Cypress Essential Oil, 500ml

Cypress essential oil brings a fresh, woody fragrance with an earthy undertone to cosmetics, and it also works as an active ingredient in products for oily, problem and mature skin and for hair prone to greasiness. It is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) of European origin.

It can be used in both leave-on and rinse-off products: from facial and body oils through shampoos and shower gels to soaps, bath salts, candles and diffusers. The oil is vegan, has not been tested on animals and is supplied in cosmetic grade.

Fragrance and character

The manufacturer describes the fragrance as fresh and woody, with an energising, invigorating character, also suitable for blends intended to relax and ease tension. According to the manufacturer’s data, the scent is formed mainly by alpha-pinene and camphene. The oil is light yellow to yellow in colour.

In perfumery it is classed among the woody notes. The manufacturer lists it as a common ingredient of perfumes, aromatherapy and massage oils, bath products and hair care.

What it brings to a formulation

The effects listed below are based on the manufacturer’s data. How strongly they show depends on the usage rate, the type of product and the rest of the recipe.

• Antimicrobial effect – the manufacturer links it with support for clearer skin. The oil is therefore suitable for cleansing gels, toners and topical serums for oily and acne-prone skin.
• Anti-inflammatory action – according to the manufacturer, it helps soothe irritated skin and reduce redness. It is useful in products for problem skin and the scalp.
• Improved elasticity – the manufacturer states a firming effect and support for a firmer appearance of the skin. It is used in body oils and creams for mature skin.
• Cooling effect – it leaves a fresh, cooling feel on the skin. The manufacturer recommends it for after-sun products and for irritated skin, and it also suits body sprays.
• Conditioning ingredient in hair care – the manufacturer describes a refreshing feel on the scalp. It is added to shampoos, conditioners, hair oils and products for hair prone to greasiness.

Use in formulations

The oil is soluble in oils and in alcohol and does not dissolve in water. It is mixed directly into anhydrous products (body and massage oils, balms, butters, hair oils). In emulsions it belongs in the oil phase or is added during the cool-down phase. In water-based products such as toners or body sprays, it is incorporated using a solubiliser or an alcohol base, otherwise it separates on the surface.

The recommended processing temperature is up to 40 °C. An essential oil is a blend of volatile components, so in heated emulsions it is added only after cooling below this limit, or alternatively into the finished base while stirring continuously.

There is no single universal usage rate. The manufacturer does not state a recommended range, and the maximum permitted amount in the finished product is set by the IFRA limit for the product category. A different limit applies to lip products (category 1), to body creams and oils (5A), to facial creams (5B), to soaps, shampoos and shower gels (9) and to candles (12). You will find the limits for all categories in the IFRA certificate in the Product documentation section. The limit is an upper boundary, and the working usage rate is chosen lower, depending on the required fragrance intensity and the purpose of the product.

In soaps, bath bombs and salts it serves as both a fragrance and an active ingredient. We have not verified its behaviour in cold process soap (speed of trace, possible discolouration), so we recommend trying it in a small test batch. In candles and diffusers it works purely as a fragrance ingredient, and the category 12 limit applies to candles.

Suitable for products such as

• Serums and creams for oily and problem skin – makes use of the antimicrobial and soothing effect stated by the manufacturer.
• Body and massage oils, balms and butters – an anhydrous base in which the oil dissolves without auxiliary ingredients.
• Shampoos and scalp products – for hair prone to greasiness.
• Shower gels, soaps and bath salts – a fresh woody fragrance for rinse-off products.
• Facial toners and body sprays – only with a solubiliser or in an alcohol base.
• Candles, diffusers and aromatherapy blends – on its own or in combination with other essential oils.

Good to know

The manufacturer states compatibility without restrictions. The oil does not contain parabens, alcohol, palm oil or GMO ingredients.

Frequently asked questions