor oil?

The camphor tree is a large tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae), the same family as cassia and litsea. The whole tree contains essential oil: leaves, branches, wood and roots. Crush a leaf and you will smell a cool, sharp scent, much like a medicated oil.

Steam-distilling these parts gives a colourless to pale yellow oil.

Pure camphor is a white crystalline solid that evaporates slowly at room temperature. Before synthetic camphor existed, most of the world’s camphor came from the camphor tree. Producers distilled the wood, then cooled the oil so the camphor crystallised.

What does the camphor tree look like, and where does it grow?

The camphor tree is an evergreen, 15–30 m tall, with a wide crown and grey, vertically cracked bark. The leaves are egg-shaped and glossy on top, with three clear veins. They smell fragrant when crushed. The small flowers are yellow-green, and the round berries turn black when ripe.

The tree lives a very long time; some trees are hundreds of years old. In Vietnam, camphor is grown in the northern mountains and midlands. Provinces with many trees include Tuyen Quang (including former Ha Giang province), Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Lao Cai (including former Yen Bai province).

In Ha Noi, camphor is a familiar shade tree along streets, in schoolyards and at temples and pagodas. Even so, Vietnam has no concentrated plantations grown for essential oil yet.

Camphor in Vietnamese daily life

Many older Vietnamese still remember the smell of camphor in wooden chests, wardrobes and their grandparents’ book boxes. White camphor blocks in the corner of a cupboard kept belongings safer from insects and damp. Old camphor trees in front of village halls and school gates are a familiar sight in many villages.

In the past, fallen camphor leaves were gathered and burned to keep mosquitoes away in the evening. Camphor oil keeps these traditional uses in a form that is easier to dose, with less smoke and dust.

Camphor tree chemotypes

Camphor trees come in several chemical types (chemotypes), even though they look exactly the same. The three most common are:

Type	Main component	Scent	Uses
Camphor	Camphor	Cool, sharp	Insect repelling, balms
Linalool (Ho leaf)	Linalool	Floral, soft wood	Perfumery, cosmetics
Cineole	1,8-Cineole	Cool, eucalyptus-like	Inhalation, balms

There are also types rich in borneol, nerolidol or safrole. Safrole is restricted in cosmetics and food, so safrole-type oil cannot be mixed with the others. That is why the company always analyses leaf samples before buying.

The analysis shows which type a tree belongs to and what each oil lot can be used for. A survey of trees planted in Gia Lai found that the wood of mature trees contains about 2% essential oil, mainly camphor.

Uses

For information only; not a substitute for medical advice.

Applications by industry

Industry	Applications
Pharmaceuticals, balms	Balms, ointments, chest rubs (within regulations)
Household	Deodorising cupboards and storerooms; mosquito, cockroach and moth repellent products
Cleaning	Floor cleaners, wood cleaners
Raw material	Isolation of natural camphor

Why source camphor oil from Vietnam?

Historically, natural camphor came mainly from East Asia, including China, Taiwan and Japan. Today much camphor on the market is synthetic. Natural camphor oil from Vietnam offers a few things that matter to buyers.

• Plant-derived, not synthetic: the oil is distilled directly from the tree, which suits brands that want natural ingredients.
• Leaves and prunings first: we prioritise leaves and pruned branches, so harvesting does not depend on felling trees.
• Chemotype tested: leaf samples are analysed before buying, so each lot is matched to the right use.
• Safrole screening: the chromatogram also helps detect safrole if present.
• Northern growing belt: the tree is widespread in the northern mountains and midlands; Gia Lai is also a priority buying area.

Supply is still built from scattered trees and new leaf plantings, not large plantations. Buyers should plan volumes together with us.

Scent profile and blending

Camphor smells cool, sharp and clean. It recalls medicated oils and old wooden wardrobes. The scent is strong, so use only a little.

• Blend with Java citronella for a mosquito and cockroach repellent mix.
• Blend with mint and ginger for a warming-cooling rub.
• Blend with patchouli for anti-moth wardrobe sachets.

How to use at home

• Repelling cockroaches and moths: put 3–5 drops on a wooden block or cotton wool. Place it in an open container in the corner of a cupboard or under the kitchen sink. Add more when the smell fades.
• Repelling mosquitoes: mop the floor with 5–10 drops in a bucket of water. Or put 3–4 drops in a diffuser in an adult’s room, running it on and off.
• Massage for aches: mix 2–3 drops with 10 ml carrier oil. Rub on a small area only, for a short period, and never on open wounds.

DIY natural “camphor blocks” for your wardrobe

Take a few pieces of pine, other soft wood or porous stone. Put 3–4 drops of camphor oil on each piece and let them dry for 15 minutes. Wrap them in a loose-weave cloth bag and place in a wardrobe corner or drawer.

This replaces mothballs with a nicer smell, though it fades faster. Add more oil every 2–3 weeks. Keep the bag where children and pets cannot reach it.

Real camphor and mothballs

Criterion	Camphor from the camphor tree	Mothballs (naphthalene)
Origin	Essential oil of the camphor tree	Synthesised from petroleum or coal tar
Scent	Cool, sharp, clean	Pungent, heavy
Notes	Used in balms within regulations	Not for use on people; restricted in many countries

Many “camphor” blocks sold at local markets are actually naphthalene or synthetic camphor. Naphthalene is especially dangerous for newborns and people with G6PD deficiency. Camphor oil is distilled directly from the tree.

How to recognise good oil, and how to store it

• Good oil is clear, with a clean, cool, sharp smell. Camphor-type oil may form crystals when cold.
• A soft, floral smell means linalool-type oil. It is still genuine camphor-tree oil, but it has different uses.
• Keep tightly closed in a cool place. Camphor evaporates, so leaving the cap off means losing oil.

Quality specifications

The main specifications are camphor content and a chromatogram to identify the chemotype. The chromatogram also helps detect safrole if present. Every lot comes with a COA and an MSDS.

Reference figures only; actual specifications follow the COA of each lot.

What buyers usually ask for

Because the camphor tree has several chemotypes, buyers usually check identity first and use second.

• Chemotype confirmation: buyers want to know if a lot is camphor-type, linalool-type or cineole-type.
• Camphor content: shown on the COA of each lot.
• Safrole check: important for cosmetic, household and personal-care uses.
• COA and MSDS: every lot has both.
• Raw material source: some buyers ask whether the oil comes from leaves, branches or wood. We prioritise leaves and prunings.
• Sample before contract: most buyers test a sample first. Contact us to discuss what is available.

Growers & cooperatives

The company buys fresh leaves and pruned branches from gardens, hillside plantings and urban tree-care works. Wood chips must be delivered within a few days, because they lose oil if left too long. Priority areas: the northern mountains and midlands (Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Lao Cai) and Gia Lai.

• Before signing a purchase agreement, the company takes leaf samples for analysis to identify the tree type.
• We welcome new contract-growing as leaf plantations, pruned every year.
• Sustainability commitment: priority for leaves and pruned branches. We do not buy wood from illegally felled trees.

To sell camphor leaves or prunings, call or message on Zalo: +84 983 299 529. See more on the Raw material sourcing page.

Extraction process

1. Collect leaves and pruned branches; take samples to analyse the tree type.
2. Cut short or chip; steam-distil.
3. Separate the oil layer and filter.
4. Test camphor content and keep the COA under the lot number.

Frequently asked questions

Read more: Java citronella oil Patchouli oil Cassia leaf oil Vietnamese herbal essential oils

References: Camphor tree – Do Tat Loi, Medicinal Plants and Remedies of Vietnam · Survey of camphor wood oil from trees planted in Gia Lai