In short
Anise oil is distilled from the seeds of Pimpinella anisum, an umbellifer. It is sweet and liquorice-like, with trans-anethole as 80-95% of the oil.
What Anise Oil smells like
The Good Scents Company describes anise seed oil as sweet, liquorice-like anise of medium strength, best smelled at 10% or less. Supplier references put trans-anethole at 80-95% of the oil, with estragole, anise ketone and anisaldehyde behind it.
- Leading note
- Anise
- Clear facets
- Liquorice, sweet
- Character
- Clean, sweet
What makes Anise Oil distinctive
The aniseed of the umbellifer seed, not of the star anise fruit.
How Anise Oil is used
Used for aniseed and liquorice effects, in fougères and gourmand accords, and widely in flavours. Its character is mostly trans-anethole, which supplier references put at 80–95% of the oil, so it works much as anethole does, with a rounder natural edge from estragole, anise ketone and anisaldehyde.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Anise Oil differs from similar materials
- Star Anise Oil
- Both are mostly trans-anethole; anise oil comes from Pimpinella anisum seeds, star anise oil from the fruit of Illicium verum.
Each difference compares the published descriptions of the two materials. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
May solidify below about 15 °C. Its registry number, 8007-70-3, is held in this encyclopedia by star anise oil, so none is given here.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Aromatic / Spicy
- Note position
- Top to heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Aniseed oil, Anise seed oil
- Botanical source
- Pimpinella anisum L.
No CAS number is shown: suppliers use different identifiers for this material, and none could be confirmed as its own.
Safety and compliance
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
Anethole
Aroma chemical · Aromatic / Spicy — anise, licorice, sweet, herbal
-
Sweet Fennel Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Green — anise, sweet, herbal, green
-
Star Anise Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Spicy — anise, licorice, sweet, spicy
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 3 published formulas
Anise Oil is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas and 1 accord in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Anise Oil
Is Anise Oil natural or synthetic?
Anise Oil is natural. It is a volatile oil obtained from plant material by steam distillation or, for citrus peels, by cold expression.
Which published formulas use Anise Oil?
Anise Oil is used in 3 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: 1882 Naturals, Anise Ink and Vintage Amber Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- The Good Scents Company — anise seed oil — odour database.
- Parchem — anise seed oil — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.