Cassia Essential Oil

Cassia Essential Oil is produced by steam distillation of the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia, a medium-sized evergreen tree native to the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of southern China. Known in traditional Chinese medicine as rou gui, cassia has been used for thousands of years both as a spice and as an aromatic remedy. The oil has been traded along ancient spice routes and appears in some of the earliest recorded perfumery records, including references in biblical texts. Unlike its cousin Ceylon cinnamon, cassia has historically been the dominant cinnamon of Asian trade owing to its abundance and intensity.

What sets Cassia Essential Oil apart is its extraordinarily high cinnamaldehyde content, typically 75 to 90 percent of its composition. This single compound accounts for the oil's forceful, dry, baked-spice character — deeper, woodier, and less sweetly floral than Ceylon cinnamon leaf or bark oil. Cassia blends with tremendous authority in oriental compositions, anchoring spiced bases and adding a lived-in warmth that synthetic cinnamaldehyde alone cannot replicate. Its tenacity is exceptional for a top-to-mid note, with the drydown revealing subtle woody and slightly smoky undertones.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade Cassia Essential Oil suitable for DIY perfumers, attar and oriental blenders, candle makers, incense crafters, and home care product developers seeking a bold, authentic spice-family natural.

Cassia Essential Oil is produced by steam distillation of the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia, a medium-sized evergreen tree native to the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of southern China. Known in traditional Chinese medicine as rou gui, cassia has been used for thousands of years both as a spice and as an aromatic remedy. The oil has been traded along ancient spice routes and appears in some of the earliest recorded perfumery records, including references in biblical texts. Unlike its cousin Ceylon cinnamon, cassia has historically been the dominant cinnamon of Asian trade owing to its abundance and intensity.

What sets Cassia Essential Oil apart is its extraordinarily high cinnamaldehyde content, typically 75 to 90 percent of its composition. This single compound accounts for the oil's forceful, dry, baked-spice character — deeper, woodier, and less sweetly floral than Ceylon cinnamon leaf or bark oil. Cassia blends with tremendous authority in oriental compositions, anchoring spiced bases and adding a lived-in warmth that synthetic cinnamaldehyde alone cannot replicate. Its tenacity is exceptional for a top-to-mid note, with the drydown revealing subtle woody and slightly smoky undertones.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade Cassia Essential Oil suitable for DIY perfumers, attar and oriental blenders, candle makers, incense crafters, and home care product developers seeking a bold, authentic spice-family natural.

SCENT DESCRIPTION : Cassia Essential Oil opens with a fierce, dry, baked-cinnamon blast — intensely spicy and immediately recognizable. The heart reveals a sweet warmth underneath the spice, with faint resinous and slightly woody undertones anchoring the composition. Unlike Ceylon cinnamon, there is no floral softness here — Cassia is unapologetic, assertive, and deeply aromatic. On dry-down it settles into a smoky, balsamic-spice trail that lingers with remarkable tenacity.

NOTE POSITION : Top-Mid

FRAGRANCE FAMILY : Spicy · Oriental · Woody-Resinous

FACETS : Dry Spice · Baked Cinnamon · Resinous · Warm · Smoky

TENACITY : Very High — 8 to 12 hours on a blotter; 6 to 10 hours in finished fragrance

SILLAGE : High — projects strongly even at low concentrations; fills a room when used in home fragrance applications

Chemical Name : Cinnamomum cassia bark oil
CAS Number : 8007-80-5
Synonyms : Chinese Cinnamon Oil · Cassia Bark Oil · Cinnamomum aromaticum Oil · Rou Gui Oil
Purity : 100% pure essential oil, natural grade
Appearance : Dark yellow to brownish mobile liquid
Odor Threshold : Approximately 3–8 ppb (very detectable at extremely low concentrations)
Solubility : Slightly soluble in water; soluble in ethanol and carrier oils; miscible with fixed oils
Specific Gravity : 1.045 – 1.063 at 20°C (verify with supplier CoA)
Flash Point : Approximately 77°C (verify with supplier CoA)
Type : Natural Essential Oil — steam distilled from Cinnamomum cassia bark

FINE FRAGRANCE : ★★★☆☆
Cassia can be used in fine fragrance but requires strict IFRA compliance — limits are very low for leave-on applications. It is best deployed as a discreet spice accent within a larger oriental or chypre structure rather than as a prominent lead note. Formulators must work carefully to avoid skin sensitization.

ATTAR & ORIENTAL BLENDING : ★★★★★
This is where Cassia truly excels. In attar and mukhallat formulations — particularly those built on oud, amber, and sandalwood — Cassia adds authentic, deep-rooted warmth that elevates the entire composition. It is a staple in classic Arabic and South Asian oriental blending traditions, used to suggest incense smoke, aged spice markets, and winter warmth.

FUNCTIONAL FRAGRANCE : ★★★★☆
Cassia performs well in household products such as detergents, floor cleaners, and dishwashing liquids where a familiar warming-spice note is commercially desirable. Rinse-off and non-skin-contact applications face fewer regulatory restrictions, giving more formulation freedom.

HOME FRAGRANCE : ★★★★★
Candles, reed diffusers, wax melts, and incense sticks are outstanding applications. Cassia's high cinnamaldehyde content delivers powerful hot and cold throw in candles and room-filling diffusion at low usage rates. It is one of the most commercially popular spice notes in the home fragrance segment worldwide.

SOAP & RINSE-OFF PRODUCTS : ★★★☆☆
Cassia may be used in rinse-off soap and shower gel within IFRA limits. Sensitization risk remains, and it can cause slight discoloration in clear soap bases. Rinse-off conditions reduce but do not eliminate sensitization concern — testing is strongly recommended.

RECOMMENDED USAGE RATES

EDP / Perfume Concentrate : 0.05 – 0.08% (constrained by IFRA)
EDT / Cologne : 0.05 – 0.08% (constrained by IFRA)
Body Lotion / Cream : 0.02% maximum — IFRA Category 5A
Shampoo / Body Wash : Up to 0.1% — IFRA Category 9 (rinse-off)
Candle (soy or paraffin) : 0.5 – 1.5% (non-skin-contact, test for discoloration)
Reed Diffuser : 1.0 – 3.0% in diffuser base
Bar Soap : 0.1% maximum — IFRA Category 9

IFRA 51ST AMENDMENT LIMITS (Cinnamomum cassia bark oil)

⚠️ Cassia Essential Oil is a Category B restricted ingredient under IFRA guidelines due to its high cinnamaldehyde content and documented skin sensitization potential.

Category 4 (Fine Fragrance / EDP / EDT) : 0.08% (verify at ifrafragrance.org)
Category 5A (Body Lotion / Body Cream) : 0.02%
Category 5B (Face Cream / Hand Cream) : 0.02%
Category 5D (Body Spray / Mist) : 0.04%
Category 7A (Rinse-off Hair Products) : 0.1%
Category 7B (Leave-on Hair Products) : 0.02%
Category 9 (Rinse-off Body / Soap / Shower Gel) : 0.1%
Category 10A (Household Surface Cleaner) : 0.2%
Category 11A (Leave-on Fabric) : 0.01%
Category 11B (Fabric Softener) : 0.03%
Category 12 (Candle / Air Freshener) : 0.2%

⚠️ Always verify current IFRA limits at ifrafragrance.org before finalizing formulations. Limits may vary by product category and total formula weight.
⚠️ Cassia Oil is not recommended for lip products, eye-area products, intimate wash, or mouthwash formulations.
⚠️ Patch testing is strongly advised for all skin-contact applications.

METHOD 1 — ORIENTAL ATTAR BASE
Dissolve Cassia Essential Oil in a carrier oil (jojoba or fractionated coconut) at 0.5 to 1% before incorporating into an oud-amber base. Prediluting prevents the cinnamaldehyde from overwhelming other notes and allows for more controlled blending. Start at the lower end and evaluate after 24 hours of maceration.

METHOD 2 — CANDLE AND DIFFUSER ANCHORING
In home fragrance applications, add Cassia at 0.5 to 1.5% of the total candle fragrance load. Combine with orange or clove bud oil first before adding to wax — this pre-blending technique helps to homogenize the spice notes and prevents hot spots in the fragrance blend.

METHOD 3 — FUNCTIONAL FRAGRANCE LAYERING
In detergent and household cleaner formulas, blend Cassia with citrus top notes (lemon, orange) and a light floral mid to round the sharp spice edges. Use at 0.1 to 0.3% of total formula for a commercially familiar warm-clean scent character.

BEST PAIRINGS

Oud Oil → Deepens resinous-spice warmth; creates classic mukhallat signature
Clove Bud EO → Builds a full spice accord; adds medicinal-spice depth
Sweet Orange EO → Brightens and sweetens the spice; lifts Cassia's heaviness
Benzyl Benzoate → Smooths and fixes the cinnamaldehyde; improves blending stability
Sandalwood / Amyris → Provides creamy wood base; grounds Cassia in a warm oriental structure
Vanilla Oleoresin → Adds gourmand sweetness; transforms spice to dessert warmth
Labdanum Absolute → Introduces animalic-resinous complexity; intensifies oriental character

AVOID
✦ Avoid combining with high-aldehyde fragrance materials without stability testing — Cassia may interact with free aldehydes and cause unexpected color or scent shifts
✦ Avoid in formulas with light, clean, or aquatic top notes — Cassia will dominate and unbalance the composition
✦ Avoid high concentrations in formulations with high water content — cinnamaldehyde may hydrolyze over time, affecting stability

When I reach for Cassia in the blending room, I'm reaching for something ancient and unapologetic. This is not a polite spice — it doesn't soften for the composition. What it gives you is a directness that very few other naturals can offer: a single compound, cinnamaldehyde, doing exactly what it says on the tin, radiating heat and spice at a level that registers even at fractions of a percent. In our attar work, I use Cassia not to smell like cinnamon but to smell like something has been burning and warming slowly for hours — that aged, smoked, inhabited quality is irreplaceable.

ADVANCED TIP : If you find raw Cassia too aggressive in a fine fragrance blend, try a cinnamaldehyde-to-eugenol bridging technique — add an equal weight of clove bud essential oil alongside the Cassia. The eugenol in clove bud and the cinnamaldehyde in Cassia interact synergistically, reducing the sharpness of each individual compound while building a rounder, more complex spice accord. This bridge also helps extend longevity on skin by creating a denser molecular interaction. Test at 0.04% total for the spice pair in a leave-on formula and evaluate after 48 hours of maceration for the rounded drydown.

Physical State : Dark yellow to brown mobile liquid; may darken with age
Skin Safety : Known sensitizer — cinnamaldehyde is a Category 1A skin sensitizer; use strictly within IFRA limits; patch test required for all skin-contact applications
Eye Contact : Irritant — avoid contact with eyes; flush with water for 15 minutes if contact occurs; seek medical advice if irritation persists
Ingestion : Not for internal use; keep out of reach of children and pets
Ventilation : Work in a well-ventilated area; avoid prolonged inhalation of undiluted oil vapors
Storage : Store in a cool, dark location away from heat and direct sunlight; seal tightly after use to prevent oxidation
Shelf Life : 2 to 3 years from date of manufacture when stored correctly; cinnamaldehyde can oxidize and polymerize over time — assess odor and color before use
Container : Store in original dark glass or HDPE container; do not store in PVC or polystyrene
Flammability : Combustible liquid; flash point approximately 77°C; keep away from open flame and high heat sources during candle and wax work

Q: What is Cassia Essential Oil and how is it different from cinnamon oil?
A: Cassia Essential Oil comes from Cinnamomum cassia bark — a different species from Ceylon cinnamon. It has a stronger, drier, more assertive spice character and higher cinnamaldehyde content than Ceylon cinnamon leaf or bark oil.

Q: Can I use Cassia Essential Oil directly on skin?
A: No — Cassia should never be applied undiluted to skin. Even when diluted, it must be used strictly within IFRA limits due to its strong skin sensitization potential. Always patch test before use in any leave-on formulation.

Q: Is Cassia Essential Oil suitable for candles and diffusers?
A: Yes, this is one of its best applications. It delivers powerful hot and cold throw in candles and fills a room effectively in reed diffusers. These are non-skin-contact applications with fewer restrictions, making them ideal for showcasing Cassia's full aromatic impact.

Q: What percentage should I use in an attar or oriental blend?
A: In attar blending, start at 0.5 to 1% of the total fragrance blend when working with a carrier oil base. For alcoholic fine fragrance, work within the IFRA Category 4 limit of 0.08%. Always evaluate after 24 to 48 hours of maceration as Cassia's presence evolves significantly.

Q: How does Cassia Essential Oil compare to synthetic cinnamaldehyde?
A: Synthetic cinnamaldehyde is sharper, cleaner, and more linear — it smells directly of cinnamon candy. Cassia Essential Oil has that cinnamaldehyde backbone but wrapped in subtle woody, smoky, and resinous complexity from its minor constituents. For authentic, rounded spice naturals in attar and oriental work, Cassia offers a lived-in warmth that synthetic cinnamaldehyde alone cannot replicate.

Blending and evaluation

Begin with a small weighed trial of Cassia Essential Oil and evaluate it at several concentrations. Compare the fresh blend with samples rested for 24 hours and several days, because the balance, diffusion and dry-down can change as the formula integrates. Test on the appropriate medium, such as blotter, fabric, skin-safe finished base or home-fragrance system.

Product compatibility

Oil-soluble materials do not automatically disperse in water-based products. Use a suitable fragrance, carrier, solubilizer or emulsifying system and confirm stability in the complete formula. Check for cloudiness, separation, discoloration, odor change and packaging interaction before commercial production.

Storage and responsible use

Keep the container tightly closed in a cool, dry and shaded location. Minimize repeated exposure to heat, air and direct sunlight. Confirm current usage restrictions, allergen information and product-category limits before sale, and never assume that a level suitable for perfume is automatically suitable for soap, lotion, lip, hair or rinse-off products.