In short
Elemi oil is distilled from the resin of Canarium luzonicum from the Philippines. It is a fresh, lemony-peppery resin.
What Elemi Oil smells like
Elemi oil is bright and lemony on top: sources describe a lemon-peel lift with a peppery spark, or a limonene-rich, almost lemon-like opening; one vendor reports a scent reminiscent of pepper, fennel and lemon. The heart is peppery and slightly terpenic, and the drydown sweet-balsamic and woody. Firmenich describes its olibanum as reminiscent of myrrh and elemi.
- Leading note
- Lemony resin
- Clear facets
- Peppery
- Supporting facets
- Balsamic
- Faint facets
- Fennel-like
- Character
- Fresh, bright, light
What makes Elemi Oil distinctive
The brightest of the resins: lemon and pepper first, a soft balsam last.
How Elemi Oil is used
Used as a fresh, resinous top-to-heart note in citrus, woody, incense and spicy compositions.
Typical role: lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top); modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Elemi Oil differs from similar materials
- Frankincense Oil (Olibanum)
- Frankincense is more incense-like and resinous, with a sweet-woody balsamic base; elemi is lighter and more lemony-peppery.
- Black Pepper Oil
- Black pepper is drier and woodier; elemi is a lemony resin with a peppery spark.
- Elemi Resinoid
- Première Peau describes the resinoid as thicker, more balsamic and more tenacious than the distilled oil, which is lighter and more citrus-piney. (compared directly by a cited source)
An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Monoterpene-rich; store cold.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Resinous / Citrus
- Note position
- Top to heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Botanical source
- Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A.Gray
- CAS number
- 8023-89-0
The CAS number was checked on 19 October 2026 against a PubChem substance record that gives it for this material. A natural material is a mixture, so it has no single formula; its composition varies with origin and processing.
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
-
Frankincense Oil (Olibanum)
Essential oil · Resinous / Citrus — incense, resinous, lemony, smoky
-
Black Pepper Oil
Essential oil · Spicy / Woody — peppery, spicy, woody, fresh
-
Lemon Oil (Cold-Pressed)
Essential oil · Citrus / Aldehydic — citrus, sharp, zesty, juicy
Elemi Oil is also suggested as a partner on the pages for alpha-Phellandrene, Elemi Resinoid and Mastic Oil.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 20 published formulas
Elemi Oil is an ingredient in 17 perfume formulas, 2 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Elemi Oil
Is Elemi Oil natural or synthetic?
Elemi Oil is natural. It is a volatile oil obtained from plant material by steam distillation or, for citrus peels, by cold expression.
What is the CAS number of Elemi Oil?
8023-89-0, the registry number for the essential oil as a substance rather than a single molecule. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Elemi Oil?
Elemi Oil is used in 20 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Agar Lantern, Bitter Ferry and Black Pepper Sail. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135329634, checked 19 October 2026.
- Eden Botanicals — Elemi — distributor's description.
- Perflavory (The Good Scents Company) — elemi oil — odour database.
- Premiere Peau — Elemi oil — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.