Organic Litsea Cubeba Oil – The Sunshine Citrus
Benefits at a Glance
Organic Litsea Cubeba essential oil from Vietnam: selected by the Gstrein family to bring sunshine into your daily routine.
- Sweet, lemony & uplifting: Like sunshine in liquid form – a sweet, intensely lemony scent that is softer and more complex than lemon, with a floral-fruity sweetness that lingers beautifully.
- The mood brightener: Litsea is pure optimism – it lifts the spirits, eases anxiety and creates an atmosphere of light and joy. The oil that turns grey days golden.
- The blender's secret: Litsea is the bridge between citrus and floral – it adds lemony brightness that lasts longer than any true citrus oil, making it a perfumer's favourite.
- Organic quality: 100% pure and natural, steam-distilled from fresh fruits. Controlled organic quality. From Vietnam.
Application & Special Features
Application:
In a diffuser for an uplifting, joyful atmosphere. Diluted in carrier oil for balancing skincare. As a mood-lifting, calming companion.
Targeted uses:
In a diffuser (3-5 drops) for an instantly cheerful, bright atmosphere – the perfect oil for dark winter days, stressful moments or whenever you need a mood lift. For skincare, add 1-2 drops to 10 ml of carrier oil (e.g. Organic MCT Oil) for a bright, balancing facial oil – particularly nice for oily and combination skin. For a calming bath, mix 3-4 drops with a tablespoon of carrier oil and add to warm water. Tip: Litsea is the secret weapon in blends – add 1-2 drops to any combination for a lasting lemony brightness that true citrus oils can't achieve. Learn more in our Litsea Cubeba guide.
Perfect Blending Partners
Litsea Cubeba is a sweet top-to-heart note with a lemony-floral character:
- For floral harmony: True Lavender (lemony sweetness meets floral calm – a beautifully balanced, joyful blend).
- For spicy warmth: Clove (sweet lemon light meets warm spice depth – the heart of our Christmas Air blend).
- For green freshness: Petitgrain (sweet citrus meets green leaves – fresh, elegant and uplifting).
The Sun in a Drop
In traditional Chinese medicine, Litsea cubeba has been valued for centuries for its uplifting, harmonising properties. Its sweet, lemony scent brings warmth to the coldest days and light to the darkest moods.
Litsea vs. Lemon vs. Lemongrass: All three are lemony, but each is unique. Litsea (this oil) is the sweetest and most floral – a soft, lingering lemony sweetness. Lemon is the sharpest and most zesty – bright, clean and energising. Lemongrass is the most herbal – a vibrant, grassy lemon character. All three contain citral, but in different ratios and contexts, creating three completely different scent experiences.
Product Information
- Plant: Litsea Cubeba (Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers.)
- Part used: Fresh fruits
- Extraction: Steam distillation
- Quality: 100% pure and natural essential oil (Organic)
- Origin: Vietnam
- Main components: Citral (Geranial + Neral, 65-80%), Limonene (5-15%), Linalool, 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one, Citronellal
- Packaging: Amber glass bottle with dropper – airtight and light-protected
The Scent Profile
- Main aroma: Sweet, intensely lemony and fruity – but softer and more complex than true lemon. A warm, sunny citrus that feels like bottled happiness.
- Secondary note: Delicately floral and slightly sweet, with a green, herbaceous quality that gives litsea its unique depth and staying power.
- Nuance: A subtle, candy-like sweetness with hints of sherbet and tropical fruit that rounds off the lemony freshness beautifully.
Intensity: Medium – sweet, bright and gently persistent. Litsea is the friendly citrus – it doesn't shout, it glows. And unlike true citrus oils, it stays for hours.
The Professor's Knowledge: The Scent Note
Litsea cubeba is dominated by Citral (65-80%) – the same key molecule found in lemongrass. But the scent experience is strikingly different, and the reason lies in the supporting cast. Litsea contains significant Limonene (5-15%), which lemongrass largely lacks – this adds a genuine citrus brightness. Linalool contributes a subtle floral-sweet dimension that further softens the citral sharpness. 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one (a ketone found in many fruits) adds a unique fruity-sweet character that is litsea's aromatic signature. The result is a citral-dominant oil that smells sweeter, softer and more complex than lemongrass. In perfumery, litsea is valued as a natural citral source for creating lemon-verbena type accords. The oil is distilled from the small, pepper-like fruits (which is why the plant is sometimes called "mountain pepper") – fruit-derived oils tend to be rounder and sweeter than leaf-derived oils like lemongrass. This is why litsea has become a favourite in aromatherapy – its scent is sunshine in a bottle, lasting far longer than any true citrus oil.
The Plant
Litsea cubeba is a small tropical tree from the Lauraceae (laurel) family – making it a botanical relative of cinnamon and bay laurel. Native to the tropical and subtropical forests of East and Southeast Asia, it grows to 5-10 metres in height with aromatic leaves and small, pepper-like fruits that cluster along the branches. "Cubeba" refers to the resemblance of the small fruits to cubeb pepper. The plant has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has been valued for centuries. Vietnam and southern China are the main producers of the essential oil, which is steam-distilled from the fresh, small fruits harvested before full ripeness – when the citral content is at its peak. The tree grows rapidly and produces fruit abundantly, making it a sustainable source of natural citral.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How is litsea different from lemon oil?
Both are lemony, but litsea is sweeter, softer and longer-lasting. Lemon is sharper, brighter and more zesty but evaporates faster. Litsea is steam-distilled (not phototoxic), while lemon is cold-pressed (phototoxic). For daytime skin use, litsea is the safer citrus choice.
Is litsea phototoxic?
No. Unlike cold-pressed citrus oils (lemon, bergamot, mandarin), litsea is steam-distilled and does not contain phototoxic furanocoumarins. It can be used safely on skin exposed to sunlight (always diluted, of course).
Can I use litsea for skincare?
Yes. Diluted in carrier oil (1-2 drops in 10 ml), litsea is well suited for oily and combination skin. Citral has astringent properties and is traditionally valued in natural skincare. However, citral can be sensitising – always perform a patch test and don't exceed 2% dilution.
Is litsea suitable for children?
In the diffuser, litsea is generally suitable for children over 6 years. Its sweet, cheerful scent is well-liked by children. For skin application on children, use extra caution due to the citral content and dilute well (1 drop in 10 ml carrier oil).
How should I store the oil?
Keep away from direct light and heat sources. The amber glass bottle protects from UV radiation. Close tightly after use. Litsea oil retains its quality for several years when stored correctly.
What are the benefits of Litsea Cubeba oil?
Litsea Cubeba essential oil is valued in aromatherapy for its uplifting and calming properties. Its main component, citral (65–80%), has been studied for positive mood-enhancing effects. In the diffuser it creates a bright, optimistic atmosphere. On the skin (always diluted) it has astringent properties, traditionally appreciated for oily skin care. Unlike classic citrus oils, Litsea is not phototoxic — an important advantage for daytime use.
Is Litsea Cubeba the same as May Chang?
Litsea Cubeba is sometimes marketed under the trade name "May Chang", but this is not a botanical name. The correct name is Litsea cubeba, a member of the Lauraceae (laurel) family from Southeast Asia. The plant is also called "exotic verbena" or "mountain pepper" due to its small pepper-like fruits. At Viworo, we use only the botanical name Litsea Cubeba.
Choose Your Size
Organic Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil
10 ml Bottle
10,00 €
Your daily dose of sunshine.
~200 drops per bottle · approx. €0.16/day
Recommended
30 ml Bottle
24,50 €
For blending and daily joy. You save!
~600 drops per bottle · approx. €0.13/day
Important Safety Information
- Always dilute well for skin application (max 2%). Citral can cause skin sensitisation.
- Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Not recommended for children under 6 years (skin application).
- During pregnancy, consult your doctor before use.
- Always perform a patch test before first skin use.
- For external and aromatic use only.