Japan Ingredient Sourcing
Raw material / 原材料Cosmetic raw materials

Hinoki (Japanese Cypress) Essential Oil

ヒノキ精油 (Hinoki seiyu)

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Why source from Japan

Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a coniferous tree endemic to Japan and Taiwan, famous for use in Shinto shrine construction and onsen bath fittings.

Key spec

INCI Chamaecyparis Obtusa Oil / Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Oil / Chamaecyparis Obtusa Wood Oil; MOQ from 5–20 L (oil), 50–100 L (hydrosol).

Typical end-product

Bath additive / yu-no-moto powder — 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.

At a glance

Suppliers listed
8 suppliers
Typical MOQ
5–20 L (oil), 50–100 L (hydrosol)
Typical lead time
4–10 weeks
Regions of origin
Kiso (Nagano), Tōno (Iwate), Yoshino (Nara)
Category
Cosmetic raw materials
Harvest season
Year-round (wood / leaf distillation)
Japan regulatory status
JSCI listed under multiple names depending on plant part
INCI name
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Oil / Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Oil / Chamaecyparis Obtusa Wood Oil
Japanese name
ヒノキ精油
Romaji
Hinoki seiyu

About this ingredient

Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a coniferous tree endemic to Japan and Taiwan, famous for use in Shinto shrine construction and onsen bath fittings. The essential oil is steam-distilled from hinoki wood, leaves, or twigs. Dominant compounds include hinokitiol, α-pinene, and sesquiterpenes. Distinct from hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata).

Regulatory status

JapanJSCI listed under multiple names depending on plant part
EUCosIng listed
United StatesINCI recognized
ChinaIECIC listed

FAQ for OEM buyers

Q. What is the typical MOQ and lead time for hinoki essential oil?

Supplier-disclosed industry ranges are 5–20 L for essential oil and 50–100 L for hydrosol, with 4–10 week lead times. Production is year-round (wood and leaf are stable inputs) but capacity at specialty regional distillers — Kiso (Nagano), Tōno (Iwate), Yoshino (Nara) — is finite. For larger commercial volumes, plan allocation 2–3 months ahead of formulation needs.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source

Q. Should buyers specify leaf-distilled vs wood-distilled origin?

Yes — they have distinct compositions and aroma profiles. Leaf-distilled oils tend toward fresh-green and herbaceous notes (sabinene, terpinyl acetate); wood-distilled oils give the characteristic deep-resinous 'bath-house' aroma associated with hinoki interiors (α-pinene, sesquiterpenes). Specify the plant part on the spec to avoid mismatches between expected aroma and delivered material.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Q. Are there single-forest origin (e.g., Kiso) options?

Yes. Specialty regional distillers in Kiso, Yoshino, and Tōno produce single-forest origin hinoki oil with documented forestry chain-of-custody, sometimes from sustainable thinning operations (a positioning tied to satoyama forest management). MOQ ceilings are smaller and pricing is materially higher than aggregate commercial material. For brands with a 'forest-bathing' (shinrin-yoku) story, the documented origin can support premium positioning.

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

    Sources

Japanese suppliers

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Last updated: 2026-04-24

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