In short
Scots pine needle oil is distilled from the needles of Pinus sylvestris. It gives a fresh, resinous pine-forest note.
What Scots Pine Needle Oil smells like
Scots pine needle oil is forest-like, woody and resinous, in The Good Scents Company's listing. A supplier calls it fresh and dry-balsamic with a turpentine-like character and a sweet-coniferous top; a glossary finds it less balsamic than fir and more resinous than juniper, with a sharp alpha-pinene top. alpha-Pinene dominates it, with delta-3-carene and bornyl acetate.
- Leading note
- Fresh resinous pine
- Supporting facets
- Turpentine, dry balsamic, woody
- Character
- Fresh, sharp, dry
What makes Scots Pine Needle Oil distinctive
The forest pine: sharper and more turpentine-like than fir, more resinous than juniper.
How Scots Pine Needle Oil is used
Used in pine, fougère and fresh compositions, and widely in functional and bath products.
Typical role: lift (adds diffusion and radiance, especially at the top).
How Scots Pine Needle Oil differs from similar materials
- Dwarf Pine Oil
- Mugo is usually described as more balsamic and sweeter; Scots pine is sharper, fresher and more turpentine-like. (compared directly by a cited source)
- alpha-Pinene
- alpha-Pinene is the oil's sharp top alone; the oil adds delta-3-carene, bornyl acetate and a dry-balsamic body. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Siberian Fir Needle Oil
- A glossary finds Scots pine less balsamic than fir; Siberian fir is sweeter, led by bornyl acetate. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Juniper Berry Oil
- A glossary finds juniper less resinous than pine oil, fresher and gin-like. (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
Rich in monoterpenes that oxidise; IFRA sets a peroxide-value specification for Pinaceae derivatives.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Aromatic / Woody
- Note position
- Top note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Pine oil
- Botanical source
- Pinus sylvestris L.
- CAS number
- 8002-09-3
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
The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering Scots Pine Needle Oil:
- "Pinacea derivatives" — Specification, 28th Amendment, published 1994-01
Limits differ by product category and are set out in the Standard itself; this page does not reproduce them. The list above reflects the library as read on 19 October 2026.
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
-
Siberian Fir Needle Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Woody — fir, balsamic, sweet, fresh
-
Juniper Berry Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Woody — gin, peppery, resinous, fresh
-
Isobornyl Acetate
Aroma chemical · Aromatic / Woody — pine, coniferous, balsamic, fresh
-
Dwarf Pine Oil
Essential oil · Aromatic / Resinous — piney, fresh, balsamic, sweet
Scots Pine Needle Oil is also suggested as a partner on the pages for alpha-Pinene, Borneol, Bornyl Acetate, Cedar Leaf Oil and delta-3-Carene.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 1 published formula
Scots Pine Needle Oil is an ingredient in 1 perfume formula in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Scots Pine Needle Oil
Is Scots Pine Needle Oil natural or synthetic?
Scots Pine Needle 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 Scots Pine Needle Oil?
8002-09-3, 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 Scots Pine Needle Oil?
Scots Pine Needle Oil is used in 1 published formula in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Pine Tar Sauna. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Is Scots Pine Needle Oil covered by an IFRA Standard?
Yes. The IFRA Standards Library lists a Standard covering it: "Pinacea derivatives" — Specification, 28th Amendment. The limits depend on the product category; read the Standard itself before formulating.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 532943245, checked 19 October 2026.
- IFRA — Standards Library, read 19 October 2026.
- The Good Scents Company — Scots pine needle oil — odour database.
- Eden Botanicals — Pine, Scotch — distributor's description.
- Premiere Peau — Scots pine — 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.