calamus leaf oil

Calamus leaf oil is a natural essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the leaves of Acorus calamus, a herbaceous wetland plant commonly known as sweet flag. It appears as a yellow to brownish-yellow liquid and exhibits a characteristic spicy odor reminiscent of clove, making it notable in perfumery and fragrance applications. This oil is also recognized as Oils, Acorus calamus, with synonyms such as acorus americanus leaf oil and calamus oil. Chemically, calamus leaf oil includes various aromatic components contributing to its unique scent profile. The plant source grows primarily in temperate to subtropical regions of Asia and North America. For comprehensive chemical data and synonyms, the PubChem database entry provides structured information. Its extraction relies on traditional steam distillation methods from fresh or dried leaves.

Calamus leaf oil occurs naturally in the leaves of the Acorus calamus plant species and its botanical varieties. The oil is principally applied as a fragrance ingredient in perfumery and scented products due to its spicy and clove-like odor character. While historically used in traditional practices, current usage is restricted to fragrance agents and notably not recommended for flavoring due to safety concerns. Regulatory frameworks such as IFRA (Global) set forth usage limitations, restricting the levels of certain constituents including cis- and trans-Asarone to a maximum of 0.01% concentration in consumer products. These constraints reflect the oil's bioactive properties and toxicological profile. Calamus leaf oil thus serves as a botanical fragrance material under controlled conditions rather than a flavoring agent.

Calamus leaf oil is insoluble in water but readily dissolves in alcohol solvents, reflecting its hydrophobic and moderately polar chemical constituents. This solubility profile affects its formulation compatibility, favoring incorporation in alcohol-based fragrance bases rather than aqueous preparations. The oil's physical state is typically liquid at ambient temperature, with a color that ranges from yellow to brownish hues. Its characteristic spicy clove-like odor derives from a complex mixture of aromatic compounds. These properties necessitate careful handling and appropriate solvent choice in perfumery to achieve stable and effective scent profiles. The lack of water solubility also influences its extraction and purification methods, traditionally steam distillation of leaf material.

	acorus calamus l. leaf oil
Canada Domestic Sub. List:	8015-79-0
Pubchem (sid):	135326359

FDA Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS):	View
Typical G.C.
Wikipedia:	View
FAO:	BASIC PRINCIPLES OF STEAM DISTILLATION

Safety information

Hazards identification
Classification of the substance or mixture
GHS Classification in accordance with 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA HCS)
None found.
GHS Label elements, including precautionary statements
Pictogram
Hazard statement(s)
None found.
Precautionary statement(s)
None found.
Oral/Parenteral Toxicity:
intraperitoneal-guinea pig LD50 297 mg/kg BEHAVIORAL: TETANY BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD LUNGS, THORAX, OR RESPIRATION: RESPIRATORY STIMULATION Antibiotics and Chemotherapy Vol. 7, Pg. 378, 1957. intraperitoneal-mouse LD50 177 mg/kg Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Vol. 11, Pg. 163, 1959. intravenous-mouse LD50 1138 mg/kg BEHAVIORAL: GENERAL ANESTHETIC BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD Dissertationes Pharmaceuticae. Vol. 16, Pg. 447, 1964. intraperitoneal-rat LD50 221 mg/kg BEHAVIORAL: CONVULSIONS OR EFFECT ON SEIZURE THRESHOLD Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. Vol. 15, Pg. 623, 1977. oral-rat LD50 777 mg/kg BEHAVIORAL: TREMOR Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. Vol. 2, Pg. 327, 1964.
Dermal Toxicity:
skin-guinea pig LD50 > 5000 mg/kg Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. Vol. 15, Pg. 623, 1977.
Inhalation Toxicity:
Not determined

Safety in use information

Category:
fragrance agents
RIFM Fragrance Material Safety Assessment: Search
IFRA Code of Practice Notification of the 49th Amendment to the IFRA Code of Practice
IFRA fragrance material specification:
	cis- and trans-Asarone as such should not be used as fragrance ingredients; essential oils containing cis- or trans-asarone (e.g. calamus oils) should not be used at a level such that the total concentration of cis- and trans-asarone exceeds 0.01% in consumer products.
contains the following IFRA (Annex) restricted components: (non-analysis max. level reference only)
methyl eugenol	Max. Found:
Recommendation for calamus leaf oil usage levels up to:
	3.0000 % in the fragrance concentrate.
Recommendation for calamus leaf oil flavor usage levels up to:
	not for flavor use.

Safety references

Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System:Search

Toxicology Citations:Search

EPA Substance Registry Services (TSCA):8015-79-0

EPA ACToR:Toxicology Data

EPA Substance Registry Services (SRS):Registry

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:Data

acorus calamus l. leaf oil

Chemidplus:0008015790