Ocotea Essential Oil
Mespilodaphne quixos / Ocotea quixos
No photos are available of an Ocotea tree. Pictured above is an Ocotea cupule (sheath) that surrounds the seed. However, it is typically the leaves that are used in the distillation of Ocotea Essential Oil.
Description
Ocotea Essential Oil is also known as Ishpingo Essential Oil.
Ocotea Essential Oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the plant species Ocotea quixos, an evergreen tree that is native to South America and belongs to the Lauraceae plant family.
Ocotea Essential Oil is wonderful to use when you want to enjoy a sweet, cinnamon-like aroma without experiencing the aromatic intensity and more dominant aroma of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil or Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil.
Emotionally, I find Ocotea Essential Oil to be uplifting and well suited for blends intended to calm the mind and balance the emotions.
According to the Ocotea Essential Oil GC/MS reports that I've studied, the oil typically contains the following primary constituents: Cinnamyl acetate, Beta caryophyllene, Methyl cinnamate, Cinnamaldehyde and B-Selinene.
The component that tends to be most abundant in Ocotea Essential Oil is Cinnamyl acetate, an ester that possesses a lovely, soft, sweet, cinnamon-like aroma.
Typically, Ocotea Essential Oil contains much less Cinnamaldehyde than does Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil making it safer to use for skincare and topical applications.
Ocotea Essential Oil makes a lovely aromatic substitute for Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil, but Ocotea should not be used as a substitute in properly formulated antimicrobial formulations that depend on the Cinnamaldehyde that is present in Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil.
Not much has been formally documented about the spiritual uses and benefits of Ocotea Essential Oil, but it likely shares similar applications.
Ocotea Essential Oil blends well with many other essential oils, particularly with oils that have aromatic classifications of spicy, woody, citrusy, fruity, floral and minty.
Ocotea Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Emotionally Balancing
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Anti-Inflammatory
- Spirituality and Meditation
Botanical Name
Mespilodaphne quixos / Ocotea quixos
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Pale Yellow
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Middle
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium
Aromatic Description
Ocotea Essential Oil smells of cinnamon with subtle, sweet, fruity, floral characteristics.
Sustainability and Conservation Status
Least Concern
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/192556503/192556553
Last Accessed: February 15, 2026
To learn more about the conservation status of essential oil bearing plants and how to use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, please refer to AromaWeb's Guide to Essential Oils and Sustainability.
Major Constituents of Ocotea Essential Oil
- Cinnamyl acetate
- Beta caryophyllene
- Methyl cinnamate
- Cinnamaldehyde
- B-Selinene
Source: Various GC/MS reports. This is not a complete list of the constituents present in Ocotea Essential Oil.
Ocotea Essential Oil Safety Information
Little is formally documented about the safety and contraindications of Ocotea Essential Oil. The second edition of Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young do not include a profile for the oil. Based on the chemical composition and the limited research and safety information about Ocotea Essential Oil, it is recommended to avoid the oil while pregnant or nursing and avoid the oil with babies and children.
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for basic educational purposes only. The references to safety information, test results, constituents and percentages is generalized information. Essential oils can vary greatly in composition. The data is not necessarily complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil composition and color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several CO2 Extracts and absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
