Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract
ヒノキエキス (Hinoki ekisu)
Also known as: Hinoki Extract, Japanese Cypress Extract
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| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract / Chamaecyparis Obtusa Wood Extract |
| Japanese labeling name | ヒノキ葉エキス / ヒノキ木エキス |
| Common Japanese notations | ヒノキエキス, ヒノキ葉エキス, ヒノキ木エキス |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Chamaecyparis obtusa, Japanese hinoki cypress) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Antimicrobial, Fragrance |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Leaf and wood extracts are listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary as cosmetic ingredients. |
Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is one of the most culturally significant trees in Japan. It is the traditional material for Shinto shrines, temples, noh stages, and high-end bathtubs. As a cosmetic ingredient, different parts of the tree — leaf, wood, and essential oil — bring distinct profiles centered on a characteristic woody aroma and a traditional reputation for antimicrobial activity.
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Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Body soaps and bath additives
- Deodorant products
- Facial toners
- Hair and scalp products
Ingredient profile
Hinoki cosmetic ingredients are produced from several parts of the Chamaecyparis obtusa tree. The leaf extract (ヒノキ葉エキス) and wood extract (ヒノキ木エキス) are water or hydro-alcoholic extractions. The essential oil (ヒノキ精油) is steam-distilled from leaves, branches, or wood, and concentrates components including α-pinene, borneol, cadinene, and hinokitiol.
Hinokitiol itself is a tropolone-family compound present in hinoki and in a related species, Thujopsis dolabrata (hiba). Hinokitiol is sometimes used as a separate cosmetic ingredient and has its own INCI listing.
OEM applications
In Japanese formulations, hinoki extracts appear most often in body soaps, bath additives (yu-no-moto), facial toners, scalp lotions, and deodorant products. The hinoki aroma is a core component of Japanese aromatherapy and bath culture, with deep cultural resonance.
The ingredient is also increasingly used in fragrance blends positioning around "forest bathing" (shinrin-yoku) concepts in both Japanese and international markets.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Hinoki leaf extract (ヒノキ葉エキス) and wood extract (ヒノキ木エキス) are listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary and permitted as cosmetic ingredients.
Hinokitiol as a separate ingredient has additional regulatory considerations in some product categories and concentration ranges. Formulators using hinokitiol-dominant preparations should consult the specific regulatory status in Japan for the concentration and product category in question.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract and Wood Extract INCI entries are present in CosIng and permitted for cosmetic use. Hinokitiol (INCI: Hinokitiol) has specific restrictions in some product categories and should be checked against the current Cosmetics Regulation annexes. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI-recognized by PCPC. Commonly used in finished cosmetic products. |
| China | Chamaecyparis Obtusa entries are present in the IECIC. Suppliers should verify the specific preparation against the IECIC list. |
| Korea | Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient under the KFDA / MFDS system. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract?
- Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is one of the most culturally significant trees in Japan. It is the traditional material for Shinto shrines, temples, noh stages, and high-end bathtubs. As a cosmetic ingredient, different parts of the tree — leaf, wood, and essential oil — bring distinct profiles centered on a characteristic woody aroma and a traditional reputation for antimicrobial activity.
- What is the regulatory status of Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract in Japan?
- Leaf and wood extracts are listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary as cosmetic ingredients.
- What products typically use Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract?
- Body soaps and bath additives / Deodorant products / Facial toners / Hair and scalp products
- Where does Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract come from?
- Plant-derived (Chamaecyparis obtusa, Japanese hinoki cypress)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract?
- INCI: Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract / Chamaecyparis Obtusa Wood Extract / JSCI: ヒノキ葉エキス / ヒノキ木エキス
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Regulatory guidance
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FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What are the major aroma compounds in hinoki essential oil?
Hinoki essential oil composition varies by plant part (leaf vs wood) and origin. Leaf-derived oils typically have sabinene, bornyl acetate, and α-terpinyl acetate as major components, while wood-derived oils have α-pinene and δ-cadinene as dominant constituents. α-Pinene is consistently a major monoterpene across both, with reported concentrations varying widely between samples. Hinokitiol — a tropolone-family compound — is present at low levels and concentrated separately for some formulation uses.
Q. Is hinoki the same as hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata)?
No. Hinoki is Chamaecyparis obtusa; hiba is Thujopsis dolabrata. Both are Japanese conifers, both are traditional construction timbers, and both contain hinokitiol — a tropolone-family compound named for hinoki but more concentrated in hiba (aomori hiba in particular). The two should not be substituted on labels; cosmetic INCI naming differentiates Chamaecyparis Obtusa entries from Thujopsis Dolabrata entries.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. Are there separate JSCI labeling names for hinoki leaf vs wood preparations?
Yes. The leaf and wood extracts are listed under distinct labeling names — ヒノキ葉エキス (Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract) and ヒノキ木エキス (Chamaecyparis Obtusa Wood Extract). The essential oil is listed separately by plant part (leaf vs wood). Hinokitiol as a purified compound has its own INCI listing and additional regulatory considerations in some product categories and concentration ranges; formulators using hinokitiol-dominant preparations should consult current Japanese and EU regulations for the specific use case.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Use cases
Bath additive / yu-no-moto powder
- Positioning
- Heritage onsen / hinoki-bath aroma — hinoki essential oil and wood extract combined in dispersible bath additive formats, leveraging the long-standing cultural association between hinoki and Japanese bathing.
- Typical usage level
- 0.1–1% essential oil in bath additive (dispersed in carrier)
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Body soap / shampoo-bar
- Positioning
- 'Forest-bathing' (shinrin-yoku) positioning for body soap and solid shampoo bars, increasingly used in international natural-positioning launches as well as Japanese-domestic.
- Typical usage level
- 0.2–1% essential oil in finished bar/wash
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Aromatherapy diffuser blend / room mist
- Positioning
- Single-note Japanese hinoki diffuser blends, or hinoki paired with kuromoji, sugi, hiba in 'Japanese forest' aromatic compositions for hospitality and home-fragrance markets.
- Typical usage level
- 1–5% essential oil in room-mist alcohol blend
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References
- JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name directory — ヒノキ葉エキス, ヒノキ木エキス
- EU CosIng entries: Chamaecyparis Obtusa
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.