Why source from Japan
Sourced from Gifu and Nagano with year-round Japanese supply, consistent quality, and traceability to the prefecture of origin.
Key spec
INCI Lindera Umbellata Leaf Oil / Branch Oil / Branch-Leaf Extract; MOQ from 100 ml – 1 L essential oil; 1–10 kg dried.
Typical end-product
Artisanal soap (cold-process) — Craft cosmetic with regional Japanese forest narrative — kuromoji oil added in finishing for aroma and 'satoyama-sourced' positioning; pairs well with hinoki, hiba, sugi in 'Japanese forest' soap collections.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 3 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 100 ml – 1 L essential oil; 1–10 kg dried
- Typical lead time
- 4–10 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Gifu, Nagano, Tottori, Shimane, Kochi (Niyodogawa), Mt. Hakusan (Kanazawa)
- Category
- Cosmetic raw materials
- Harvest season
- Year-round (forestry-managed)
- Japan regulatory status
- JSCI (クロモジ葉油, クロモジ枝油, クロモジ葉エキス)
- INCI name
- Lindera Umbellata Leaf Oil / Branch Oil / Branch-Leaf Extract
- Japanese name
- 黒文字
- Romaji
- Kuromoji
About this ingredient
Kuromoji (Lindera umbellata) is a deciduous shrub in the Lauraceae family, native to Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu mountain forests. Traditionally used for tea-ceremony toothpicks and premium wagashi picks. Steam-distilled essential oil offers a fresh, citrusy-woody profile with major components linalool, 1,8-cineole, α/β-pinene. Positions as a uniquely Japanese alternative to hinoki with satoyama sustainability credentials.
Regulatory status
| Japan | JSCI (クロモジ葉油, クロモジ枝油, クロモジ葉エキス) |
|---|---|
| EU | CosIng listed |
| United States | MoCRA; IFRA guidance |
| China | Verify IECIC |
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What is the typical MOQ and lead time for kuromoji essential oil and extract?
Supplier-disclosed industry ranges are 100 ml – 1 L for essential oil and 1–10 kg for dried branch/leaf material, with 4–10 week lead times. Production is artisanal and concentrated around small regional distillers in Gifu, Nagano, Tottori, Shimane, Kōchi (Niyodogawa), and the Mt. Hakusan area near Kanazawa. Annual capacity is finite per distiller; allocations to brand customers should be planned at the start of each calendar year.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. Is single-forest origin documentation available?
Yes. Several regional kuromoji distillers operate from designated satoyama forestry programs and can issue origin documentation tying material to a specific forest or municipality. This is a meaningful positioning lever for craft-cosmetic brands; it carries premium pricing and lower-volume supply. Some distillers also operate under sustainable thinning and forest-management certifications.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. What linalool content range should buyers expect on the COA?
Expect linalool content roughly in the 40–65% range for essential oil and around 55–60% for hydrosol, varying with region, season, and plant part (leaf, branch, or branch+leaf). Specify the desired plant-part composition and request a GC profile on the COA; for fragrance-critical applications, request batch-level GC rather than nominal spec ranges, since natural variation is meaningful.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Use cases
Artisanal soap (cold-process)
- Positioning
- Craft cosmetic with regional Japanese forest narrative — kuromoji oil added in finishing for aroma and 'satoyama-sourced' positioning; pairs well with hinoki, hiba, sugi in 'Japanese forest' soap collections.
- Typical usage level
- 1–3% essential oil in cold-process soap (fragrance loading)
Facial toner / mist
- Positioning
- Sensitive-skin and natural-positioning — kuromoji extract used as a primary functional + aroma ingredient in toners and mists from craft Japanese cosmetic brands.
- Typical usage level
- 0.5–3% extract in toner/mist
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Aromatherapy diffuser oil
- Positioning
- Aromatherapy and 'shinrin-yoku' (forest-bathing) positioning — single-note kuromoji oil sold to spa and hospitality channels, or blended with hinoki and hiba for Japanese-forest aromatic compositions.
- Typical usage level
- Up to 100% in pure aromatherapy oil; 1–5% in carrier blends
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Japanese suppliers
Nishi-Awakura Forestry Cooperative
西粟倉村森林組合
Nishi-Awakura, OkayamaThinnings-based kuromoji essential oil; 100-Year Forest vision sustainability brand
ARTQ ORGANICS
ARTQ オーガニクス
English supportKuromoji essential oil in the domestic botanical-oil catalog.
Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten
中川政七商店
Nara, NaraEnglish supportExport experienceKuromoji among curated heritage botanicals.
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Last updated: 2026-04-24