In short
Spikenard oil is distilled from the rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi, a Himalayan plant. It has an earthy, woody and slightly animalic odour, related to valerian.
What Spikenard Oil smells like
Spikenard oil is deep, earthy, woody and musky, in AromaWeb's description, with what some call an 'animalistic' subtlety. A glossary describes a musty, rooty core close to valerian but heavier, with a faint animalic undertone; a supplier a bitter-sweet, resinous, damp-earth, mildly spicy aroma with woody-green overtones. Isovaleric acid is credited with a faintly cheesy, sweaty edge it shares with valerian. It belongs to the valerian family and is a CITES-listed species.
- Leading note
- Musty earthy root
- Supporting facets
- Woody, musky, animalic
- Faint facets
- Bitter-sweet resin, cheesy
- Character
- Deep, heavy, earthy
What makes Spikenard Oil distinctive
Valerian's heavier, woodier cousin: musty earth with a faint animal warmth.
How Spikenard Oil is used
Used in traces in oriental, woody, incense and animalic compositions.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend); fixative (slow to evaporate; helps a blend last and holds lighter notes).
How Spikenard Oil differs from similar materials
- Valerian Root Oil
- A glossary finds spikenard close to valerian but heavier, woodier and less cheesy. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Angelica Root Oil
- Angelica root is musky and peppery, with a herbaceous sparkle; spikenard is heavier, mustier and woodier.
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 needs CITES documents. Check the source's sustainability.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Woody / Animalic
- Note position
- Base note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Viscous liquid
- Also known as
- Jatamansi oil, Nard oil
- Botanical source
- Nardostachys jatamansi
- CAS number
- 8022-22-8
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: Nardostachys jatamansi is listed in Appendix II. All parts and derivatives except seeds, pollen, and finished products packaged and ready for retail trade. 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
-
Valerian Root Oil
Essential oil · Animalic / Woody — earthy, musty, animalic, woody
-
Vetiver Oil
Essential oil · Woody / Green — earthy, smoky, woody, rooty
-
Patchouli Oil
Essential oil · Woody / Chypre — earthy, woody, camphoraceous, dark
-
Frankincense Oil (Olibanum)
Essential oil · Resinous / Citrus — incense, resinous, lemony, smoky
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 1 published formula
Spikenard 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 Spikenard Oil
Is Spikenard Oil natural or synthetic?
Spikenard 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 Spikenard Oil?
8022-22-8, the registry number for the essential oil as a substance rather than a single molecule. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Spikenard Oil?
Spikenard Oil is used in 1 published formula in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Narcissus Hay Loft. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135310869, checked 19 October 2026.
- CITES — Species+, checked 11 October 2026.
- AromaWeb — Spikenard essential oil — published perfumery reference.
- Premiere Peau — Spikenard oil — published perfumery reference.
- Eden Botanicals — Spikenard — 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.