Camellia Oil

• Light and fast-absorbing, so it sinks in without a heavy or greasy feel
• Naturally high in oleic acid, which gives a soft, conditioning feel on skin and hair
• Subtle, slightly nutty scent that blends well with essential oils and fragrance
• A versatile carrier base for serums, creams, lotions, balms and soap
• A traditional choice for protecting carbon-steel knives, chisels and garden tools from rust
• Long valued in Japanese hair care for adding shine and taming frizz
• Very cost-effective in bulk for makers, salons and trade buyers

Skincare

Use it as a light facial or body oil, or as the base oil in serums, lotions, creams and balms. It absorbs cleanly, which makes it a popular choice for people who find richer oils too heavy.

Hair and scalp

Smooth a small amount through the lengths to add shine and tame frizz, or massage it into the scalp as a pre-wash treatment before shampooing out. This is the classic tsubaki hair-oil use.

Soap and cosmetic making

It is a light, conditioning oil in cold-process soap and a reliable base in balms, scrubs, creams and lotions. Add it at the usage rate for your recipe.

As a carrier

Camellia is a good carrier for diluting essential oils to a safe level before they are applied to the skin, especially where a light, low-odour base is wanted.

Knife and tool care

Camellia oil is the traditional Japanese oil for protecting carbon-steel blades and tools. Wipe a thin film onto clean, dry knives, chisels, plane blades, secateurs and other carbon-steel tools to help guard against rust and oxidation. Buying it by the litre is far more economical than the small spray bottles sold for tool care.

• Botanical name: Camellia oleifera
• Common names: Camellia oil, tea seed oil, tsubaki oil
• Part of plant used: Seed
• Method of extraction: Cold pressed
• Country of origin: China (may vary between batches)
• Appearance: Light golden, clear liquid
• Aroma: Subtle, slightly nutty
• Absorption: Light, absorbs readily
• Storage: Keep in a cool, dark place, tightly sealed.
• Safety: For external cosmetic and tool-care use. Patch test before first use on skin.

Is camellia oil the same as tea tree oil?

No, and they are easy to mix up. Camellia oil is a light carrier oil cold pressed from the seeds of Camellia oleifera, used on skin, hair and tools. Tea tree oil is a strong essential oil distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia and is a completely different product. This page is camellia (tea seed) oil.

Is camellia oil the same as tea seed oil and tsubaki oil?

Yes. Tea seed oil and tsubaki oil are other names for the same oil pressed from Camellia oleifera seeds. Tsubaki is simply the Japanese name, and it is the oil traditionally used in Japan for hair and for tool care.

Can I use camellia oil to protect knives and tools?

Yes, this is one of its classic uses. Camellia oil has long been used in Japan to protect carbon-steel knives, chisels, plane blades and garden tools from rust. Wipe a thin film onto a clean, dry blade. Buying it in a larger size is much better value than the small tool-care bottles, and it is the same oil.

Is camellia oil good for oily or acne-prone skin?

Camellia is light and absorbs quickly, which is why many people with normal to combination skin like it. It is higher in oleic acid than very light oils such as grapeseed, so if your skin is very oily or breakout-prone, patch test first and see how it suits you.

Is this food or cooking grade tea seed oil?

This is supplied as a raw cosmetic and tool-care ingredient rather than a packaged food product. Tea seed oil is used as a cooking oil in parts of Asia, but if you need it for food use, contact our team first to confirm the right product and grade.

Is this camellia oil organic?

This oil is supplied as pure, cold-pressed camellia oil rather than a certified-organic product. If you need certified-organic material or a specification for a particular standard, contact our team and we can advise on what is available.

How long does camellia oil last, and how should I store it?

Stored cool, dark and tightly sealed, camellia oil generally keeps for around a year or more, helped by its naturally stable, high-oleic profile. Discard it if the smell turns sharp or rancid.