Cosmetics · Oils & lipids
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
ツバキ種子油 (Tsubaki shushi-yu)
Also known as: Camellia Oil, Tsubaki Oil
At a glance
| 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 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.
Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Hair oils and treatments
- Face oils
- Massage oils
- Lip care
What it is
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.
Typical uses in Japanese products
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. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified.
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Related ingredients
References
- JSCI 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.