Hinoki Essential Oil
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Description
Hinoki Essential Oil is sometimes referred to as Japanese Cypress Essential Oil or Hinoki Cypress Essential Oil.
Hinoki Essential Oil is steam distilled from Chamaecyparis obtusa, a conifer that is native to Japan. Hinoki Essential Oil is available in limited quantities as a wood oil, root oil and needle (leaf) oil. The chemistry and actions are somewhat different depending on what part of the tree the essential oil was distilled from.
The Hinoki tree and essential oil goes by several common names. It's always important pay close attention to an essential oil's botanical name, and that holds especially true for Hinoki Essential Oil. An essential oil steam distilled from Chamaecyparis formosensis and known as Taiwan Hinoki Essential Oil (and other similar names) is also available. The two essential oils should not be confused. Both botanicals are considered endangered (see section below).
Emotionally and energetically, Joy Musacchio confirms that Hinoki Needle Essential Oil is uplifting, cleansing, comforting and opens the mind for new perspectives. [Source: Joy Musacchio, Hinoki - Japanese Cypress, 2018. (The International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, Volume 7, Issue 1), 55-61.]
Tip: For more information about the importance of referring to botanical names, read the Importance of Using Botanical Names with Essential Oils.
Hinoki is a conifer. For more information about conifer oils, read AromaWeb's Guide to Coniferous Essential Oils.
Sustainability Concerns for Hinoki Essential Oil
According to Wikipedia and other sources, Hinoki is considered to be near threatened/endangered. [Source: Wikipedia. Chamaecyparis obtusa.]
Because it is at high risk of endangerment, it is important to mindfully choose who you purchase Hinoki Essential Oil from and evalutate how they are sourcing their essential oil.
Hinoki Needle (Leaf) Essential Oil Properties, Benefits and Uses
- Possible Neuroprotective Affects Against AB1-40
- Anti-asthmatic
- Antibiotic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anxiety
- Hair Growth
- Immune Stimulant
- Insecticidal
Reading the entire journal article is recommended.
Source: Joy Musacchio, Hinoki - Japanese Cypress, 2018. (The International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, Volume 7, Issue 1), 55-61.]
Botanical Name of Hinoki Essential Oil
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Clear to Pale Yellow
Consistency
Medium
Perfumery Note
Middle
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium
Aromatic Description
Hinoki Wood Essential Oil smells woody and sweet. The aroma varies between the wood, root and needle (leaf) oils.
Sustainability and Conservation Status
Near Threatened
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42212/2962056
To learn more about the conservation status of essential oil bearing plants and how to use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, please refer to AromaWeb's Guide to Essential Oils and Sustainability.
Major Constituents of Hinoki Leaf Essential Oil
- Elemol
- a-Terpinyl Acetate
- Gamma-Eudesmol
- Bornyl Acetate
- B-Eudesmol
- Gamma-Muurolene
- a-Eudesmol
- B-Cedrene
- a-Muurolene
- (+)-Limonene
- Delta-Cadinene
- B-Pinene
- a-Fenchol
Major Constituents of Hinoki Root Essential Oil
- Longi-a-nojigiku Alcohol
- a-Terpinyl Acetate
- Longi-B-camphenilan Aldehyde
- T-Cadinol
- a-Cadinol
- Cadin-1(10)-en-4,B-ol
- Longicyclenyl Alcohol
- T-Muurolol
- Delta-Cadinene
- a-Terpineol
- B-Caryophyllene Alcohol
- Verbenone
- Longiisohomocamphenilone
- Gamma-Cadinene
Major Constituents of Hinoki Wood Essential Oil
- a-Cadinol
- T-Muurolol
- Gamma-Cadinene
- Omega-Cadinene
- T-Cadinol
- Cadin-1(10)-en-4,B-ol
- a-Muurolene
- B-Caryophyllene Alcohol
Source for Constituents of Needle (Leaf), Root and Wood Oils: B. Shieh, Y. Lizuka, Y. Matsurbara, Monoterpenoid and Sesquiterpenoid Constituents of the Essential Oil of Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa), 1981. (Journal of Agriculture Biology & Chemistry (Japan), 45), 1497-1499. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 301-302.
Hinoki Essential Oil Safety Information
Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using either Hinoki Wood, Hinoki Root or Hinoki Needle (Leaf) essential oils. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 302.]
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for basic educational purposes only. The references to safety information, test results, constituents and percentages is generalized information. Essential oils can vary greatly in composition. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil composition and color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several CO2 Extracts and absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
