Homalomena Oil

Homalomena oil is steam-distilled from the dried rhizomes of Homalomena occulta, a plant that grows under the canopy of humid forests. Its main component is linalool (about 40–60%), together with terpinen-4-ol. The result is a warm, woody, lightly spicy scent.

In Vietnam, the rhizome is a well-known traditional remedy for “wind-damp” joint complaints. The oil is used in massage oils, incense and woody perfume notes.

Quick facts

Scientific name

Homalomena occulta (Lour.) Schott

Trade names

Homalomena oil, Qian nian jian oil

Part used

Dried rhizome

Method

Steam distillation

Appearance and odour

Pale yellow; warm, woody, lightly spicy, slightly floral

Main components

Linalool 40–60%; terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol

Storage

Dark glass bottle, tightly closed, in a cool place

What is homalomena oil?

Homalomena (thiên niên kiện) is a herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae). It grows in clumps on the forest floor. Other Vietnamese names include sơn thục and ráy hương.

The part used is the long, fibrous rhizome, which has a typical woody smell. The rhizomes are sun-dried and then steam-distilled. This gives a pale yellow oil with a warm, woody, slightly spicy and faintly floral scent.

The Vietnamese name means “a thousand years of strength”. It refers to the plant’s traditional role in strengthening tendons and bones. The same plant is known in Chinese herbal tradition as qian nian jian.

Homalomena oil is less common than many other essential oils. The raw material is mostly wild-harvested, and the oil yield is only about 1%.

What does the plant look like, and where does it grow?

The plant is 0.5–1 m tall. Its leaves are arrow-shaped or heart-shaped, on long stalks, and grow in clumps. The rhizome creeps horizontally under the soil and is about 1–2 cm thick. When broken, it shows many stiff fibres and releases a clear aroma.

Homalomena grows wild in humid forests and along streams. In Vietnam it has been recorded in Thanh Hoa (Xuan Lien), Nghe An, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Gia Lai and along the Truong Son range. In Hue, it occurs in Phong Dien, A Luoi, Nam Dong and Phu Loc.

In some places the plant regenerates well and grows quite densely. However, there are no commercial plantations yet.

Homalomena in everyday life

For people in Vietnam’s mountain areas, homalomena is a familiar remedy. The rhizome is soaked in rice wine and rubbed on sore backs and tired knees. This is common among people who farm hillside fields or work in the forest.

The dried rhizome is also ground into powder and mixed into incense sticks. Its warm, gentle woody scent suits traditional incense well.

The classic Vietnamese reference by Do Tat Loi notes that Vietnam could once purchase up to about 3,000 tonnes of homalomena per year. This figure shows how heavily the plant was harvested in the past. It is the reason controlled harvesting matters today, so that wild stands can regenerate.

Uses

For information only; not a substitute for medical advice.

Industrial applications

Sector	Applications
Pharmaceutical, rubbing oils	Massage oils, herbal liniments for joints
Incense	Incense sticks, cones, aromatic smoke blends
Perfumery	Warm woody notes, oriental accords
Household	Room scenting, odour masking

Formulators value homalomena oil as a natural source of linalool with a woody, spicy background. This makes it different from floral linalool sources. It can add depth to blends where a plain linalool would feel thin.

Scent profile and blending

Homalomena smells warm, woody and lightly spicy, with a faint floral touch. People who use traditional incense find it familiar.

• Blend with cassia and ginger for warming massage oils.
• Blend with patchouli and white champaca leaf for perfumes and incense.
• Blend with orange for a warm, pleasant room scent.

How to use at home

• Massage for stiff shoulders, neck or knees: dilute 2–3 drops in 10 ml of carrier oil. Massage until the skin feels warm.
• Foot soak: mix 2–3 drops with a small spoonful of carrier oil, add to a basin of warm water and stir well. Essential oil does not dissolve in water, so mix it with oil first.
• Room scent: 2–3 drops in a diffuser; it works well with cassia and ginger.

DIY “joint comfort” massage oil for adults

Mix 30 ml of coconut or sesame oil with 5 drops of homalomena, 3 drops of ginger and 2 drops of camphor oil. Shake well and store in a dark bottle. Apply to tired, aching areas without open wounds, and massage until warm.

Stop if the skin turns red or itchy. This recipe contains camphor, so do not use it on children, pregnant women or people with a history of seizures. Joints that are swollen and hot, or pain that lasts, need a medical check to find the cause.

How to recognise good oil and store it

• Good oil is pale yellow and clear. It smells warm, woody and slightly floral, never sour or musty.
• Mouldy rhizomes give the oil an unpleasant damp smell. For this reason, the company checks the dryness of the raw material carefully.
• Keep tightly closed and away from sunlight. Best used within about 2 years.

Natural linalool sources from Vietnamese plants

Source	Part used	Linalool	Background scent
Homalomena	Rhizome	About 40–60%	Warm wood, spice
White champaca leaf	Leaves, twigs	About 70–80%	Floral wood, green
Linalool-type camphor tree	Leaves	Can exceed 90%	Floral, soft wood

Each of these oils gives linalool with a different “frame” around it. Homalomena is the warmest and woodiest of the three. Buyers often choose between them based on the background notes their formula needs.

Quality parameters

The main quality parameter is the chromatogram, with a focus on linalool and terpinen-4-ol. Dried rhizomes yield about 0.8–1% essential oil. Every batch comes with a COA and an MSDS.

A 2026 paper in the Hue University Journal of Science reported linalool at about 40% and terpinen-4-ol at about 8.5%. Older literature reports linalool of up to about 60%, depending on the sample.

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

Why source homalomena oil from Vietnam?

Homalomena occulta is native to the forests of Vietnam and neighbouring countries. Vietnam has a long record of using and trading the rhizome. Its wild range runs through many provinces, from the north to the Central Highlands.

Because supply depends on wild stands, traceability matters. Buyers increasingly want to know where the raw material comes from and how it was harvested. Our approach is to buy only from harvesters who follow simple regeneration rules, described below.

We also record the area, harvest date and harvester for each lot of raw material. This makes it possible to link each batch of oil back to its source.

What buyers usually ask for

International buyers of homalomena oil usually ask for the same core documents and steps:

• COA (certificate of analysis) for the batch, including the main components.
• GC-MS chromatogram, to check linalool and terpinen-4-ol levels and the overall profile.
• MSDS (safety data sheet) for handling, storage and transport.
• A sample before contract, so the scent and profile can be tested in the buyer’s own formula.

Because supply is limited and the profile varies by sample, we recommend that buyers test a sample first. Planning purchases ahead of the main collection season also helps.

Growers & cooperatives

The company buys dried rhizomes that are clean, free of small roots and not mouldy. Rhizomes can be harvested all year round, but our main buying season is August to December. Priority areas are Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Hue, Gia Lai, Lang Son, Lao Cai and the provinces along the Truong Son range.

Requirements and commitments:

• Rhizomes must be washed, with small roots removed. They can be sliced or left whole, then sun-dried until brittle.
• Sustainability commitment: harvesters must leave the base and young plants so the clump can regenerate. We do not buy plants dug out completely, or material taken from special-use forests.
• We give priority to households and cooperatives growing homalomena under production forests. The company is ready to support trial planting.

To sell rhizomes or ask about trial planting, call or message us on Zalo at +84 983 299 529. See more on the Raw material sourcing page.

How should homalomena be harvested so it regenerates?

Homalomena grows in clumps and spreads through its rhizomes. If a whole clump is dug up, the plant is almost lost from that spot. If only part is taken, the clump grows back after a few years. The company teaches harvesters a few simple rules:

1. Take only large, mature clumps; leave small clumps and young plants.
2. From each clump, take only about half to two-thirds of the rhizome. Leave the part with buds and cover it with soil.
3. Rotate harvesting areas, and let each area rest for a few years.
4. Never harvest in special-use forests or protected areas.

At the same time, the company encourages trial planting of homalomena in damp, shaded places. It can be grown under production forests or in fruit orchards. This creates a stable supply of raw material and reduces pressure on wild plants.

Extraction process

1. Check dryness and mould; chop the rhizomes into small pieces.
2. Steam-distil and separate the oil layer.
3. Filter and remove water.
4. Test the oil and keep the COA under its batch code.

Frequently asked questions

Read more: White champaca leaf oil Shampoo ginger oil Patchouli oil Vietnamese herbal essential oils

References: Homalomena – Do Tat Loi · Homalomena essential oil (Hue University Journal of Science)