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    Litsea cubeba essential oil

    Litsea cubeba is not a citrus: its oil comes from the berries of Litsea cubeba, a Lauraceae1. It contains 78.7 to 87.4% of neral and geranial, that is, citral4. Citral is named in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2023/1545: declare it above 0.001% leave-on and 0.01% rinse-off2.

    Mohamed El HjoujiFounder and CEO · Updated · Reading time 8 min
    Create a litsea cubeba product Read the studies
    Litsea cubeba essential oil in macro view, clear drops on a sage green ceramic surface, raking light

    Litsea cubeba oil at a glance

    Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database1 and from Regulations (EU) 2023/15452 and 1223/2009 consolidated3. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

    INCI name
    LITSEA CUBEBA FRUIT OILCosIng gives no separate US INCI name1
    Other names
    Litsea cubeba essential oilMay chang, litsea cubeba. Its lemony scent suggests a citrus, but the plant is a Lauraceae, not a citrus1
    CAS number
    68855-99-2 / 90063-59-5Two numbers for one INCI1
    EC number
    290-018-7Linked to CAS 90063-59-5; no EC number for CAS 68855-99-21
    Botanical origin
    Litsea cubeba (Litsea cubeba, Lauraceae)CosIng: volatile oil obtained from the berries1
    Composition
    Neral, geranial (citral), limoneneNeral and geranial from 78.7 to 87.4%, limonene from 0.7 to 5.3% in fruit oils from eight regions of China; 59 compounds identified4
    CosIng functions
    Fragrance, tonic"Fragrance", "Tonic" and "Perfuming"1
    EU status
    Oil not named; constituents namedNeither Annex II nor Annex III names Litsea cubeba oil; CosIng indicates no restriction13
    Allergen to declare
    Yes, through the citral it containsCitral (line 70), wording "Citral", with its isomers geranial and neral: above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product2. Limonene (line 88, peroxide value below 20 mmol/L) is also named3.
    Safety
    No CIR assessment retainedNo CIR panel report found on this oil. Point of caution: citral, a documented allergen and irritant78

    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

    Neral and geranial at nearly 80 to 87%

    Laboratory
    Fruits harvested in 8 regions of ChinaHydrodistillation, GC-MS59 compounds identified

    Monoterpenes represent 94.4 to 98.4% of the oil, mostly neral and geranial (78.7 to 87.4%). D-limonene is minor (0.7 to 5.3%). Composition varies markedly by region4.

    An oil studied mostly for food

    Review
    2024 review

    The review describes an oil with a broad antimicrobial spectrum and strong antioxidant activity in the laboratory, whose composition depends on several factors. It concerns the food industry, not cosmetics5.

    Citral: allergy and thresholdsToxicology

    A human induction threshold

    Review
    Review of the available literatureWeight-of-evidence approach

    The no observed effect level for induction of skin sensitization to citral is 1,400 µg/cm². The authors work for the research institute of the fragrance industry6.

    Citral: allergen and irritant

    Clinical study
    586 consecutively tested peopleClinic populationCitral at 2% in petrolatum

    28 people had a positive test to citral and 82 an irritant reaction without a positive test. The authors conclude that citral can be allergenic and irritant7.

    Citral, geranial and neral: 1.9 to 3.4% positive tests

    Clinical study
    1,476 consecutively tested peopleCitral, geranial and neral at 3.5% in petrolatum

    Tests are positive to citral in 2.9% of people, to geranial in 3.4% and to neral in 1.9%. Among reactions to citral or its components, 61% come with a reaction to oxidized geraniol8.

    Use on skinLaboratory

    Citral and melanin production, in a formulation

    Laboratory
    Blend of Litsea cubeba, Pinus mugo and Cymbopogon winterianusOil-in-water emulsion and oily solutionNon-occlusive and semi-occlusive application

    Citral showed inhibitory activity on tyrosinase, an enzyme of melanin production. The blend aims to lower the citral content to limit skin reactions. The oil-in-water emulsion releases the active compounds quickly, and semi-occlusive application limits their evaporation9.

    6% spray: skin tolerance and protection against mosquitoes

    Clinical study
    Spray with 6% oil48 healthy volunteers, patch testWHO cage protocol, 3 mosquito species

    No visible skin reaction up to 96 h. The median complete protection time is 225 minutes against Culex quinquefasciatus and 120 minutes against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles dirus. This is a repellent use, outside cosmetics10.

    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.

    Which products can use litsea cubeba oil?

    No formula in our white label catalog features litsea cubeba oil yet. Our formulation lab can add it to a custom formula or to a catalog formula. Its common uses:

    Face

    Fresh fragrance in toners and creams for normal to combination skin.

    Body

    Fragrance in shower gels, scrubs and massage oils.

    Hair

    Fragrance in shampoos and hair sprays.

    Litsea cubeba, citronella, lemon or sweet orange?

    Four lemon-scented or citrus oils often compared. Their chemistry differs, so does their labeling.

    Litsea cubebaCitronellaLemonSweet orange
    Dominant constituentsNeral and geranial (citral), 78.7 to 87.4%4Geraniol (42.1%), citronellal (17.3%), citronellol (16.9%)11Limonene (60.7% in one analyzed oil)12Limonene, 73.9 to 97%13
    Regulation (EU) 2023/1545Oil not named; citral named (line 70)2Oil not named; geraniol and citronellol named3Oil named (line 353)2Oil named (line 351)2
    Carmel catalog formulasNoneNone1 formula1 formula

    Frequently asked questions about litsea cubeba oil

    What is litsea cubeba oil?
    It is the volatile oil obtained from the berries of Litsea cubeba, a Lauraceae1. Its INCI name is LITSEA CUBEBA FRUIT OIL. Despite its lemony scent, it is not a citrus: it is 78.7 to 87.4% neral and geranial, that is, citral4.
    What are the benefits of litsea cubeba oil for skin?
    CosIng classifies it as a fragrance and a tonic1. We retained no robust cosmetic clinical trial on skin: the available studies concern its composition, food use5 and a repellent spray10. One formulation study looks at the effect of citral on tyrosinase9.
    Do I have to declare litsea cubeba in the ingredient list?
    The oil is not named in Annex III, but the citral it contains is: it must be declared, as "Citral", above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product2. With 78.7 to 87.4% citral in the oil4, the threshold is reached even at very low use levels.
    Is litsea cubeba allergenic?
    Its main component, citral, is an allergen and an irritant: 28 of 586 people reacted positively in one study7, and 2.9% of 1,476 people in another8. The no observed effect level for induction is 1,400 µg/cm²6: the final dose of a product is calculated with your safety assessor.
    Is litsea cubeba photosensitizing?
    The CosIng database refers it to no restriction1, and we retained no phototoxicity study on this oil. Furocoumarins fall under Annex II, line 3583: ask for the certificate of analysis of your batch.
    What is the difference between litsea cubeba, citronella and lemon?
    Lemon is a citrus rich in limonene; litsea is a Lauraceae rich in citral4; citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) is a grass rich in geraniol, citronellal and citronellol11. Each oil has its own page.
    Can you manufacture a litsea cubeba product for my brand?
    Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab can add litsea cubeba to a catalog formula that you customize or to a custom formula, taking citral declaration into account. Samples are free.

    Sources

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

    1. European Commission. CosIng, entry LITSEA CUBEBA FRUIT OIL (CAS 68855-99-2 / 90063-59-5, EC - / 290-018-7). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
    2. 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
    3. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, consolidated version of 1 May 2025 (Annexes II and III). eur-lex.europa.eu
    4. Si L, Chen Y, Han X, Zhan Z, Tian S, Cui Q, et al. Chemical composition of essential oils of Litsea cubeba harvested from its distribution areas in China. Molecules. 2012;17(6):7057-7066. doi:10.3390/molecules17067057
    5. Liu Y, Ren H, Li K. Litsea cubeba essential oil: Extraction, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and applications in the food industry. J Food Sci. 2024;89(8):4583-4603. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.17236
    6. Lalko J, Api AM. Citral: identifying a threshold for induction of dermal sensitization. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008;52(1):62-73. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2008.01.006Research Institute for Fragrance Materials
    7. Heydorn S, Menné T, Andersen KE, Bruze M, Svedman C, White IR, et al. Citral a fragrance allergen and irritant. Contact Dermatitis. 2003;49(1):32-36. doi:10.1111/j.0105-1873.2003.00144.x
    8. Hagvall L, Bruze M, Engfeldt M, Isaksson M, Lindberg M, Ryberg K, et al. Contact allergy to citral and its constituents geranial and neral, coupled with reactions to the prehapten and prohapten geraniol. Contact Dermatitis. 2020;82(1):31-38. doi:10.1111/cod.13404
    9. Capetti F, Cagliero C, Argenziano M, Cavalli R, Dianzani C, Pavarino M, et al. A New Blend of Litsea cubeba, Pinus mugo, and Cymbopogon winterianus Essential Oil Active as an Anti-tyrosinase Ingredient in Topical Formulations. Planta Med. 2024;90(4):267-275. doi:10.1055/a-2225-7603
    10. Sutthanont N, Leanpolchareanchai J, Sriwichai P, Ruangsittichai J, Phanpoowong T, Sumruayphol S, et al. Topical mosquito repellency of a Litsea cubeba essential oil spray against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles dirus, and Culex quinquefasciatus. Sci Rep. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-61769-z
    11. Pereira PS, Oliveira CVB, Maia AJ, Vega-Gomez MC, Rolón M, Coronel C, et al. Evaluation of the In Vitro Antiparasitic Effect of the Essential Oil of Cymbopogon winterianus and Its Chemical Composition Analysis. Molecules. 2022;27(9):2753. doi:10.3390/molecules27092753
    12. Kačániová M, Čmiková N, Vukovic NL, Verešová A, Bianchi A, Garzoli S, et al. Citrus limon Essential Oil: Chemical Composition and Selected Biological Properties Focusing on the Antimicrobial (In Vitro, In Situ), Antibiofilm, Insecticidal Activity and Preservative Effect against Salmonella enterica Inoculated in Carrot. Plants (Basel). 2024;13(4):524. doi:10.3390/plants13040524
    13. Geraci A, Di Stefano V, Di Martino E, Schillaci D, Schicchi R. Essential oil components of orange peels and antimicrobial activity. Nat Prod Res. 2017;31(6):653-659. doi:10.1080/14786419.2016.1219860
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