Cypress Wood Oil
Natural Ingredient for Perfumery
Cypress Wood Oil (Cupressus sempervirens) is a natural essential oil characterized by a fresh terpenic and aromatic woody profile. Steam-distilled from the wood of the Mediterranean cypress tree, this oil opens with subtly camphoraceous and pine-like facets, gradually developing a clean woody note with faint herbaceous nuances in the drydown.
Commonly used as a modifier, Cypress Wood Oil imparts structure and lift in citrus, coniferous, and fougère compositions. Its dry yet airy tone is especially valuable in chypre bases and aldehydic florals, where it enhances radiance without overpowering the blend.
Natural Ingredient for Perfumery
Cypress Wood Oil (Cupressus sempervirens) is a natural essential oil characterized by a fresh terpenic and aromatic woody profile. Steam-distilled from the wood of the Mediterranean cypress tree, this oil opens with subtly camphoraceous and pine-like facets, gradually developing a clean woody note with faint herbaceous nuances in the drydown.
Commonly used as a modifier, Cypress Wood Oil imparts structure and lift in citrus, coniferous, and fougère compositions. Its dry yet airy tone is especially valuable in chypre bases and aldehydic florals, where it enhances radiance without overpowering the blend.
Natural Ingredient for Perfumery
Cypress Wood Oil (Cupressus sempervirens) is a natural essential oil characterized by a fresh terpenic and aromatic woody profile. Steam-distilled from the wood of the Mediterranean cypress tree, this oil opens with subtly camphoraceous and pine-like facets, gradually developing a clean woody note with faint herbaceous nuances in the drydown.
Commonly used as a modifier, Cypress Wood Oil imparts structure and lift in citrus, coniferous, and fougère compositions. Its dry yet airy tone is especially valuable in chypre bases and aldehydic florals, where it enhances radiance without overpowering the blend.
Natural Ingredient Overview
🔎 Botanical Name: Cupressus sempervirens
📂 CAS N°: 86696-07-1
📝 Odor Type: Aromatic, Woody
📈 Odor Strength: Medium
👃🏼 Odor Profile: Fresh terpenic and slightly camphoraceous top note, evolving into dry woody and light herbaceous tones
⚗️ Uses: Modifier in pine needle compositions, citrus colognes, fougères, chypres, and modern aldehydic perfumes
🧴 Appearance: Pale yellow to amber essential oil
What is Cypress Wood Oil?
Cypress Wood Oil is a natural essential oil extracted via steam distillation from the wood of Cupressus sempervirens—a conifer native to the eastern Mediterranean. Known for its high terpene content, particularly α-pinene, δ-3-carene, and cedrol, this oil offers a structured aromatic profile that balances freshness, depth, and dry-woody facets.
It has been historically valued for both its olfactory contributions and its compatibility in natural or coniferous compositions. Unlike cypress leaf oil (greener and sharper), the wood-derived oil is smoother and more persistent.
Olfactory Profile & Perfumery Applications
Cypress Wood Oil opens with a clean, terpenic freshness and mild camphoraceous brightness, drying into resinous, woody, and herbaceous undertones. Its light bitterness is natural, never overwhelming, and adds depth and balance to complex compositions.
Key application areas include:
Pine Needle Accords: Enhancing natural freshness
Citrus Colognes: Providing a dry-woody counterbalance to bright top notes
Fougères: Supporting lavender and coumarin with resinous depth
Chypres: Introducing vertical lift in mossy compositions
Aldehydic Florals: Supporting structure without overpowering the core accord
Cypress Wood Oil typically acts as a modifier, not a feature material. Its role is to blend, refine, or sharpen, offering olfactory support and space.
Regulatory & Safety Overview
Cypress Wood Oil is compliant for perfumery use when dosed with standard guidelines. Due to its natural complexity, several regulatory considerations apply:
IFRA Status: No explicit restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment (2023); recommended category-by-category assessment
EU 1223/2009 Allergens: May contain naturally occurring allergens (e.g., limonene, linalool); declaration required when exceeding threshold
Phototoxicity: Not phototoxic
REACH: Fully registered
Toxicology: Not classified as hazardous; low irritancy reported
💡 Storage note: Keep tightly sealed in a dark, dry location to prevent oxidative degradation of terpenic components.
✅ When used at recommended levels, Cypress Wood Oil poses no known human or environmental risk. It remains a clean-label, biodegradable option for fine fragrance and functional use.
Sources
Fulvio Ciccolo, Creative Base Design Notes
Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin – Steffen Arctander (1961)
Formulation Stability Testing Notes – Scentspiracy Studio (2024)
IFRA Standards Documentation
Poucher’s Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps (9th Ed.)
