Spotlight On: Ho-wood Leaf Oil

Botanical Name: Cinnamomum camphora

Type of Plant: Evergreen Tree

Method of Extraction: Steam distillation of the leaves

Don’t let the name fool you!  This oil does not smell like cinnamon!  It is obtained from the same tree as Camphor essential oil.  Ho Leaf is distilled from the leaves, while Camphor is distilled from the bark.

Although it’s currently not a widely-known oil, Ho Wood Leaf is gaining in popularity.  Due to similar chemical compositions, it is being touted as an alternative to Rosewood oil.  There is some ethical controversy surrounding the methods used to obtain Rosewood oil.  Although the oil itself is a by-product of the lumber/furniture industry, the entire tree must be destroyed in order to get at the heartwood that the oil is obtained from.  Since Ho Wood is distilled from a leaf, the tree doesn’t need to be destroyed.  Furthermore, leaves regenerate every year, rather than the 30 years a Rosewood tree must grow before it’s suitable for producing essential oil.

Their chemical compositions may be nearly identical, but Ho Wood and Rosewood do not smell alike at all.  Rosewood has a sweet, soft, rose scent (just as one would expect), while Ho Wood is astringent, sharp and camphor-like.  In her book, Aromatherapy, An A-Z, Patricia Davis contends that Ho Wood Leaf should never be used as a substitute for Rosewood.  In fact, as a member of the camphor family, she believes Ho-Wood Leaf is hazardous and should be used only by professionals.  I tend to agree with this.  Even if the two oils have similar therapeutic applications, I just cannot see substituting something as lovely as Rosewood with something as sharp as Ho Wood.

Currently I’m experimenting with this oil. I’ve been using it for muscle aches and colds/congestions.  I prefer to think of this oil as a less hazardous alternative to straight Camphor, rather than a replacement for Rosewood.