In short
Rosewood oil is distilled from the wood of Aniba rosaeodora, an Amazonian tree. It is rich in linalool and has a sweet, floral-woody odour.
What Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) smells like
Rosewood oil (bois de rose, Aniba rosaeodora) is sweet and softly floral-woody, rich in linalool. Fraterworks describes a brief peppery-spicy opening that settles into a long-lasting wood-and-flower character; other suppliers list sweet, rosy, woody, slightly floral and slightly spicy, and a retailer a faint camphor-like touch. It acts as a bridge between florals and woods. Overharvesting has made the tree a CITES-listed species, and ho leaf and coriander are its usual alternatives.
- Leading note
- Sweet floral-woody
- Supporting facets
- Rosy, spicy, peppery
- Faint facets
- Camphoraceous
- Character
- Sweet, soft, warm, rounded
What makes Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) distinctive
Linalool given depth: a warmer, spicier, woodier floral than ho leaf or synthetic linalool, which is what made it the classic floral-to-wood bridge.
Where the descriptions disagree: A leaf-and-twig oil sold as Brazilian rosewood is described as spicy and caryophyllene-rich, unlike the linalool-led wood oil.
How Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) is used
Used as a heart note bridging florals and woods; supply limits mean it is often replaced by ho leaf, coriander or reconstitutions.
Typical role: blender (smooths the joins between other materials).
How Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) differs from similar materials
- Ho Leaf Oil
- Ho leaf is used as a rosewood substitute; it is simpler and cleaner, rosewood deeper, spicier and woodier. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Coriander Seed Oil
- Suppliers note coriander seed's resemblance to rosewood; coriander is spicier and more peppery, rosewood more woody-rosy. (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
The species is listed on CITES Appendix II. Bulk trade in the oil needs CITES documents; check the source's sustainability.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Floral / Woody
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Bois de rose oil
- Botanical source
- Aniba rosaeodora
- CAS number
- 8015-77-8
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
CITES: Aniba rosaeodora is listed in Appendix II. Logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood and extracts; finished products containing the extracts as ingredients, including fragrances, are not covered. Checked on Species+ on 11 October 2026; see CITES and perfume materials.
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
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
-
Ho Leaf Oil
Essential oil · Floral / Woody — floral, woody, fresh, linalool
-
Rose Oil (Rosa damascena)
Essential oil · Floral / Fruity — rose, honeyed, spicy, fresh
-
Bergamot Oil (Expressed)
Essential oil · Citrus / Aromatic — citrus, zesty, floral, tea-like
Used in formulas and accords
Not currently used in any published formula.
The Formula & Accord Library lists Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) here as soon as a published formula, accord or base uses it.
Further reading
Questions about Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose)
Is Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) natural or synthetic?
Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose) 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 Rosewood Oil (Bois de Rose)?
8015-77-8, the registry number for the essential oil as a substance rather than a single molecule. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135353111, checked 19 October 2026.
- CITES — Species+, checked 11 October 2026.
- Wikipedia — Rosewood oil — published perfumery reference.
- Fraterworks — rosewood oil — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Brazilian rosewood — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 20 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.