Litsea China

Litsea cubeba

Chemotype: citral-rich type

intensecleanfreshsweet-greenlemon-likelight woody-floral

PLANT PART: fruits
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: top-mid

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LEARN AS YOU COMPARE

What’s inside this oil?

Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.

I’m interested in

Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

intensecleanfreshsweet-greenlemon-likelight woody-floral

Aroma intensity: 85 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: top-mid
Approximate tenacity: 36 hours

If you like this scent, explore

A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY

Using it thoughtfully

Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.

Cited dermal maximum · leave-on: 0.8%
Phototoxicity: Not flagged in this profile
Oxidation risk: medium

A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.

No furocoumarin-based phototoxic restriction was identified in the reviewed public sources for Litsea cubeba fruit oil; the active leave-on ceiling is the citral-rich sensitization profile.

Contraindications & cautions

moderateDo not use when pregnant or breastfeeding.
moderateNot suitable for children under 2 years of age.

Read the complete safety guide

Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches

A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT

Inside the oil

19 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

This record is anchored to a public GC/MS and GC/FID certificate for organic may chang from Vietnam and supported by supplier descriptions for Litsea cubeba sold as China-origin litsea/may chang. The profile is strongly citral-dominant, led by geranial and neral with smaller citronellal, limonene, 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one, and linalool fractions.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
Geranial	40.53%	40.53–40.53%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (geranial 40.53%)
Neral	32.64%	32.64–32.64%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (neral 32.64%)
Citronellal	4.5%	4.5–4.5%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (citronellal 4.50%)
Limonene	4.53%	4.53–4.53%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (limonene 4.53%)
6-Methylhept-5-en-2-one	3.86%	3.86–3.86%	aliphatic ketone	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (6-Methylhept-5-en-2-one 3.86%)
Linalool	2.35%	2.35–2.35%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (linalool 2.35%)
alpha-Pinene	0.46%	0.46–0.46%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (alpha-Pinene 0.46%)
Sabinene	0.45%	0.45–0.45%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Sabinene 0.45%)
Myrcene	1.43%	1.43–1.43%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Myrcene 1.43%)
2,3-Dehydro-1,8-cineole	0.2%	0.2–0.2%	monoterpene oxide	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (2,3-Dehydro-1,8-cineol 0.20%)
Cineole 1,8 (Eucalyptol)	0.35%	0.35–0.35%	monoterpene oxide	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Cineole 1,8 0.35%)
Lavandulol	0.34%	0.34–0.34%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Lavandulol 0.34%)
Isoneral	1.58%	1.58–1.58%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Isoneral 1.58%)
Isogeranial	2.26%	2.26–2.26%	monoterpene aldehyde	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Isogeranial 2.26%)
Terpinen-4-ol	0.22%	0.22–0.22%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Terpinen-4-ol 0.22%)
Terpineol (alpha)	0.12%	0.12–0.12%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Terpineol <a-> 0.12%)
Citronellol	0.67%	0.67–0.67%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Citronellol 0.67%)
Nerol	1.07%	1.07–1.07%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Nerol 1.07%)
Geraniol	2.16%	2.16–2.16%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6 https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf (Geraniol 2.16%)

Profile source: Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography - Organic May Chang Essential Oil, Batch 021120-6; May Chang Essential Oil; Litsea Cubeba - Organic EO; The Maximum Dilution for 400 Essential Oils · https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/May%20Chang%20CofA%20GC%20021120-6.pdf ; https://nilasingapore.com/shop/may-chang/ ; https://www.edenbotanicals.com/litsea-cubeba-organic.html ; https://www.theresaneoforthat.com/maximum-dilution-for-400-essential-oils/

A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY

Traditional & reported uses

These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.

traditionally used in aromatherapy for uplifting, mood-brightening effects
reported to support mental clarity and combat feelings of fatigue
used in perfumery for a fresh, lemony-citrus top note
traditionally associated with easing occasional tension and stress
used in blends for its clean, fruity-citrus aroma similar to verbena

Explore related intentionsFocus & Concentration ↗Uplift & Mood ↗Stress Relief ↗

For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.

What we're still learning · 2 data gaps

Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.

The 0.8% maximum dermal value is publicly stated by supplier safety pages and matches a secondary Tisserand-attributed compilation, but a directly transcribed primary Tisserand/IFRA page was not publicly available in this pass.
Odor intensity 85 is an archive normalization from Eden Botanicals' 'intense' aroma language rather than a native published 0-100 measure.