In short
Rosemary oil is distilled from the leaves of Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis). It gives a fresh, herbal-camphoraceous note.
What Rosemary Oil smells like
Rosemary oil comes in chemotypes that smell different: cineole (camphoraceous, from Tunisia and Morocco, more eucalyptus-like and penetrating), camphor (sharper, from Spain) and verbenone (sweeter and more herbal, from Corsica and France). A cineole oil is described as intense, diffusive, clean and sweet-herbaceous with a warm camphoraceous undertone, drying to a dry, woody, balsamic note. Arctander notes adulteration with white camphor oil and eucalyptus fractions.
- Leading note
- Herbaceous camphor
- Clear facets
- Eucalyptus, cineole
- Supporting facets
- Woody-balsamic
- Faint facets
- Minty-green, bitter-sweet
- Character
- Fresh, clean, diffusive
What makes Rosemary Oil distinctive
Herb and camphor in balance: cleanly herbaceous, drying to a woody-balsamic note, with its chemotype deciding how much eucalyptus shows.
How Rosemary Oil is used
Used in colognes, fougères and fresh herbal compositions, and in functional fragrance.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend); lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top).
How Rosemary Oil differs from similar materials
- Sage Oil (Dalmatian)
- Sage adds thujone's tansy-like top and a warmer camphor; rosemary is cleaner and more herbaceous-woody.
- Eucalyptol
- Cineole-type rosemary carries eucalyptol inside a herbaceous, woody-balsamic oil. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Hyssop Oil
- Hyssop is sweeter-camphoraceous with a warm, spicy undertone; rosemary is cleaner and more herbaceous.
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
Chemotypes differ (cineole, camphor, verbenone); record which one you hold.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Aromatic / Woody
- Note position
- Top note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Botanical source
- Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.
- CAS number
- 8000-25-7
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
-
Lavender Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Floral — lavender, herbal, floral, fresh
-
Bergamot Oil (Expressed)
Essential oil · Citrus / Aromatic — citrus, zesty, floral, tea-like
-
Juniper Berry Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Woody — gin, peppery, resinous, fresh
Rosemary Oil is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Bay Laurel Leaf Oil, Cajeput Oil, Camphene, Hyssop Oil, Myrtle Oil and White Camphor Oil.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 12 published formulas
Rosemary Oil is an ingredient in 11 perfume formulas and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Rosemary Oil
Is Rosemary Oil natural or synthetic?
Rosemary 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 Rosemary Oil?
8000-25-7, 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 Rosemary Oil?
Rosemary Oil is used in 12 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including 1882 Naturals, Black Pepper Sail and Bleached Driftwood. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135307489, checked 19 October 2026.
- Eden Botanicals — Rosemary ct cineole — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Rosemary oil — published perfumery reference.
- Scentspiracy — Rosemary oil (Tunisia) — distributor's description.
- 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.