Camphor Oil CAS#8008-51-3: Types, Uses, and Additional Information

Camphor oil is commonly used as a medium in ceramic glaze coloring. Derived from camphor resin, it is typically light yellow in appearance, highly volatile, and characterized by a strong camphor scent. In ceramic color painting, camphor oil is mainly used to dilute and disperse freshly mixed pigments, improving flow, enabling smoother brushwork, and allowing the applied colors to dry rapidly. It is seldom applied in pastel techniques and is primarily utilized to extend colors in freehand painting.

In certain cases, camphor oil is also employed to soften dried brushes, remove hardened pigment residues from palettes, or erase dried lines on painted surfaces. It should not be blended with frankincense oil, as the presence of camphor oil in frankincense-based coloring mediums may cause painted lines to dissolve or blur.

Origin of Camphor Oil
Camphor oil is obtained from Cinnamomum camphora, an evergreen tree that can grow up to 50 meters tall. The bark of young trees is smooth and green, gradually becoming yellowish-brown with age and developing vertical cracks.

The oil is extracted from various parts of the camphor tree, including roots, trunk, branches, and leaves. The oil content is approximately 5–6% in the roots, 3.5–26% in the wood, and about 3.7% in branches and leaves. The middle section of the trunk contains around 4.23% oil, with the lower trunk yielding the highest concentration, while young branches and leaves typically contain about 1%.

Significance of Different Color Grades
Camphor oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may support skin health. Based on color, it is categorized into four main grades:

White:
This is the only grade suitable for medicinal or restorative use. Although referred to as “white,” it is actually clear or slightly milky. In addition to being the primary source for extracting eucalyptol, it is also an important natural solvent.

Brown and Yellow:
These grades are considered toxic due to their high safrole content. Safrole extracted from these oils is an essential raw material for synthesizing compounds such as piperonal and ethyl vanillin.

Blue:
Blue camphor oil is also toxic. It is mainly used for fragrancing low-grade soaps and serves as an antibacterial and deodorizing agent.

For topical or therapeutic applications, only clear or very pale camphor oil should be used.

Applications of Camphor Oil
Camphor oil has a wide range of uses. Owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is commonly incorporated into vapor rubs, balms, liniments, and ointments. It is frequently used to help alleviate irritation, itching, and pain. When formulated into medicinal products, it can also help reduce swelling and relieve chest congestion.

In addition, camphor oil is also widely applied in culinary and other traditional uses.