We found neither a CIR assessment nor an SCCS opinion, nor tolerance data specific to the oil. Its major constituent, α-pinene, is a frequent terpene of the oils that caused contact allergies: a fresh oil stored away from air is preferable. During pregnancy, as with any skincare product, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.

Cistus ladanifer essential oil (rockrose)

Q: What are the benefits of cistus in cosmetics?

CosIng classes it as a fragrance. We kept no cosmetic clinical trial on the oil: the laboratory skin results concern leaf extracts, not the essential oil. We therefore do not present any demonstrated effect on the skin.

Cistus essential oil is the volatile oil distilled from Cistus ladanifer, a Mediterranean shrub studied notably in Morocco1 2. Its major constituents vary: α-pinene, viridiflorol and camphene according to the 2025 review1. It is named neither in Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 nor in the consolidated Annex III6 7. No cosmetic clinical study was kept.

Mohamed El HjoujiFounder and CEO · Updated November 3, 2026 · Reading time 6 min

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Cistus oil at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database5, from Regulation (EU) 2023/15456 and from consolidated Regulation (EC) No 1223/20097. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

INCI name: CISTUS LADANIFERUS OILCosIng also lists CISTUS LADANIFERUS LEAF OIL and CISTUS LADANIFERUS TWIG OIL, same CAS5
Other names: Cistus essential oilCistus ladanifer; gum rockrose. Not to be confused with labdanum resin, another product of the same shrub1
CAS number: 89997-74-0
EC number: 289-711-7
Botanical origin: Cistus ladanifer (Cistaceae)CosIng: volatile oil obtained from the whole plant. The CosIng entry states that the name Cistus ladaniferus refers to Cistus creticus; recent literature and this page use Cistus ladanifer L.1 5
Composition: α-pinene, viridiflorol, campheneMajor constituents of oils from Spain, Portugal, Morocco and France according to the 2025 review1. One Moroccan oil contains 17.64% viridiflorol, 11.02% pinocarveol, 9.38% bornyl acetate and 8.85% ledol2
CosIng functions: Fragrance"Fragrance" and "Perfuming"5
EU status: No line in the annexesThe oil appears neither in Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 nor in Annex III consolidated as of 1 May 2025, and CosIng indicates no restriction5 6 7
Allergen to declare: No mention specific to the oilOnly one major constituent is named in the texts consulted: α-pinene (line 371), to be declared above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products in the finished product, with a peroxide value of the substance below 10 mmol/L. Camphene, viridiflorol, pinocarveol, bornyl acetate and ledol do not appear there6 7. Check with the technical data sheet of the oil
Safety: No CIR or SCCS assessment foundNo CIR report or SCCS opinion on this oil in our searches; CosIng lists none5. α-Pinene, a major constituent, is a frequent terpene of the oils that caused contact allergies4, and line 371 requires a peroxide value below 10 mmol/L6

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

Oil compositionChemistry

α-pinene, viridiflorol and camphene

Review

2025 reviewCistus oils and hydrosols, mostly Spain, Portugal, Morocco and France

α-Pinene, viridiflorol and camphene are the major constituents of Cistus ladanifer essential oils. The review also points to possible uses in cosmetics1.

A Moroccan oil dominated by viridiflorol

Laboratory

GC-MS analysisCistus ladanifer oil, Meknes universityEffect of harvest period studied

Viridiflorol reaches 17.64%, pinocarveol 11.02%, bornyl acetate 9.38% and ledol 8.85%2. The study shows that the harvest period influences the composition: choosing the batch matters for product consistency.

Skin (extracts, not the oil)Laboratory

Hydroethanolic cistus extracts on fibroblasts

Laboratory

Human dermal fibroblastsReconstructed human epidermis (OECD TG 439)Leaf extracts, not essential oil

The Cistus ladanifer extract protected fibroblasts from oxidative stress, inhibited elastase and showed no irritant effect on reconstructed epidermis3. These results concern extracts rich in ellagic acid derivatives: they do not transfer to the essential oil.

SafetyToxicology

α-pinene, a widespread and named constituent

Review

2016 review

α-Pinene is among the important constituents of more than 20 essential oils that caused contact allergies4. It is named in line 371 of Annex III6. We found no tolerance data specific to cistus oil.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Evidence is flagged by level: clinical trial, review or laboratory. For cistus, the cosmetic evidence is weak: few studies, laboratory-based.

Which products use cistus oil?

Our white label catalog includes 2 formulas with cistus oil: the key active in 2 of them, a supporting ingredient in the others. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).

2Raw materials and more

Oral care2

Tea Tree and Cistus Mouth SprayKey active Cistus and Copaiba Mouth SprayKey active

In our formulas, it is most often paired with

Copaiba balsam 1Carrot essential oil 1

Frequently asked questions about cistus oil

What is Cistus ladanifer?

It is a Mediterranean shrub, Cistus ladanifer, from which an essential oil is distilled and a resin, labdanum, is also obtained1. Its INCI name is CISTUS LADANIFERUS OIL5. The oil is studied notably in Spain, Portugal, Morocco and France1.

Cistus essential oil and labdanum: are they the same thing?

No. The essential oil is the volatile distillate of the plant5. Labdanum is a resin, a distinct product of the same shrub1. Technical data sheets and INCI names differ: specify what you are buying.

What is the composition of cistus oil?

The major constituents are α-pinene, viridiflorol and camphene according to the 2025 review1. One analyzed Moroccan oil contained 17.64% viridiflorol, 11.02% pinocarveol and 9.38% bornyl acetate2. The composition varies with origin and harvest period.

What are the benefits of cistus in cosmetics?

CosIng classes it as a fragrance5. We kept no cosmetic clinical trial on the oil: the laboratory skin results concern leaf extracts, not the essential oil3. We therefore do not present any demonstrated effect on the skin.

Do I have to declare cistus oil in the ingredient list?

The oil appears in the list under its INCI name, like any ingredient. It is not named in Annex III6 7. One of its major constituents, α-pinene, is: it is declared above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products in the finished product6. Check with the technical data sheet of the oil.

Is cistus oil risky?

We found neither a CIR assessment nor an SCCS opinion, nor tolerance data specific to the oil5. Its major constituent, α-pinene, is a frequent terpene of the oils that caused contact allergies4: a fresh oil stored away from air is preferable. During pregnancy, as with any skincare product, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.

Can you manufacture a cistus product for my brand?

Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 2 cistus formulas (essential oil, mouth sprays) that you can customize, or a custom formula. Samples are free.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

Gago C, Bakchiche B, Djekhioua T, da Graça Miguel M. Cistus ladanifer L.: essential oils, volatiles, by-products, and their biological properties. Molecules. 2025;30(22):4425. doi:10.3390/molecules30224425
El Karkouri J, Bouhrim M, Al Kamaly OM, et al. Chemical composition, […] activity of the essential oil from Cistus ladanifer L. Plants (Basel). 2021;10(10):2068. doi:10.3390/plants10102068
Marques MP, Landim E, Varela C, et al. Targeting skin aging hallmarks in vitro: antioxidant, […] and anti-senescence effects of phenolic-rich extracts from Cistus L. species. Antioxidants (Basel). 2026;15(1):149. doi:10.3390/antiox15010149
de Groot AC, Schmidt E. Essential oils, part III: chemical composition. Dermatitis. 2016;27(4):161-169. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000193
European Commission. CosIng, entry CISTUS LADANIFERUS OIL (CAS 89997-74-0, EC 289-711-7). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (Annex III). eur-lex.europa.eu
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, consolidated version of 1 May 2025 (Annex III). eur-lex.europa.eu

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