Cosmetics · Oils & lipids
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
ツバキ種子油 (Tsubaki shushi-yu)
Also known as: Camellia Oil, Tsubaki Oil
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| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Camellia Japonica Seed Oil↗ |
| Japanese labeling name | ツバキ油 |
| Common Japanese notations | 椿油, ツバキ油, ツバキ種子油 |
| Origin | Plant-derived (seeds of Camellia japonica) |
| Typical functions | Emollient, Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. Camellia seed oil is also consumed as a cooking oil, separately regulated under Japanese food law. |
Tsubaki oil — pressed from the seeds of Camellia japonica — has a documented history of use in Japanese personal care going back many centuries, especially as hair oil. The oil is high in oleic acid (commonly reported in the 75 to 85 percent range), which contributes to its distinctive feel and oxidative stability. It remains a core ingredient in Japanese hair care both at the prestige and drugstore tier.
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Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Hair oils and treatments
- Face oils
- Massage oils
- Lip care
Ingredient profile
Camellia japonica seed oil is cold-pressed or solvent-extracted from the mature seeds of Camellia japonica — the ornamental shrub whose flower is closely associated with Japan. The fatty acid profile is dominated by oleic acid (C18:1), commonly reported in the 75 to 85 percent range, with smaller proportions of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid.
The high oleic content gives the oil a light, dry skin feel relative to many other seed oils and slower oxidative degradation. It is supplied refined, unrefined, and in various standardized fractions.
OEM applications
The single most common application in Japan is hair care. Tsubaki oil is marketed as a hair oil for shine, heat protection, and cuticle smoothing, and appears in shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, and leave-in treatments across every price tier. A long-running drugstore line built around the ingredient has kept the category commercially dominant.
In skincare, the oil is used in face oils, massage oils, and lip products. In culinary use, it is sold as a premium cooking oil in Japan, regulated under food law rather than cosmetic law.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex under the labeling name ツバキ油 and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient without category-specific restrictions.
As a food product (edible oil), the same substance is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. Cosmetic-grade and food-grade preparations are handled under separate regulatory frameworks.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under the INCI name Camellia Japonica Seed Oil. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. Commonly used in finished hair and skin care products. |
| China | Listed in the IECIC. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
| Korea | Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient under the KFDA / MFDS cosmetic ingredient system. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified.
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Storage requirements
How the receiving OEM facility needs to handle inbound raw material.
- Temperature
- Room temperature ≤25°C; cool dark storage
- Conditions
- Sealed in opaque containers
- Shelf life
- 24 months sealed; exceptional oxidative stability due to high oleic content
Supply concentration
Where this ingredient comes from — useful for single-source-risk planning.
- Primary regions
- Goto Islands (Nagasaki), Izu Oshima (Tokyo), Amakusa (Kumamoto), Saikai region
- Import dependence
- 100% domestic for authentic Japanese tsubaki oil; Chinese / Korean camellia oil exists separately
農林水産省 林産物統計 / 日本特用林産振興会
Certifications commonly available
Certification schemes commonly obtainable for this raw material. Always confirm the specific supplier's current certificate before contracting.
| Scheme | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic JAS | Rare | Wild-harvested camellia is hard to certify organic |
| COSMOS | On-request | Cosmetic-grade tsubaki oil |
| Halal | On-request | |
| Kosher | On-request | |
| Vegan | Inherent |
Documented adulteration risks
Known fraud / adulteration patterns reported by regulators or industry bodies. Specify CoA params and screening tests on every PO.
- 'Japanese tsubaki oil' diluted with cheaper Chinese / Korean camellia or tea-seed oil (Camellia oleifera / sinensis)
- Refined-grade oil sold as 'cold-pressed' / 'first-press' grade
Detection: GC-MS fatty-acid profile (Japanese Camellia japonica is ~80% oleic vs. C. oleifera which has different sterols); origin certificate from 農林水産省-aligned producer associations
日本特用林産振興会 / 椿油生産者協議会 表示ガイドライン
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Camellia Japonica Seed Oil?
- Tsubaki oil — pressed from the seeds of Camellia japonica — has a documented history of use in Japanese personal care going back many centuries, especially as hair oil. The oil is high in oleic acid (commonly reported in the 75 to 85 percent range), which contributes to its distinctive feel and oxidative stability. It remains a core ingredient in Japanese hair care both at the prestige and drugstore tier.
- What is the regulatory status of Camellia Japonica Seed Oil in Japan?
- Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. Camellia seed oil is also consumed as a cooking oil, separately regulated under Japanese food law.
- What products typically use Camellia Japonica Seed Oil?
- Hair oils and treatments / Face oils / Massage oils / Lip care
- Where does Camellia Japonica Seed Oil come from?
- Plant-derived (seeds of Camellia japonica)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Camellia Japonica Seed Oil?
- INCI: Camellia Japonica Seed Oil / JSCI: ツバキ油
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Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What is the typical fatty acid composition of Camellia japonica seed oil?
Peer-reviewed analyses report oleic acid (C18:1) as the dominant fatty acid in Camellia seed oils, commonly in the 75–85% range, with palmitic acid (C16:0) around 8–11%, linoleic acid (C18:2) around 4–8%, and stearic acid (C18:0) around 2–4%. The high oleic content gives the oil olive-oil-like oxidative stability and a relatively light skin feel.
Q. How is Camellia japonica seed oil distinguished from Camellia oleifera ('tea seed') oil?
Both species belong to the Camellia genus and yield high-oleic seed oils with broadly similar fatty acid profiles, but they are botanically distinct and sourced from different regions. Camellia japonica is the species traditionally associated with Japanese tsubaki oil (especially Izu Oshima and the Goto Islands). Camellia oleifera is the principal Chinese tea-seed oil species. INCI nomenclature differentiates the two: Camellia Japonica Seed Oil vs Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil. Cosmetic claims and origin documentation should not interchange them.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. What is the JSCI labeling name for camellia oil in Japanese cosmetics?
The Japanese cosmetic labeling name (per the JCIA-maintained Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex) is ツバキ油, corresponding to the INCI name Camellia Japonica Seed Oil. The same substance, when sold for culinary use as a premium edible oil, is regulated separately under the Food Sanitation Act with its own grade specifications.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Use cases
Hair oil and leave-in treatment
- Positioning
- Japanese heritage hair-care category — tsubaki oil is the most-recognized Japanese hair-care heritage ingredient, with continuous documented use spanning centuries and a long-running drugstore line that has kept the category mass-market.
- Typical usage level
- Up to 100% in pure-oil format; 1–10% in conditioner / leave-in blends
- Formulation notes
- High oleic content gives the oil a relatively light, dry feel for a vegetable oil; pairs well with silicone alternatives in 'natural' formulations.
Face oil / facial massage oil
- Positioning
- Single-ingredient or blend hero — premium and natural-positioning skincare lines use tsubaki oil as a single-ingredient face oil or blended with squalane and rosehip oil for daily-use formats.
- Typical usage level
- Up to 100% pure; 5–30% in oil blends
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Lip care balm and lip oil
- Positioning
- Functional emollient with heritage story — high oleic content and oxidative stability make it well suited to lip products; used both as the primary emollient and in blend with beeswax and shea butter.
- Typical usage level
- 5–40% in lip balm formulations
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Search the academic literature
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Official regulatory databases
External links to public Japanese / international regulatory authorities. We are not affiliated.
References
- JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name directory — ツバキ油
- EU CosIng entry: Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.