Essential Oils · Eucalyptus Oils
Eucalyptus globulus oil: 1,8-cineole, ISO 770, EU entry 355
Eucalyptus globulus Labill.
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- ISO standard
- ISO 770:2002
Species
| Binomial | Eucalyptus globulus |
|---|---|
| Accepted name | Eucalyptus globulus Labill. |
| WCVP status | accepted |
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| IPNI identifier | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:592965-1 |
| ISO standard | ISO 770:2002 |
| EU-regulated allergen | Annex III, entry 355: Eucalyptus globulus oil |
Source: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products, accessed on 22/09/2026.
Source: Govaerts R. (ed.), World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, accessed on 21/09/2026.
Source: ISO 770:2002.
Source: Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products (recast), accessed on 22/09/2026.
Key facts
- In WCVP, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. is a name of rank “Species” with status “Accepted”, in the family Myrtaceae.
- The ISO catalogue lists ISO 770:2002, “Crude or rectified oils of Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.)”, and two entries marked “[Withdrawn]”.
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 gives “Eucalyptus globulus oil” entry 355 in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
- In an oil hydrodistilled from leaves collected in Portugal, Moreira et al. (2022) found 1,8-cineole (72.3%) and α-pinene (9.4%) as the main components.
- In a commercial oil declared steam-distilled from fresh leaves, Čmiková et al. (2023) give “1,8-cineole” at 63.1%.
This page covers the essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus Labill.: its ISO catalogue entries, its entry in the EU cosmetics regulation and two composition studies. The two studies analysed different oils, one hydrodistilled in the laboratory and one commercial, and each is given separately.
How is Eucalyptus globulus named and classified?
According to the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP, Kew), in the extract read on 02/11/2026, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. is a name of rank “Species” with status “Accepted”, placed in the family Myrtaceae.
What does Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil contain?
What did the hydrodistilled leaf oil contain?
In the oil analysed by Moreira et al. (2022), 1,8-cineole (72.3%) and α-pinene (9.4%) were found to be the main components. In Table 1 of the study, the total identified for this leaf oil sample is 98.7% (column “%”).
The compounds of Table 1, with names as the table writes them:
| Compound (Table 1) | RI a | RI b | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “α-Pinene” | 928 | 1025 | 9.4 | |
| “Camphene” | 940 | 1077 | 0.1 | |
| “Verbenene” | 944 | 1131 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “β-Pinene” | 967 | 1113 | 0.2 | |
| “Myrcene” | 978 | 1156 | 0.1 | |
| “α-Phellandrene” | 994 | 1167 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “p-Cymene” | 1010 | 1269 | 0.8 | |
| “Limonene” | 1017 | 1201 | 2.3 | |
| “1,8-Cineole” | 1017 | 1213 | 72.3 | |
| “γ-Terpinene” | 1044 | 1248 | 0.2 | |
| “cis-Linalool oxide” | 1056 | 1438 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “trans-Linalool oxide” | 1066 | 1466 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “Cymenene” | 1068 | 1439 | 0.1 | |
| “Terpinolene” | 1074 | 1291 | 0.1 | |
| “Fenchyl alcohol” | 1096 | 1574 | 0.2 | |
| “α-Campholenal” | 1103 | 1489 | 0.2 | |
| “E-Pinocarveol” | 1118 | 1645 | 3.6 | |
| “Pinocarvone” | 1133 | 1563 | 1.4 | |
| “Mentha-1,5-dien-8-ol” | 1143 | 1720 | 0.3 | |
| “Borneol” | 1143 | 1698 | 0.3 | |
| “Terpinene-4-ol” | 1156 | 1594 | 0.3 | |
| “p-Cymene-8-ol” | 1156 | 1842 | 0.1 | |
| “Z-p-mentha-1(7),8 diene-2-ol” | 1163 | 1879 | 0.6 | |
| “α-Terpineol” | 1167 | 1690 | 0.9 | |
| “Myrtenol” | 1177 | 1788 | 0.1 | |
| “trans-Carveol” | 1193 | 1828 | 0.2 | |
| “E-p-menth-1(7)8-dien-2-ol” | 1199 | 1879 | 0.6 | |
| “Carvone” | 1212 | 1731 | 0.1 | |
| “Bornyl acetate” | 1264 | 1574 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “α-Terpinyl acetate” | 1326 | 1690 | 1.2 | |
| “E-Caryophyllene” | 1403 | 1591 | 0.1 | |
| “Aromadendrene” | 1424 | 1602 | 0.2 | |
| “α-Humulene” | 1443 | 1663 | 0.1 | |
| “Alloaromadendrene” | 1447 | 1636 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “δ- Selinene” | 1478 | 1720 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “Palustrol” | 1548 | 1916 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “Spathulenol” | 1554 | 2110 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “Caryophyllene oxide” | 1557 | 1971 | traces (≤ 0.05%) | |
| “Globulol” | 1558 | 2062 | 1.6 | |
| “Viridiflorol” | 1568 | 2064 | 0.1 | |
| “10-epi-γ-Eudesmol” | 1594 | 2093 | 0.2 | |
| “α-Muurolol” | 1617 | 2188 | 0.1 | |
| “β-Eudesmol” | 1623 | 2215 | 0.1 | |
| “α-Cadinol” | 1629 | 2218 | traces (≤ 0.05%) |
What did the commercial steam-distilled oil contain?
Table 1 of Čmiková et al. (2023) gives the compounds below, with numbers and names as the table writes them. The percentages come from the GC-FID semi-quantification. In the table, row 26 directly follows row 22; the list below keeps that numbering.
| No. | Compound (Table 1) | RI | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “isobutyl isobutyrate” | 909 | 0.1 | |
| 2 | “a-thujene” | 926 | 0.4 | |
| 3 | “a-pinene” | 938 | 7.3 | |
| 4 | “camphene” | 948 | 0.8 | |
| 5 | “sabinene” | 977 | 1.0 | |
| 6 | “b-pinene” | 980 | 3.0 | |
| 7 | “b-myrcene” | 992 | 1.7 | |
| 8 | “a-phellandrene” | 1004 | 1.0 | |
| 9 | “d-3-carene” | 1009 | 0.1 | |
| 10 | “a-terpinene” | 1016 | 1.0 | |
| 11 | “p-cimene” | 1023 | 7.7 | |
| 12 | “a-limonene” | 1028 | 6.9 | |
| 13 | “1,8-cineole” | 1033 | 63.1 | |
| 14 | “(E)-b-ocimene” | 1047 | 0.2 | |
| 15 | “g-terpinene” | 1060 | 3.6 | |
| 16 | “a-terpinolene” | 1088 | 0.6 | |
| 17 | “trans-pinocarveol” | 1140 | 0.1 | |
| 18 | “camphor” | 1148 | 0.1 | |
| 19 | “menthone” | 1151 | 0.2 | |
| 20 | “pinocarvone” | 1160 | 0.1 | |
| 21 | “4-terpinenol” | 1178 | 0.2 | |
| 22 | “a-terpineol” | 1189 | 0.1 | |
| 26 | “aromadendrene” | 1443 | 0.4 | |
| 27 | “ledene” | 1498 | traces (< 0.1%) |
The “Total” row of the table gives 99.7 (column “%”).
For five of these values, the text of the article writes the name differently from the table:
| Table writes | Text writes | % |
|---|---|---|
| “a-pinene” | “α-pinene” | 7.3 |
| “b-pinene” | “β-pinene” | 3.0 |
| “b-myrcene” | “β-myrcene” | 1.7 |
| “a-limonene” | “α-limonene” | 6.9 |
| “g-terpinene” | “γ-terpinene” | 3.6 |
How were the two leaf oils analysed?
Each row gives the gas chromatography conditions as each study reports them; the studies are not averaged.
| Study and technique | Column | Carrier gas and injection | Oven programme | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moreira et al. (2022), GC-FID: 6890 gas chromatograph, single injector, two flame ionization detectors, a divider sampling both columns simultaneously | two fused silica capillary columns: SPB-1 (polydimethylsiloxane; 30 m × 0.20 mm i.d., film thickness 0.20 μm) and SupelcoWax-10 (polyethylene glycol; 30 m × 0.20 mm i.d., film thickness 0.20 μm) | helium, linear velocity 30 cm/s; samples diluted in n-pentane (1:10), 0.2 µL injected in split mode (1:40) | 70 °C to 220 °C at 3 °C/min, held 15 min at 220 °C | injector and detectors at 250 °C |
| Moreira et al. (2022), GC-MS: 6890 gas chromatograph coupled with a 5973 mass selective detector | HP1 fused silica (polydimethylsiloxane; 30 m × 0.25 mm i.d., film thickness 0.25 μm) | same GC parameters | same GC parameters | interface 250 °C, MS source 230 °C, quadrupole 150 °C; electron impact 70 eV; ionization current 60 µA; scan range 35–350 units at 4.51 scans/s |
| Čmiková et al. (2023), GC–MS: Agilent Technologies 6890 N with a 5975 B quadrupole mass spectrometer | HP-5MS capillary (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm) | helium 5.0, 1 mL/min; sample diluted with hexane (10% solution), 1 µL injected; split ratio 40:8:1 | 60 °C to 150 °C at 3 °C/min, then 150 °C to 280 °C at 5 °C/min, held 4 min at 280 °C; total run time 60 min | split/splitless injector 280 °C, MS source 230 °C, MS quadrupole 150 °C; solvent delay 3 min; mass scan range 35–550 amu at 70 eV |
Moreira et al. (2022) identified the components from both their retention indices and their mass spectra. The retention indices, on the SPB-1 and SupelcoWax-10 columns, were determined by linear interpolation against a series of n-alkanes (C8-C23). They were compared with reference values of authentic products in the laboratory database of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra (Portugal), and with literature data. The mass spectra were compared with the laboratory database, the Wiley/NIST library and the literature.
In the same study, the relative amount of each component was estimated from GC peak areas, without any correction for FID responses. Its percentages are therefore relative, uncorrected peak-area percentages.
Čmiková et al. (2023) identified the constituents by comparing their retention indices (RI) and the reference spectra reported in the literature and stored in the MS library (Wiley7Nist). A semi-quantification of the components was performed by GC-FID on the same HP-5MS capillary column.
How was Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil obtained, and with what yield?
How was the leaf oil hydrodistilled in the laboratory?
According to Moreira et al. (2022), leaves of 6-year-old E. globulus trees were collected at random in October 2018. They came from a property at Braçal (GPS coordinates 40°44′5.388 N/8°23′53.97 W), in the region of Sever do Vouga, Portugal.
The authors submitted the fresh leaves to hydrodistillation in a modified Clevenger apparatus, as described in the European Pharmacopoeia, to isolate the essential oil. The roughly divided plant material (150 g) was placed in a round-bottom flask with 1.5 L of added distilled water. Distillation was maintained for 3 h with continuous “coobation” of the distillation water.
In this study, the oil was obtained with a yield of 1.7% (v/w, based on the weight of the fresh leaves). The isolated oil was stored in dark vials at 4 °C.
Where does the commercial oil come from?
According to Čmiková et al. (2023), the oil they studied is a commercial oil declared to come from plants cultivated in Spain. It is declared to have been prepared by steam distillation of fresh leaves; origin and process are declared, not measured by the authors. In this study, the oil was stored in the dark at 4 °C.
Which standards and regulations name Eucalyptus globulus oil?
Which ISO entries concern Eucalyptus globulus oil?
The ISO catalogue gives the following entries, as of 19 March 2026.
| Entry | Title | Mark | Stage | Committee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 770:2002 | “Crude or rectified oils of Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.)” | — | 90.93 | ISO/TC 54 |
| ISO 770:1980 | “Oil of Eucalyptus globulus” | “[Withdrawn]” | 95.99 | ISO/TC 54 |
| ISO 4732:1983 | “Rectified oil of Eucalyptus globulus Labillardière, Portugal” | “[Withdrawn]” | 95.99 | ISO/TC 54 |
How does the EU cosmetics regulation list the oil of E. globulus?
In Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, the annex amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 contains entry 355, “Eucalyptus globulus oil”, marked with note (*4). The entry is spread over two table rows.
| Row of entry 355 | Name | CAS cell | EC cell |
|---|---|---|---|
| first | glossary name “Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil;” | “97926-40-4/ 8000-48-4/” | “308-257-3/” then “616-775-9/” |
| second | “Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf/Twig Oil” | 8000-48-4 | 616-775-9 |
For entry 355, when their concentration exceeds values that the entry sets, the regulation provides that the presence of the substance or substances be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1), point (g). The name it gives for that list is “Eucalyptus Globulus Oil”.
See also: Corymbia citriodora oil, Melaleuca alternifolia, Syzygium aromaticum bud oil, hydrodistillation, extraction yield calculator, drops ↔ ml converter.
References
- Govaerts R. (ed.), World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — https://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/wcvp.zip
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO), online catalogue, ICS 71.100.60 « Essential oils », archived copy of 19/03/2026 (Internet Archive) — https://web.archive.org/web/20260319152944id_/https://www.iso.org/ics/71.100.60/x/
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products — https://publications.europa.eu/resource/celex/32023R1545
- Moreira P., Sousa F.J., Matos P., Brites G.S., Gonçalves M.J., Cavaleiro C., Figueirinha A., Salgueiro L., Batista M.T., Branco P.C., Cruz M.T., Pereira C.F., « Chemical Composition and Effect against Skin Alterations of Bioactive Extracts Obtained by the Hydrodistillation of Eucalyptus globulus Leaves », Pharmaceutics 2022;14(3):561, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14030561 — https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/efetch.fcgi?db=pmc&id=8950756
- Čmiková N., Galovičová L., Schwarzová M., Vukic M.D., Vukovic N.L., Kowalczewski P.Ł., Bakay L., Kluz M.I., Puchalski C., Kačániová M., « Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil », Plants 2023;12(5):1076, doi:10.3390/plants12051076 — https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/efetch.fcgi?db=pmc&id=10004840