In short
Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) is the main constituent of eucalyptus oil. It gives a fresh, camphoraceous note.
What Eucalyptol smells like
Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) is camphoraceous and fresh, slightly reminiscent of camphor. A database describes it at 1% as sweet, cooling, fresh, chemical-pine and slightly minty with a spicy cardamom nuance; another lists eucalyptus, herbal, camphor and medicinal. It makes up most of eucalyptus oil and a large part of cardamom, rosemary, bay laurel, cajeput and niaouli oils. One educational source contrasts its aromatic, camphor-like odour with camphor's musty, penetrating note.
- Leading note
- Cool eucalyptus
- Clear facets
- Camphoraceous
- Supporting facets
- Medicinal
- Faint facets
- Minty, pine, spicy, cardamom
- Character
- Cool, fresh, penetrating
What makes Eucalyptol distinctive
The cool, clearing note of eucalyptus — fresher and less musty than camphor.
How Eucalyptol is used
Used for fresh, medicinal and herbal effects in functional products, and in flavours and oral care.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Eucalyptol differs from similar materials
- Camphor
- One source contrasts eucalyptol's aromatic, camphor-like freshness with camphor's musty, penetrating note. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Eucalyptus oil is mostly eucalyptol, with a herbal-green heart and a woody-balsamic drydown. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Cardamom Oil
- Cardamom's cool top is eucalyptol; the oil adds terpinyl acetate's balsamic, floral sweetness. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Spike Lavender Oil
- Spike lavender carries a cineole-camphor freshness inside a lavender; eucalyptol is the cool note alone.
- Rosemary Oil
- Cineole-type rosemary carries eucalyptol inside a herbaceous, woody-balsamic oil. (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
Strongly medicinal; use sparingly in fine fragrance.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Aroma chemical
- Origin
- Occurs in nature
- Odour family
- Aromatic / Green
- Note position
- Top note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- 1,8-Cineole
- CAS number
- 470-82-6
- Molecular formula
- C10H18O
- Molecular weight
- 154.25 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane
The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 2758, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.
Safety and compliance
Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (2,296 reports): H226 flammable liquid and vapor (98.7% of reports); H317 may cause an allergic skin reaction (84.2% of reports). 8 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. A skin sensitiser classification concerns handling the neat material and the dose in a finished product; the IFRA Standards, where they apply, set the limits. Unless it is harmonised, this is the notifiers' own classification, not a binding one.
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
-
Eucalyptus Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Green — camphoraceous, cooling, medicinal, fresh
-
Rosemary Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Woody — herbal, camphoraceous, fresh, woody
-
Cardamom Oil
Essential oil · Spicy / Aromatic — spicy, aromatic, fresh, eucalyptus
Eucalyptol is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Bay Laurel Leaf Oil, Cajeput Oil, Myrtle Oil, Niaouli Oil, Spike Lavender Oil and White Camphor Oil.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 9 published formulas
Eucalyptol is an ingredient in 4 perfume formulas and 5 accords in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Eucalyptol
Is Eucalyptol natural or synthetic?
The molecule occurs in nature. Commercial Eucalyptol may be made by synthesis or obtained from natural sources, so check the supplier's specification if the distinction matters to you.
What is the CAS number of Eucalyptol?
470-82-6. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Eucalyptol?
Eucalyptol is used in 9 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Cypress Bathhouse, Finger Lime Accord and Frost Herb Accord. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — compound 2758, checked 19 October 2026.
- PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
- The Good Scents Company — eucalyptol — odour database.
- ChemicalBook — eucalyptol (CAS 470-82-6) — odour database.
- Premiere Peau — Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: several independent published descriptions, which agree. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.