Camphor Essential Oil
Camphor is a large evergreen tree that grows up to 20-30 metres tall. The leaves have a glossy, waxy appearance and smell of camphor when crushed by hand. In spring it produces bright green foliage with masses of small white flowers. It produces clusters of black berry-like fruit around one centimetre in diameter. Camphor Laurels have very stout trunks. They also have somewhat pale bark that is very rough and fissured vertically. Camphor Laurel is native to Taiwan, southern Japan, southeast China and Indochina, where it is also cultivated for camphor and timber production.
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| Botanical Name: | Cinnamomum camphora L. |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Synonyms: | Laurus camphora, true camphor, hon sho, Japanese camphor, camphor tree, camphor laurel, shiu leaf, gum camphor. |
| See Also: | |
| Parts Used: | Wood |
| Extraction Method: | Crude camphor oil has crystalline camphor, which is removed by filterpressing. The oil is then vacuum rectified giving extra camphor plus 3 fractions, 1. white; 2. brown and yellow; and 3. blue camphor |
| Appearance: | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
| Aroma Description: | Sharp, pungent camphoraceous. |
| Perfume note: | Top. |
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| Strength of Initial Aroma: | |
| Blends well with: | Basil, cajuput, chamomile, lavender and melissa. |
| Historical Uses: | Traditionally used for prevention of infectious diseases, and for respiratory and nervous conditions. |
| Modern Uses: | Principal use for camphor is to reduce coughs. Camphor oil preparations have been used both internally and externally for a variety of ailments, ranging from respiratory problems to rheumatic pain. Used in smoke, aromatic flavours and in herbaceous, balsamic fragrance compounds |
| Cautions: | Brown and yellow camphor (containing safrol) are toxic and carcinogenic. White camphor does not contain safrol and is relatively nontoxic, nonsentizing, and nonirritant. Dilute before use, Do not use if pregnant In addition to the aromatic quality of camphor, it is used medicinally in massage compounds, lip salve and inhalants. Avoid with asthma or epilepsy. Blue camphor is rarely used. |
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