Essential Oils & Aromatherapy · Essential oil
Rosewood Oil
Aniba rosaeodora · also called Brazilian rosewood oil, pau-rosa, bois de rose oil, rosewood essential oil
Rosewood oil is a sweet, soft, woody-floral oil distilled from the wood of an Amazon tree, and it is about nine-tenths linalool. It is used for scent. We found no trial in people, only animal and lab work, so the evidence for any benefit is insufficient. The main cautions: oxidised linalool can cause skin allergy, it is not for swallowing, and the tree is endangered.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Rosewood Oil
Rosewood oil is a linalool-rich scent oil from an endangered Amazon tree. Safety comes first: oxidised linalool is a known skin allergen in patch tests, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and cats and birds are at special risk from essential oils. We found no trial in people. The few studies of benefit are in animals or the lab, so the evidence is insufficient.
An endangered tree: conservation and sourcing
Aniba rosaeodora is rated Endangered on the IUCN Red List (we read the category through the GBIF record; the IUCN site itself blocked us, so we did not read the year or criteria). A 2021 review says the species is endangered after decades of predatory exploitation and habitat loss from logging, livestock and farming, and that Brazil's environment agency IBAMA put it on the endangered list and now allows extraction only under approved sustainable management and reforestation plans.
Wikipedia says it is also listed in CITES Appendix II, covering wood and essential oil. We could not open a CITES page to confirm this, so treat it as reported, not verified.
The review says the trade oil is made only by steam distillation of trunkwood and bark, which means cutting the tree, and calls this a predatory and high-risk method. Natural regeneration is irregular, seedling supply is limited, and a 2005 project built a seed and tissue-culture collection to restore populations. Two lab papers propose distilling the leaves instead, because that does not need the tree to be cut, and show that leaf oil can be analysed as a substitute. They do not say how much leaf oil is on the market or that it matches wood oil for smell or safety. We found no source describing plantation supply.
What rosewood oil is
The oil is steam-distilled from the trunkwood and bark of Aniba rosaeodora, a tree in the laurel family from the Brazilian Amazon. Its main chemical is linalool, about 80 to 97% in the review, and 93.6% in one analysed oil. The scent is soft, sweet and woody-floral.
Linalool is also the main chemical in lavender and some other oils. Results for one oil do not automatically apply to another.
Quality: substitution and look-alikes
Because accessible rosewood trees have run short, the review says the oil is usually replaced by other Aniba species, which changes the oil, and that oils from different populations may be mixed with other Aniba oils. Papers show how different the look-alikes are: linalool ranged from 15.2 to 75.3% across four Aniba species, and two populations of the same tree differed (39.6% linalool with 22.8% alpha-phellandrene, against 83.7% linalool). Authors say look-alike species are often misidentified.
A lab Raman method and DNA barcodes can tell oils or species apart, but neither was tested on shop bottles. We found no study that tested shop rosewood oils for fakes, synthetic linalool or pesticides. Look for the full botanical name, plant part, country and a batch test report.
What people use it for, and how strong the evidence is
No trial in people tested rosewood oil for calm, mood, anxiety or sleep. In rats, nose drops improved mood-test behaviour after alcohol binges, and injected leaf oil changed rat screening tests. In mice, the oil lengthened sleep caused by a sleep drug. In a dish it lowered a cell-signal chemical, killed bacteria and cancer cell lines, and in rats injected into a vein it lowered blood pressure. None of this shows benefit in people, so all certainty is insufficient.
Other oils called rosewood
Several different trees are sold as rosewood. Australian rainforest rosewood (Dysoxylum fraserianum, a different plant family) gives an oil that is mostly sesquiterpenes, not linalool, so it is a different oil. Ho wood and other linalool oils are covered on their own pages.
What regulators say
We did not find a regulator that approves rosewood oil as a medicine. Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline give general essential-oil warnings that do not name rosewood. The conservation listings are described above: Endangered on the IUCN Red List (read through GBIF), on Brazil's endangered list (reported in the review), and CITES Appendix II as reported by Wikipedia but not verified. We could not read EU allergen labelling law, Tisserand, IFRA or SCCS entries, so none is quoted.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Perfumery: papers describe it as widely used in the perfume industry.
- Amazon folk baths and home treatments, and aromatherapy, according to a 2021 review.
- Folk use as a sedative in Brazil, as described in lab papers.
Studied for research
- Calm, mood, anxiety or sleep in people, insufficient (no human trial found)
- Mood-test behaviour in rats, animal only, insufficient
- Sedation in mice, animal only, insufficient
- Blood pressure in rats (injected), animal only, insufficient
- Germ-killing and antioxidant activity, lab only, insufficient
- Skin cancer cell lines, lab only, insufficient
Main compounds
- Linalool, about 80 to 97% of trunkwood oil in a 2021 review
- Alpha-phellandrene in some populations
- Minor components such as linalool oxides
Common forms
- Steam-distilled trunkwood and bark oil (the trade oil)
- Leaf oil (studied as a sustainable alternative)
- Other 'rosewood' oils from different trees (a different product)
Research links: Poison Control: Essential oils · Pet Poison Helpline: Essential oils · Review of Aniba oils from the Amazon (2021) · Skin allergy to oxidised linalool, Danish series (abstract) · Repeated exposure to oxidised linalool (abstract) · Leaf oil as a sustainable source (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Aniba rosaeodora Ducke (Brazilian rosewood, pau-rosa)
- Naming authority
- Ducke; published Ducke (1930) in Rev. Bot. Appliq. 8: 845 (GBIF)
- Synonyms
- Aniba duckei Kosterm.; Aniba rosaeodora var. amazonica Ducke
- Common names
- Rosewood oil (English); Brazilian rosewood (English); Pau-rosa (Portuguese); Bois de rose (French); Palo de rosa (Spanish)
- Family or group
- Lauraceae (laurel family).
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Laurales > Lauraceae > Aniba > Aniba rosaeodora
- Native range
- The review and papers place it in the Brazilian Amazon (Para and Amazonas states). A fuller range was not read.
- Habitat
- Amazon forest. The review says the density of rosewood trees in the forest is low, about 1 tree per 7 hectares (a figure from the review's reference).
- What it looks like
- Part used: Trade rosewood oil is steam-distilled from trunkwood and bark of the tree, according to the 2021 review. Leaf and twig oils have also been studied and are chemically different in some respects.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Aniba parviflora (macacaporanga); Note: The review says it is often confused with A. rosaeodora; it has a different aroma and about 40% linalool.; Name: Aniba duckei; Note: Treated as the same species as A. rosaeodora in the review.; Name: Australian rainforest rosewood (Dysoxylum fraserianum); Note: A different tree in the family Meliaceae. Its oil is mostly sesquiterpenes (ledene, beta-caryophyllene), not linalool.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Endangered on the IUCN Red List (category read from the GBIF link to IUCN; the assessment year and criteria were not read because the IUCN site blocked us). The 2021 review says the species is endangered after decades of predatory exploitation, with destruction of habitat by logging, livestock and agriculture, and that Brazil's IBAMA added it to the endangered list and allows extraction only under approved sustainable management and reforestation plans. Wikipedia lists CITES Appendix II (wood and essential oil); this was NOT verified from a CITES page (blocked). Overharvest and alternatives as the sources state: the review says cutting trunkwood and bark to distil oil is a predatory, high-risk method; propagation by cuttings survives about 70% but seedling supply is limited; a 2005 project built a germplasm collection and tissue culture to restore populations. Two lab papers (2006 and 2013) propose leaf oil as a more sustainable alternative to wood oil, because collecting leaves does not require cutting the tree; they do not say that leaf oil is available in quantity, or equal in smell or safety. Plantation supply was not described in a source we read.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Perfumery and trade | Papers describe rosewood oil as widely used in the perfumery industry. A 2020 paper says the species has been exploited for its oil since the end of the nineteenth century. | Teles 2020; Amazonas 2020 |
| Brazilian Amazon folk use | The leaves and wood of A. rosaeodora are used in Amazonian folk baths such as at the Sao Joao festival, and the oil has been used in aromatherapy and home treatments for skin care and the immune and nervous systems, according to the 2021 review. Papers say folk medicine in Brazil uses the plant for sedation, seizures and low mood. | da Trindade 2021; de Almeida 2009; Dos Santos 2018 |
| Conservation response | Brazil's IBAMA rules allow extraction only with approved management and reforestation plans; a 2005 award-funded project built a germplasm collection and tissue-culture work to restore populations (as reported in the 2021 review). | da Trindade 2021 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linalool PubChem 6549 | acyclic monoterpene alcohol | Trunkwood and bark (oil) About 80 to 97% in trunkwood oil (2021 review); 93.60% in one analysed oil; 79.0 to 88.60% in A. rosaeodora leaf oils from Para; 88.6% in a pau-rosa leaf oil | Main scent chemical. Oxidised linalool (hydroperoxides) is a skin allergen in patch tests. Studied in animals and cells for calming and sedative effects. 24 20 9 5 8 | Analysis |
| Alpha-phellandrene | monoterpene hydrocarbon | Seen in some populations 22.8% alongside linalool 39.6% in one population (RESEX); mainly linalool 83.7% in another (FLONA) | Marker of oils that are not linalool-dominant; its role was not studied here. 2 | Analysis |
| Other minor components | mixed | Wood and leaf oils The review lists beta-selinene, aromadendrene oxide, (E)-nerolidyl acetate and cis-linalool oxide (1.84%) in some Para leaf oils. | Not studied for effects in the papers read. 24 | Analysis |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenylate cyclase / cAMP (cell signalling) | adenylate cyclase (not further specified) | Rosewood oil and linalool lowered forskolin-stimulated cAMP in chick retina. 17 | Laboratory research |
| Lowered nerve excitability (proposed for sedation) | not identified | A nerve in a dish lost almost all signal at a high concentration; mice slept longer with a sleep drug. 25 | Animal research |
| Vagal lung-nerve reflex and blood-vessel relaxation | not identified; TRPV1 and TRPA1 were not involved in the rat study | Injected oil lowered blood pressure and heart rate in rats through a reflex and direct vessel widening. 26 | Animal research |
| Brain growth factor, antioxidant and inflammatory markers | BDNF, S100B, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha | Nasal oil changed these markers in rat brain areas after alcohol exposure. 10 | Animal research |
| Programmed cell death in skin cancer cell lines | caspases (not further specified) | The oil killed cancer cell lines more than normal skin cells. 19 | Laboratory research |
| Skin sensitisation by oxidised linalool | IL1B, IL1RN, IL4, GATA3, CCL22 (skin gene activity) | Biopsies from sensitised people after repeated exposure showed activity in these immune genes. 6 | Human data |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- No human blood-level data for rosewood oil by scent or skin were found.
- Distribution
- Not studied.
- Metabolism
- Not studied.
- Elimination
- Not studied.
- Bioavailability
- Not studied.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Rosewood oil is mostly one chemical, linalool, so many results for linalool apply in kind. The oil also contains other compounds, and its make-up varies by population, plant part and substituted species. In the lab studies, the oil and pure linalool acted alike, but animal and skin-allergy findings for linalool cannot be turned into a statement about the oil in people.
Nutritional composition
Not a food. Rosewood oil is not a source of nutrients.
8 not enough evidence
What is Rosewood Oil good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is. Read the certainty label first: we found no trial of rosewood oil in people, so every line below is animal or lab work and is labelled insufficient.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Calm, mood, anxiety or sleep in people (rosewood scent or skin use)
Not enough evidenceWe found no study in people that tested rosewood oil for calm, mood, anxiety or sleep. Everything below is animal or lab work. The evidence in people is insufficient.
1 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
We searched PubMed for rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora) and found no trial in people for this use.
Results
No human result exists to report.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
No trial in people was found; a result for linalool alone or for animals cannot be carried over to the oil in people.
Form and dose studied
Not applicable.
Who was studied
Not applicable.
Limits
No people were tested.
Why researchers looked
Rosewood oil is mostly linalool, which is studied in labs for calming effects, so people ask whether the scent relaxes.
Traditional use
Folk use in the Brazilian Amazon is described in papers as sedative and anticonvulsant; the 2021 review says the oil is used in aromatherapy and home treatments. No regulator we found accepts rosewood oil for any health use.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
Not shown in people. Papers propose that linalool calms nerve signalling, based on animal and tissue work.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Mood-test behaviour and brain markers in rats after alcohol binges (oil in the nose)
Not enough evidenceIn young female rats given repeated alcohol binges, rosewood oil dropped into the nose improved mood-test behaviour and brain chemistry markers. This is animal work only, so it says nothing yet about people.
1 studiesRosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora), hydrodistilled, given in the nose of…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One study: adolescent female Wistar rats got four cycles of alcohol binge-like dosing and daily oil in the nose for 28 days (Dos Santos 2024).
Results
Compared with alcohol-exposed rats, oil-treated rats did better on the splash and forced-swim tests and had higher BDNF, S100B and glutathione and lower IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and neurofilament light chain.
Effect sizes as reported
Reported as significant in the abstract; no numbers given.
Why this rating
Animal study only; one team; rat nasal dosing does not match human scent use.
Form and dose studied
Rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora), hydrodistilled, given in the nose of rats; the amount is in the paper and is not advice.
Who was studied
Adolescent female rats.
Limits
Animal only; alcohol-exposure model; no human data; nasal drops of oil are not a safe way for people to use an essential oil.
Why researchers looked
Teams in Brazil tested whether the linalool-rich local oil protects the brain from alcohol's effects in a rat model.
Traditional use
Folk use in the Brazilian Amazon is described in papers as sedative and anticonvulsant; the 2021 review says the oil is used in aromatherapy and home treatments. No regulator we found accepts rosewood oil for any health use.
Proposed mechanism Animal lab
The authors suggest linalool raises nerve growth factors, rebalances antioxidants and lowers inflammatory signals. Shown as changes in rat brain tissue, not tested in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Antidepressant-type behaviour in rats (injected leaf oil)
Not enough evidenceIn rats, injected pau-rosa leaf oil and pure linalool changed behaviour in tests used to screen for antidepressant-type effects. It is animal work on a leaf oil, so it does not describe the trunkwood oil sold as rosewood oil.
1 studiesLeaf oil injected into the abdomen of rats; the amounts are in the pa…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One study: male Wistar rats given injections of three Amazon leaf oils (pau-rosa from Aniba rosaeodora, macacaporanga, catinga-de-mulata) or linalool (Dos Santos 2018).
Results
At the highest dose all three oils and linalool showed antidepressant-type activity; movement and memory were not harmed. Linalool was 88.6% of the pau-rosa oil.
Effect sizes as reported
No numbers in the abstract.
Why this rating
One animal study of a leaf oil by injection; not people.
Form and dose studied
Leaf oil injected into the abdomen of rats; the amounts are in the paper and are not advice.
Who was studied
Male rats.
Limits
Animal only; leaf oil, not trunkwood oil; injection route.
Why researchers looked
The Amazon leaf oils are used in folk medicine for the nervous system, so researchers screened them in rodent tests.
Traditional use
Folk use in the Brazilian Amazon is described in papers as sedative and anticonvulsant; the 2021 review says the oil is used in aromatherapy and home treatments. No regulator we found accepts rosewood oil for any health use.
Proposed mechanism Animal lab
Linalool is named as the likely active part, possibly helped by other parts of the oils. Not tested in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Sleep-drug effect in mice and nerve signals in a dish
Not enough evidenceIn mice, rosewood oil lengthened the sleeping time caused by a sleep drug, and in a dish it nearly silenced a rat nerve at a high concentration. This points to a sedating action in animals; nothing was tested in people.
1 studiesRosewood oil given to mice by dose, and applied to an isolated nerve;…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One study: mice given oil before a sleep drug, plus an isolated rat nerve bathed in the oil (de Almeida 2009).
Results
At the higher doses sleep started sooner and lasted longer in mice. On the nerve the signal fell by almost 100% at 100 micrograms/mL for 30 minutes.
Effect sizes as reported
Reported as significant; no further numbers in the abstract.
Why this rating
Animal and tissue study only.
Form and dose studied
Rosewood oil given to mice by dose, and applied to an isolated nerve; amounts in the paper are not advice.
Who was studied
Mice and rat nerve tissue.
Limits
Animal and tissue only. A sedating action also means caution: it was made stronger by a sleep drug. Ask a pharmacist about mixing.
Why researchers looked
Rosewood is known in Brazilian folk medicine for sedation, so this paper tested that idea in animals.
Traditional use
Folk use in the Brazilian Amazon is described in papers as sedative and anticonvulsant; the 2021 review says the oil is used in aromatherapy and home treatments. No regulator we found accepts rosewood oil for any health use.
Proposed mechanism Animal lab
The authors suggest the oil lowers nerve excitability by shrinking nerve signals, based on the dish experiment.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Cell-signal changes in chick retina (lab)
Not enough evidenceIn bird retina tissue, rosewood oil and its linalool lowered a cell-signal chemical (cAMP). Researchers link this to linalool's calming action seen in earlier lab work. It is tissue work only.
1 studiesRosewood oil and linalool added to retina tissue in a dish.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One tissue study in chick retinas (Sampaio 2012).
Results
The oil and both forms of linalool reduced the cAMP build-up; their potencies were not statistically different.
Effect sizes as reported
IC50 values in the micromolar range; relative efficacy differed.
Why this rating
Single lab study in bird tissue; no animal or human outcome.
Form and dose studied
Rosewood oil and linalool added to retina tissue in a dish.
Who was studied
Chick retina tissue.
Limits
Lab only; the paper shows a mechanism, not a benefit.
Why researchers looked
To understand how linalool might calm nerve cells, researchers tested its effect on one cell-signal enzyme.
Traditional use
The authors describe linalool as having studied anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant effects in animal work.
Proposed mechanism Lab
Rosewood oil, (-)-linalool and (+/-)-linalool reduced forskolin-stimulated cAMP build-up in chick retinas.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Blood pressure and heart rate in rats (oil injected into a vein)
Not enough evidenceIn rats, rosewood oil injected into a vein lowered blood pressure and slowed the heart through a lung-nerve reflex and by relaxing blood vessels. This is not how the oil is used, and no study has tested it in people.
1 studiesAniba rosaeodora oil injected into a vein; not advice.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One study in anaesthetised and awake rats and in isolated aorta rings (de Siqueira 2014).
Results
Injection lowered blood pressure and heart rate in a dose-dependent way; aorta rings relaxed.
Effect sizes as reported
Dose-dependent in the abstract; no numbers.
Why this rating
Animal study with injection into a vein; not a use route for people.
Form and dose studied
Aniba rosaeodora oil injected into a vein; not advice.
Who was studied
Rats.
Limits
Animal only. It does not show that scent or skin use changes blood pressure in people.
Why researchers looked
Researchers asked how the oil's linalool affects circulation in animals.
Traditional use
None described in the papers we read.
Proposed mechanism Animal lab
Phase one looked like a vagus-nerve reflex from lung nerve endings; phase two looked like direct widening of blood vessels. Shown in rat tissue and live rats.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Germ-killing and antioxidant activity in the lab
Not enough evidenceIn test tubes, a rosewood oil sample that was 93.6% linalool stopped the growth of every bacterial strain tested and acted as an antioxidant. It did not harm mouse immune cells. It was not tested as a treatment for any infection.
1 studiesOil and linalool applied to cultures.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One lab study of the oil and linalool on bacteria, parasite cultures and mouse macrophages (Teles 2020).
Results
Active against all strains tested, strongest against S. aureus; antioxidant EC50 15.46 micrograms/mL for the oil; activity against T. cruzi needed high concentrations.
Effect sizes as reported
Lab numbers only.
Why this rating
Test-tube work; nothing shows benefit in an infection.
Form and dose studied
Oil and linalool applied to cultures.
Who was studied
Bacterial cultures, parasites, mouse cells.
Limits
Lab only; test-tube activity often does not carry over to people. Do not use the oil for infections.
Why researchers looked
Essential oils are often tested for germ-killing power, and rosewood is no exception.
Traditional use
None described in the paper.
Proposed mechanism Lab
Not worked out. The oil and pure linalool acted alike, which suggests linalool is the active part, but this was lab work.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Killing of skin cancer cell lines in a dish
Not enough evidenceIn a dish, rosewood oil killed human skin cancer cell lines far more than normal skin cells. The authors call this only a potential. It is not a treatment for skin cancer.
1 studiesOil added to cells in a dish.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One lab study of human skin cell lines (Soeur 2011).
Results
The oil killed A431 and HaCaT cells while having a minor effect on normal keratinocytes.
Effect sizes as reported
No numbers in the abstract.
Why this rating
Cell-line work only.
Form and dose studied
Oil added to cells in a dish.
Who was studied
Human skin cell lines.
Limits
Lab only. See a doctor about any skin spot that changes; do not use the oil for skin cancer.
Why researchers looked
Researchers tested whether the oil spares normal skin cells while harming abnormal ones.
Traditional use
None described.
Proposed mechanism Lab
The oil raised reactive oxygen species and set off programmed cell death in the cancer cell lines, in a dish.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Safety is on the Safety tab: the main chemical, linalool, forms skin allergens when it meets air, the oil is not for swallowing or for use undiluted, and pets and children need special care. No amounts are advised here. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using essential oils in pregnancy or alongside medicines.
Connections to the rest of health
How Rosewood Oil connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calm Relaxation | Not enough evidence | Calm, mood, anxiety or sleep in people (rosewood scent or skin use): We found no study in people that tested rosewood oil for calm, mood, anxiety or sleep. Everything below is animal or lab work. The evidence in people is insufficient. | 24 | |
| Anxiety Support | Not enough evidence | Calm, mood, anxiety or sleep in people (rosewood scent or skin use): We found no study in people that tested rosewood oil for calm, mood, anxiety or sleep. Everything below is animal or lab work. The evidence in people is insufficient. | 24 | |
| Better Sleep | Not enough evidence | Calm, mood, anxiety or sleep in people (rosewood scent or skin use): We found no study in people that tested rosewood oil for calm, mood, anxiety or sleep. Everything below is animal or lab work. The evidence in people is insufficient. | 24 | |
| Anxiety Support | Not enough evidence | Mood-test behaviour and brain markers in rats after alcohol binges (oil in the nose): In young female rats given repeated alcohol binges, rosewood oil dropped into the nose improved mood-test behaviour and brain chemistry markers. This is animal work only, so it says nothing yet about people. | 10 | |
| Mood Balance | Not enough evidence | Mood-test behaviour and brain markers in rats after alcohol binges (oil in the nose): In young female rats given repeated alcohol binges, rosewood oil dropped into the nose improved mood-test behaviour and brain chemistry markers. This is animal work only, so it says nothing yet about people. Antidepressant-type behaviour in rats (injected leaf oil): In rats, injected pau-rosa leaf oil and pure linalool changed behaviour in tests used to screen for antidepressant-type effects. It is animal work on a leaf oil, so it does not describe the trunkwood oil sold as rosewood oil. | 10 9 | |
| Better Sleep | Not enough evidence | Sleep-drug effect in mice and nerve signals in a dish: In mice, rosewood oil lengthened the sleeping time caused by a sleep drug, and in a dish it nearly silenced a rat nerve at a high concentration. This points to a sedating action in animals; nothing was tested in people. | 25 | |
| Calm Relaxation | Not enough evidence | Sleep-drug effect in mice and nerve signals in a dish: In mice, rosewood oil lengthened the sleeping time caused by a sleep drug, and in a dish it nearly silenced a rat nerve at a high concentration. This points to a sedating action in animals; nothing was tested in people. | 25 | |
| Calm Relaxation | Not enough evidence | Cell-signal changes in chick retina (lab): In bird retina tissue, rosewood oil and its linalool lowered a cell-signal chemical (cAMP). Researchers link this to linalool's calming action seen in earlier lab work. It is tissue work only. | 17 | |
| Blood Pressure Support | Not enough evidence | Blood pressure and heart rate in rats (oil injected into a vein): In rats, rosewood oil injected into a vein lowered blood pressure and slowed the heart through a lung-nerve reflex and by relaxing blood vessels. This is not how the oil is used, and no study has tested it in people. | 26 | |
| Immune Support | Not enough evidence | Germ-killing and antioxidant activity in the lab: In test tubes, a rosewood oil sample that was 93.6% linalool stopped the growth of every bacterial strain tested and acted as an antioxidant. It did not harm mouse immune cells. It was not tested as a treatment for any infection. | 20 | |
| Cellular Protection | Not enough evidence | Germ-killing and antioxidant activity in the lab: In test tubes, a rosewood oil sample that was 93.6% linalool stopped the growth of every bacterial strain tested and acted as an antioxidant. It did not harm mouse immune cells. It was not tested as a treatment for any infection. Killing of skin cancer cell lines in a dish: In a dish, rosewood oil killed human skin cancer cell lines far more than normal skin cells. The authors call this only a potential. It is not a treatment for skin cancer. | 20 19 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nervous System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Calm, mood, anxiety or sleep in people (rosewood scent or skin use) Studied for: Mood-test behaviour and brain markers in rats after alcohol binges (oil in the nose) | 24 10 9 25 17 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Blood pressure and heart rate in rats (oil injected into a vein) | 26 |
| Immune System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Germ-killing and antioxidant activity in the lab | 20 |
| Integumentary System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Killing of skin cancer cell lines in a dish | 19 |
C. Body parts and organs
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact dermatitis | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | Patch-test data on oxidised linalool; no rosewood-specific series. Patch-test data on oxidised linalool. Preparation or compound: Rosewood oil (oxidised linalool) |
5 8 18 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linalool | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | Main component of rosewood oil; forms sensitising hydroperoxides in air. Main component of rosewood oil. Preparation or compound: Linalool (oxidised) |
6 14 |
| Linalool | Biological association | Analysis | Main scent chemical. Oxidised linalool (hydroperoxides) is a skin allergen in patch tests. Studied in animals and cells for calming and sedative effects. Preparation or compound: Trunkwood and bark (oil) |
24 20 9 5 8 |
| Alpha-phellandrene | Biological association | Analysis | Marker of oils that are not linalool-dominant; its role was not studied here. Preparation or compound: Seen in some populations |
2 |
| Other minor components | Biological association | Analysis | Not studied for effects in the papers read. Preparation or compound: Wood and leaf oils |
24 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
The evidence
The research centre for Rosewood Oil. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read the abstracts of the PubMed papers listed, plus the full text of the 2021 Aniba review in parts, the Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline pages, and the GBIF and NCBI taxonomy records. We could not open the IUCN or CITES sites, EU law, Tisserand, IFRA, SCCS or LiverTox.
Study library: every study we checked 26
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almeida 2013 Classification of Amazonian rosewood essential oil by Raman spectroscopy and PLS-DA with reliability estimation. Talanta · PMID 24209345 · DOI |
Lab none |
Rosewood oils from wood, leaves and branches of Aniba rosaeodora | Essential oil from wood, leaves and branches wood, leaf, branch Not applicable · vs None |
A Raman-spectroscopy method sorted oils from wood, leaves and branches with 100% sensitivity and specificity in the authors' best model. The paper says the tree is at risk of extinction after decades of predatory extraction and that oil from leaves is an important sustainable alternative. Method paper. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Classification of the oil by plant part Limitations: A screening method tested in one lab; not shown to catch adulteration in shop oils. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Amazonas 2020 Chemical and Genotypic Variations in Aniba rosiodora from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. Molecules · PMID 33375652 · DOI |
Lab none |
Two Aniba rosiodora populations in western Para State, Brazil | Essential oils and methanol extracts leaf and others (not stated in abstract) Not applicable · vs Between populations |
One population's oil had alpha-phellandrene 22.8% and linalool 39.6%; the other had mostly linalool 83.7%. The authors link the difference to genetic difference. They note that look-alike Aniba species are often misidentified. Chemistry paper. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil chemistry and genetics Limitations: Two sites only; the abstract does not say which plant part gave the oil. Funding and conflicts: Brazilian public research agencies; no conflict declared Read: abstract |
| America's Poison Centers (Poison Control) 2026 Essential oils: poisonous when misused poison.org · Source |
Regulator page none |
General public | Essential oils in general (rosewood and linalool are not named) |
Some oils can be poisonous if absorbed through the skin or swallowed; many cause rashes; diluting in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a reaction from direct skin contact; do not use essential oils on damaged skin; children's thin skin and immature livers may make them more vulnerable; oil breathed into the lungs can cause pneumonia; essential oils may interact with medicines; keep them out of reach of children and pets. Page read 2026-10-25. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Swallowing, skin, children, storage Limitations: General page; names neither rosewood nor linalool. Read: page text |
| Angrizani 2013 Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the endangered Amazonian tree Aniba rosaeodora (Lauraceae). Appl Plant Sci · PMID 25202581 · DOI |
Lab plant |
Two central Amazon populations of Aniba rosaeodora | DNA markers (11 microsatellite loci) tree DNA Not applicable · vs None |
Eleven DNA markers were developed; the authors call Brazilian rosewood an endangered neotropical hardwood tree and say the markers can help conservation genetics. Method paper. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Marker variation Limitations: Genetics tool; not a count of trees. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract |
| Botvid 2026 Ten Years of Patch Testing to Hydroperoxides of Limonene and Linalool: Prevalence, Patterns and Clinical Insights. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 41638887 · DOI |
Observational |
6719 6,719 patients patch tested at Gentofte Hospital, Denmark (2014-2025) |
Patch test with oxidised linalool (linalool hydroperoxides), 1.0% chemical (not an oil) Not applicable · vs None |
3.1% had a positive reaction to linalool hydroperoxides (1.6% for limonene hydroperoxides). Most reactions were weak and peaked on day 3 or 4. Reactions often went with allergy to other fragrances. Prevalence 3.1% in a dermatitis clinic. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Positive patch tests Limitations: Patients already at a skin clinic, so not a rate for ordinary users; tests used oxidised linalool, not rosewood oil. Funding and conflicts: Danish Environmental Protection Agency; authors declare no conflicts. Read: abstract |
| Botvid 2026 Repeated Exposure to Hydroperoxides of Linalool Induces Immunologically Verified Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 41713461 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
32 12 people already allergic to oxidised linalool and 20 healthy controls |
Twice-daily repeated open application of a simulated perfume containing linalool hydroperoxides at three levels, for 21 days chemical (not an oil) 21 days · vs Healthy controls |
Positive reactions occurred in 4 of 12 (33%) at the highest level, 2 of 12 (17%) at the middle level and 1 of 12 (8%) at the lowest level; none in controls. Biopsies showed immune pathways consistent with fragrance allergy. Reactions were dose-related in sensitised people. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Skin reactions; gene activity in skin biopsies Limitations: Small; people were already allergic; a perfume mix, not rosewood oil. Funding and conflicts: Asthma and Allergy Denmark and a private foundation; authors declare no conflicts. Read: abstract |
| CITES Secretariat 2026 CITES Appendices / Species+ entry for Aniba rosaeodora (not opened) cites.org, checklist.cites.org · Source |
Regulator page none |
Not applicable | Aniba rosaeodora |
NOT verified from a CITES page. CITES pages and documents returned HTTP 403 to our requests. The CITES checklist page summary confirmed only that the species appears in a CITES appendix listing. A web search summary of CITES documents said it was added to Appendix II at the 2010 Conference of the Parties on Brazil's proposal, with an annotation that covers logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood and essential oil; we did not read those documents. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Trade listing Limitations: Primary source not read. Read: not read |
| Dittmar 2019 Contact sensitization to hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool: Results of consecutive patch testing and clinical relevance. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 30378131 · DOI |
Observational |
821 821 consecutive dermatitis patients patch tested |
Patch test with linalool hydroperoxides 1.0% and limonene hydroperoxides 0.3% chemical (not an oil) Not applicable · vs None |
11.7% reacted to linalool hydroperoxides (95% CI 9.5% to 13.9%). Most reactions were judged possibly or probably relevant to the patient's dermatitis (68.8%); 19.8% were judged certainly relevant. 11.7% positive; about one in five judged certainly relevant. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Positive patch tests and clinical relevance Limitations: One clinic; dermatitis patients; not rosewood oil. Funding and conflicts: Not stated; no conflict declared Read: abstract |
| Dos Santos ÉRQ 2018 Linalool-rich essential oils from the Amazon display antidepressant-type effect in rodents. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 29037915 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Male Wistar rats | Leaf oils of pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora), macacaporanga (Aniba parviflora) and catinga-de-mulata, plus a linalool standard, injected into the abdomen leaf oil Single doses · vs Untreated rats |
All three oils (highest dose) and standard linalool showed antidepressant-type activity in the tests. Linalool made up 88.6% of the pau-rosa oil, 45% of macacaporanga and 49.3% of catinga-de-mulata. Movement and memory were not impaired. Animal only; abstract gives no effect sizes. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Open field, elevated plus maze, splash, forced-swim and inhibitory-avoidance tests Limitations: Rats, injected rather than inhaled; leaf oil, not the trunkwood oil sold as rosewood oil; three oils tested together. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Dos Santos ÉRQ 2024 Linalool-rich rosewood essential oil (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) mitigates emotional and neurochemical impairments induced by ethanol binge-like exposure during adolescence in female rats. Biomed Pharmacother · PMID 39024836 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Adolescent female Wistar rats given repeated binge-like alcohol | Rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora), hydrodistilled, given in the nose oil Daily for 28 days · vs Alcohol-exposed rats without oil |
Nose-dropped rosewood oil lessened the mood-test impairments caused by alcohol and raised BDNF, S100B, glutathione and antioxidant activity in brain areas. It also prevented the alcohol-related rise of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and neurofilament light chain. Animal only; the abstract gives no numbers. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Mood-test behaviour (splash and forced-swim tests); brain levels of BDNF, S100B, glutathione, antioxidant activity, inflammatory signals Limitations: Rats, an alcohol-binge model; not a result in people. The authors say effects are 'possibly' due to linalool. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no competing financial interests. Read: abstract |
| GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Aniba rosaeodora Ducke GBIF API, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record none |
Not applicable | Aniba rosaeodora |
Accepted species, key 7304518, family Lauraceae, order Laurales, genus Aniba, authority Ducke. Listed synonyms include Aniba duckei Kosterm. and Aniba rosaeodora var. amazonica Ducke. Common names in GBIF include Brazilian rosewood, pau-rosa, bois de rose and palo de rosa. The same record set links an IUCN Red List category of Endangered (code EN). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Identity Limitations: Database entry. Read: API record |
| IUCN / GBIF 2026 IUCN Red List category for Aniba rosaeodora, as returned by the GBIF API GBIF iucnRedListCategory endpoint, read 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record none |
Not applicable | Aniba rosaeodora |
Category: ENDANGERED (EN). The record is filed under an alternative spelling of the name (Aniba rosodora Ducke). The IUCN Red List website itself blocked our request (HTTP 403), so the assessment year and criteria were not read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Conservation status Limitations: Secondary read of the IUCN category; year and criteria not seen. Read: API record |
| NCBI 2026 NCBI Taxonomy: Aniba rosaeodora NCBI Taxonomy API, checked 2026-10-25 · Source |
Database record none |
Not applicable | Aniba rosaeodora |
Species record, taxid 1352902, authority Ducke, division flowering plants. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Identity Limitations: Database entry. Read: API record |
| Ogueta 2022 Limonene and linalool hydroperoxides review: Pros and cons for routine patch testing. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 35122274 · DOI |
Review none |
Studies of patch testing with oxidised limonene and linalool | Oxidised linalool and limonene (hydroperoxides) chemical (not an oil) Not applicable · vs None |
Linalool and limonene form hydroperoxides when they oxidise and cause frequent positive patch tests; problems with doubtful or irritant reactions are also reported. The authors say adding them to the routine skin-clinic test series may be justified. Narrative review. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Frequency and relevance of positive patch tests Limitations: Review of patch-test studies in clinic patients; exposure and sensitising limits in real products still not well known. Funding and conflicts: No conflict stated Read: abstract |
| Pet Poison Helpline 2026 Essential oils (pet safety tips) petpoisonhelpline.com · Source |
Regulator page none |
Pets | Essential oils in general (rosewood and linalool are not named) |
Cats and birds are at the greatest risk; signs include drooling, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and skin, airway or mouth irritation; signs usually develop within 6 to 8 hours with most oils; do not induce vomiting. Page read 2026-10-25. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Signs, onset, risk by species Limitations: General page; rosewood is not on its list of named oils, which is not proof of safety. Read: page text |
| Polito 2026 The Australian Rainforest Rosewood: From Wood Characteristics to Chemical Profile and Biological Activity of Its Essential Oil. Plants (Basel) · PMID 41754349 · DOI |
Lab none |
Dysoxylum fraserianum hardwood oil | Essential oil of Australian rosewood (a different tree, family Meliaceae) hardwood Not applicable · vs None |
The oil of Australian rosewood is mostly sesquiterpenes (ledene 12.74%, beta-caryophyllene 8.43%, delta-cadinene 7.18%), unlike the linalool-rich oil of Aniba rosaeodora. Chemistry paper. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil chemistry and lab activity Limitations: One author works for a company named Essentially Australia; a different species from Aniba. Funding and conflicts: One author employed by a company; others declare none Read: abstract |
| Sampaio Lde 2012 Linalool from rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) oil inhibits adenylate cyclase in the retina, contributing to understanding its biological activity. Phytother Res · PMID 21544884 · DOI |
Lab tissue |
Chick retinas | Rosewood oil and its linalool forms oil Not applicable · vs Forskolin-stimulated tissue |
Rosewood oil, (-)-linalool and (+/-)-linalool each reduced the cAMP build-up stimulated by forskolin, with IC50 values in the micromolar range. Lab only. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: cAMP build-up (a cell-signal chemical) Limitations: Bird retina tissue; the authors link this to linalool's calming effects seen in earlier lab work; it shows no effect in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Sukakul 2022 Contact allergy to oxidized linalool and oxidized limonene: Patch testing in consecutive patients with dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 34561893 · DOI |
Observational |
5773 5,773 dermatitis patients patch tested 2013 to 2020 |
Patch test with oxidised linalool and oxidised limonene chemical (not an oil) Not applicable · vs None |
Contact allergy to oxidised linalool was 7.0% and to oxidised limonene 5.1%, with rising trends over the years. More than 95% of cases showed on day 3 or 4. 7.0% positive for oxidised linalool. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Positive patch tests Limitations: Dermatitis-clinic patients; the authors say clinical relevance needs more study before recommending screening. Funding and conflicts: Public foundations (HudFonden, Edvard Welanders Stiftelse) Read: abstract |
| Sœur 2011 Selective cytotoxicity of Aniba rosaeodora essential oil towards epidermoid cancer cells through induction of apoptosis. Mutat Res · PMID 21070863 · DOI |
Lab cells |
Human skin cancer cell lines (A431, HaCaT) and normal keratinocytes | Aniba rosaeodora essential oil oil Not applicable · vs Normal keratinocytes |
In a range of concentrations the oil killed the A431 and HaCaT skin cancer cell lines, and had only a minor toxic effect on normal skin cells. Lab only. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Cell killing and signs of programmed cell death Limitations: Cells in a dish; the authors call it only a 'potential' anticancer activity. Nothing here shows the oil treats any skin disease. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Teles 2020 Aniba rosaeodora (Var. amazonica Ducke) Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Antitrypanosomal Activity. Antibiotics (Basel) · PMID 33396612 · DOI |
Lab cells |
Bacteria, parasite cultures and mouse macrophage cells | Aniba rosaeodora oil (93.60% linalool) and linalool oil Not applicable · vs Standard controls |
The oil and linalool were active against all the bacterial strains tested (lowest minimum inhibitory concentration against S. aureus) and showed antioxidant activity (EC50 15.46 and 6.78 micrograms/mL). Activity against T. cruzi needed high concentrations. Neither was toxic to mouse macrophages. Lab only. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-trypanosome activity; cell toxicity Limitations: Test-tube and cell work; no infection in an animal or person was treated. Funding and conflicts: Funded by Brazilian public research agencies; authors declare no conflict of interest. Read: abstract |
| Wikipedia contributors 2026 Aniba rosaeodora (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.org, read 2026-10-25 · Source |
Secondary source none |
Not applicable | Aniba rosaeodora |
Says the species is Endangered under IUCN 3.1, is listed in CITES Appendix II covering wood and essential oil, and is on Brazil's official list of endangered flora. Says populations declined because of destructive harvesting and that using leaves as an oil source would help conserve the species. Not a primary source. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Conservation status Limitations: Encyclopedia page, used only to cross-check; gives no CITES year or annotation. Read: page text |
| Xavier JKAM 2021 Essential Oil Composition and DNA Barcode and Identification of Aniba species (Lauraceae) Growing in the Amazon Region. Molecules · PMID 33805452 · DOI |
Lab none |
Aniba canelilla, A. parviflora, A. rosaeodora and A. terminalis from Para State | Essential oils and DNA markers not stated Not applicable · vs None |
Linalool ranged from 15.2 to 75.3% across the four species' oils. DNA markers separated the species. The authors say taxonomy is hard because the species look alike. Chemistry and DNA paper. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil chemistry and DNA barcodes Limitations: Shows look-alike Aniba species have very different oils; it does not test shop oils. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract |
| d'Acampora Zellner 2006 Evaluation of leaf-derived extracts as an environmentally sustainable source of essential oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and enantioselective gas chromatography-olfactometry. Anal Chem · PMID 16448064 · DOI |
Lab none |
Brazilian rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) leaf and wood samples | Leaf-derived and wood-derived rosewood oil leaf, wood Not applicable · vs Wood oil |
The authors conclude that the leaves are a potential substitute for wood as a source of Brazilian rosewood oil and of natural linalool. Chemistry and smell testing only. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemical profile and smell tests Limitations: A chemistry paper; it says nothing about safety, and leaf oil is not the same as the trunkwood oil. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| da Trindade 2021 Chemical Diversity and Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oils of Aniba Species from the Amazon: A Review. Plants (Basel) · PMID 34579388 · DOI |
Review none |
15 Aniba species, 167 oil samples | Aniba essential oils from leaves, twig bark and wood wood, bark, leaf Not applicable · vs None |
Review. Reports linalool at about 80 to 97% in A. rosaeodora trunkwood oil; trade oil from steam distillation of trunkwood and bark; the species is endangered after logging; other Aniba species often replace it, which changes the oil. Narrative review; no pooled effect. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Oil chemistry, conservation, traditional use, biological activity Limitations: Narrative review of mostly chemistry and lab work; PMC full text was read for the conservation, history and chemistry sections only. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest. Read: PMC full text, parts |
| de Almeida 2009 Rosewood oil induces sedation and inhibits compound action potential in rodents. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 19505550 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Mice (sleep test) and isolated rat nerve | Linalool-rich rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora) given by dose to mice; oil bathing an isolated nerve oil Single doses; 30 minutes on nerve · vs Control mice |
Rosewood oil at the higher doses shortened the time to sleep and lengthened sleeping time in mice given a sleep drug. On an isolated rat nerve the signal fell by almost 100% after 30 minutes at 100 micrograms/mL. Animal and tissue only. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Time to sleep and sleeping time with pentobarbital; nerve action-potential size Limitations: Mice and a nerve in a dish; the amount used is not a human amount; the oil's source part is not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| de Siqueira 2014 Linalool-rich rosewood oil induces vago-vagal bradycardic and depressor reflex in rats. Phytother Res · PMID 23447129 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Anaesthetised and awake rats; isolated rat aorta rings | Linalool-rich Aniba rosaeodora oil injected into a vein oil Single injections · vs Untreated or blocked animals |
Injected into a vein, the oil lowered blood pressure and slowed the heart in a dose-dependent way. The first, fast phase came from a nerve reflex starting in the lungs (vagus nerve); the second phase looked like a direct widening of blood vessels. The oil also relaxed contracted aorta rings. Animal only. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood pressure and heart rate; relaxation of aorta rings Limitations: Injection into a vein is not how the oil is used; the result does not show what happens with scent or on the skin. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- What the evidence supports: insufficient for every use, because we found no human trial and only animal and lab work.
- No rosewood-specific skin patch-test series; allergy is judged from oxidised linalool.
- No source on pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, asthma, epilepsy or pets for rosewood.
- No study tested shop rosewood oils for purity.
- CITES listing and the IUCN assessment year were not read from primary pages.
- No source describing plantation or farmed supply of the oil.
- No safe skin dilution figure was read from a reliable source, so none is given.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it is added.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 6
- Linalool, the main chemical in rosewood oil, forms skin allergens when it meets air. Never put the oil on the skin undiluted.. Rosewood oil from the trunkwood is mostly linalool: about 80 to 97% in the 2021 review, and 93.6% in one analysed sample. Linalool is a common fragrance chemical, and when it meets air it slowly turns into hydroperoxides, which are strong skin sensitisers. In skin-clinic patch tests of people with dermatitis, 3.1% of 6,719 patients at a Danish hospital, 7.0% of 5,773 at another clinic and 11.7% of 821 at a third reacted to oxidised linalool. Those were people already at a skin clinic, so none of these is a rate for ordinary users. In a controlled trial, people already allergic to oxidised linalool got dose-related rashes when a perfume containing it was put on the skin twice a day for 21 days: 4 of 12 at the highest level, 2 of 12 at the middle level and 1 of 12 at the lowest, and none of 20 healthy controls. These tests used oxidised linalool, not rosewood oil, and we found no patch-test series of rosewood oil itself. Poison Control says diluting oils in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a reaction from direct skin contact, and that oils should not be used on damaged skin. Old, air-exposed bottles are the concern; the studies do not test how fast a bottle oxidises. Observational 5 6 18 8 14 24 3
- Do not swallow rosewood oil, and keep it away from children.. Poison Control says some essential oils can be poisonous if swallowed, that oil breathed into the lungs while swallowing can cause pneumonia, and that children's thin skin and immature livers may make them more vulnerable. The page does not name rosewood or linalool, and we found no report of rosewood oil poisoning in people, but that is not proof it is safe. If anyone, especially a child, has swallowed any essential oil, call a poison centre (US 1-800-222-1222) or your emergency number. Authoritative guidance 3
- Cats and birds are at special risk from essential oils. No source says rosewood oil is safe for pets.. Pet Poison Helpline says cats and birds are at the greatest risk from essential oils, with drooling, vomiting, sleepiness, loss of appetite and skin, airway or mouth irritation; signs usually develop within 6 to 8 hours with most oils. It does not name rosewood or linalool, which is not proof of safety. We found no rosewood-specific pet study. Keep bottles and diffusers away from pets. Authoritative guidance 15
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies and children: no rosewood-specific safety information was found.. We found no regulator statement and no study on rosewood oil in pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies or children. Poison Control says children may be more vulnerable to essential oils in general. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using any essential oil in pregnancy or around young children. Other 3
- Rosewood oil has a sedating action in animals, and no one has tested it with medicines in people.. In mice, rosewood oil lengthened sleeping time caused by a sleep drug. No human interaction study exists. If you take sleep, anxiety or seizure medicines, ask a pharmacist before using any essential oil beyond a passing scent. Poison Control also says essential oils may interact with medicines in general. Animal research 25 3
- The tree is endangered and the oil is often replaced or mixed, so a bottle may not be what the label says.. The 2021 review says Aniba rosaeodora is endangered after decades of logging, and that trade oil comes from steam distillation of trunkwood and bark. Because accessible trees have run short, the oil is usually replaced by other Aniba species, which changes the oil, and the review says oils from different populations may have been mixed with other Aniba oils. Other trees are also sold as rosewood: the oil of Australian rosewood (a different family) is made of sesquiterpenes, not linalool. Check the botanical name and origin on the label. Review 24 2 22 16
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic contact dermatitis (skin allergy) to oxidised linalool These are patients already at a skin clinic, not rates in ordinary users. Positive tests often come with reactions to other fragrances. Clinics disagree on how many positives matter in daily life; a 2024 Spanish letter titled 'low clinical relevance' had no abstract we could read. | 3.1% of 6,719 (Danish hospital), 7.0% of 5,773 and 11.7% of 821 (other clinics) of dermatitis-clinic patients had positive patch tests to oxidised linalool. No figure for rosewood oil itself was found. | moderate Not stated in the abstracts; most reactions were weak and peaked on day 3 or 4 in the Gentofte series. | Observational 5 6 18 8 14 |
| Skin irritation or rash from undiluted use Poison Control says many oils cause rashes and advises dilution in a carrier oil and no use on damaged skin. | Not established | mild to moderate Not stated. | Authoritative guidance 3 |
| Poisoning if swallowed, and lung injury if oil is breathed into the lungs General essential-oil warning; no rosewood case found. | Not established | serious Not stated. | Authoritative guidance 3 |
| Illness in cats and birds General essential-oil warning; no rosewood case found. | Not established | moderate to serious Not stated. | Authoritative guidance 15 |
Liver
We found no report of liver injury from rosewood oil. Poison Control says some essential oils harm the liver if swallowed, naming pennyroyal, and does not name rosewood. LiverTox was not opened. 3
How often. No figure found.
Monitoring. Not applicable: swallowing the oil is not advised.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Rosewood Oil supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 3
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep, anxiety, seizure or other medicines that cause drowsiness medicines | Rosewood oil lengthened pentobarbital sleeping time in mice; no human test. | Unknown in people. | Animal research Not enough evidence 25 | Ask a pharmacist before using essential oils beyond a passing scent if you take such medicines. |
| Prescription and other medicines (general warning) medicines | Poison Control says essential oils may interact with medicines; it names no rosewood mechanism. | Unknown. | Authoritative guidance Not enough evidence 3 | Ask a doctor or pharmacist. |
| Other fragrance products cosmetics | People allergic to oxidised linalool often react to other fragrance allergens too (Gentofte patch-test series). | Skin reactions can be triggered by several scented products. | Observational Low certainty 5 | If you have had a fragrance rash, avoid the oil and ask a doctor. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| A past rash or allergy to perfumes, linalool or other essential oils | Do not use the oil on the skin. Seek medical advice. | Observational 5 8 |
| Damaged or broken skin | Do not use essential oils on damaged skin (Poison Control). | Authoritative guidance 3 |
| Homes with cats, birds or small children | Keep oils and diffusers out of reach; cats and birds are at greatest risk. | Authoritative guidance 15 3 |
| Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies | No rosewood-specific information was found. Ask a doctor or midwife. | Other 3 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. The concern is the concentrated oil: a skin allergen once oxidised, not for swallowing, risky for pets. We found no poisoning case of rosewood oil in the sources read.
Amounts. No safe amount is established here, and none is given.
Onset and course. Not described for rosewood. For pets, signs usually show within 6 to 8 hours with most essential oils.
Repeated use. Repeated skin contact with oxidised linalool produced dose-related rashes in already-allergic people in a controlled trial.
Animal data. Injected into a vein, the oil lowered blood pressure and heart rate in rats (a lab model, not a use route). In mice it lengthened sleeping time with a sleep drug.
Toxic parts. The concentrated oil. The tree's wood is a different product.
Not read. LiverTox, EFSA, SCCS, IFRA and Tisserand entries on rosewood were not read.
Rosewood oil comes from an endangered tree and substitution is a known issue; no source we read measured the purity of shop oils.
Substitution by other Aniba species. The 2021 review says accessible rosewood trees have run short, so the oil is usually replaced by other Aniba species, which changes yield and smell, and that oils from different populations may reflect mixing with other Aniba oils. 24
Look-alike species and different oil make-up. Across four Aniba species linalool ranged from 15.2 to 75.3%; two populations of A. rosiodora in Para State differed (linalool 39.6% with alpha-phellandrene 22.8%, against 83.7% linalool). The authors say look-alike species are often misidentified. 22 2
Methods to tell oils apart. A Raman method separated oils from wood, leaves and branches of A. rosaeodora in one lab. DNA barcodes separated Aniba species. Neither was tested on shop bottles. 1 22
Oils sold as 'rosewood' from other trees. Australian rainforest rosewood (Dysoxylum fraserianum, family Meliaceae) gives an oil that is mostly sesquiterpenes, not linalool. 16
Pesticide, heavy-metal or synthetic-linalool testing. NOT found: we read no study that tested shop rosewood oils for pesticides, metals or synthetic linalool.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Poison Control (America's Poison Centers) (United States) | General essential-oil guidance: some are poisonous if swallowed, many cause rashes, dilute in a carrier oil, do not use on damaged skin, keep locked away from children and pets. Rosewood and linalool are not named. source | 2026 |
| Pet Poison Helpline (United States) | Cats and birds are at greatest risk from essential oils; signs usually within 6 to 8 hours. Rosewood is not named. source | 2026 |
| IUCN Red List (International) | Aniba rosaeodora is rated Endangered (EN). source | year not read |
| IBAMA (Brazil) (Brazil) | The 2021 review says IBAMA added the species to the list of endangered species and allows extraction and controlled sale only through approved sustainable management and reforestation plans. source | as reported in 2021 review |
When to get medical help
- If anyone, especially a child, has swallowed rosewood oil or any essential oil, or has choked on it: call a poison centre (US 1-800-222-1222) or your emergency number right away, even if they seem well.
- A spreading rash, swelling, blistering or hives after skin contact: stop use, wash the skin and see a doctor.
- Trouble breathing, wheeze or chest tightness after breathing in an oil: get fresh air and seek urgent care.
- A pet that drools, vomits, seems very sleepy or has skin or mouth irritation after oil exposure: call a vet or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is rosewood oil safe to swallow?
No. We do not advise swallowing essential oil. Poison Control warns that some essential oils are poisonous if swallowed and that oil breathed into the lungs can cause pneumonia. It does not name rosewood, and we found no rosewood poisoning report, but that is not proof of safety. If anyone, especially a child or pet, may have swallowed essential oil, call a poison centre (US: 1-800-222-1222) or your emergency number.
Can rosewood oil cause a skin rash or allergy?
It can. Rosewood oil is mostly linalool, and when linalool meets air it forms hydroperoxides that are strong skin allergens. In skin-clinic patch tests 3.1% of 6,719 patients at a Danish hospital, 7.0% of 5,773 and 11.7% of 821 reacted to oxidised linalool. Those were people with skin problems, not rates for everyone, and we found no figure for rosewood oil itself. Do not use it undiluted or on broken skin. Stop use and see a doctor or pharmacist if a rash appears.
Why does air matter for linalool?
Is rosewood oil safe for cats, dogs and birds?
No source says it is. Pet Poison Helpline says cats and birds are at greatest risk from essential oils, with drooling, vomiting, sleepiness and irritation, usually within 6 to 8 hours. Rosewood is not named, which is not proof of safety. Keep oils and diffusers away from pets and call a vet or poison line if a pet is affected.
Is rosewood oil safe in pregnancy or for children?
We found no rosewood-specific information on pregnancy, breastfeeding or children. Poison Control says children may be more vulnerable to essential oils in general. Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using any essential oil in pregnancy or around young children.
Does rosewood oil help with anxiety, mood or sleep?
Is the rosewood tree endangered?
Yes. Aniba rosaeodora is rated Endangered on the IUCN Red List (read through the GBIF record). A 2021 review says it is endangered after decades of logging and habitat loss, and that Brazil's IBAMA allows extraction only under approved management and reforestation plans. Wikipedia says it is listed in CITES Appendix II, but we could not verify that on a CITES page.
Does making the oil harm the tree?
The review says trade oil comes from steam distillation of trunkwood and bark of A. rosaeodora trees, which it calls a predatory and high-risk method. Two lab papers propose leaf oil as a more sustainable source because it does not need the tree to be cut. We found no source on how much leaf oil is sold or whether it matches wood oil.
Is the rosewood oil I buy really from Aniba rosaeodora?
It may not be. The review says the oil is usually replaced by other Aniba species and that oils may be mixed. Papers show look-alike species have very different make-ups, and other trees such as Australian rosewood give a different oil. We found no study that tested shop bottles. Look for the full botanical name, plant part, country and a batch test report.
How is rosewood oil different from lavender oil?
Both are rich in linalool, but they come from different plants and have different make-ups, and lavender has far more human research. We cannot carry results from one to the other. See the related pages for each oil.
Can rosewood oil treat infections or cancer?
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read the abstracts of the PubMed papers listed, plus the full text of the 2021 Aniba review in parts, the Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline pages, and the GBIF and NCBI taxonomy records. We could not open the IUCN or CITES sites, EU law, Tisserand, IFRA, SCCS or LiverTox.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 26
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
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- Amazonas DR, Oliveira C, Barata LES et al.. Chemical and Genotypic Variations in Aniba rosiodora from the Brazilian Amazon Forest.. Molecules. 2020. PMID 33375652. DOI 10.3390/molecules26010069. (abstract)
- America's Poison Centers (Poison Control). Essential oils: poisonous when misused. poison.org. 2026. (page text)
- Angrizani RC, Contim LA, Lemes MR. Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the endangered Amazonian tree Aniba rosaeodora (Lauraceae).. Appl Plant Sci. 2013. PMID 25202581. DOI 10.3732/apps.1200516. (abstract)
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- CITES Secretariat. CITES Appendices / Species+ entry for Aniba rosaeodora (not opened). cites.org, checklist.cites.org. 2026. (not read)
- Dittmar D, Schuttelaar MLA. Contact sensitization to hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool: Results of consecutive patch testing and clinical relevance.. Contact Dermatitis. 2019. PMID 30378131. DOI 10.1111/cod.13137. (abstract)
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- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Aniba rosaeodora Ducke. GBIF API, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (API record)
- IUCN / GBIF. IUCN Red List category for Aniba rosaeodora, as returned by the GBIF API. GBIF iucnRedListCategory endpoint, read 2026-10-25. 2026. (API record)
- NCBI. NCBI Taxonomy: Aniba rosaeodora. NCBI Taxonomy API, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (API record)
- Ogueta IA, Brared Christensson J, Giménez-Arnau E et al.. Limonene and linalool hydroperoxides review: Pros and cons for routine patch testing.. Contact Dermatitis. 2022. PMID 35122274. DOI 10.1111/cod.14064. (abstract)
- Pet Poison Helpline. Essential oils (pet safety tips). petpoisonhelpline.com. 2026. (page text)
- Polito F, Cornara L, Malaspina P et al.. The Australian Rainforest Rosewood: From Wood Characteristics to Chemical Profile and Biological Activity of Its Essential Oil.. Plants (Basel). 2026. PMID 41754349. DOI 10.3390/plants15040644. (abstract)
- Sampaio Lde F, Maia JG, de Parijós AM et al.. Linalool from rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) oil inhibits adenylate cyclase in the retina, contributing to understanding its biological activity.. Phytother Res. 2012. PMID 21544884. DOI 10.1002/ptr.3518. (abstract)
- Sukakul T, Bruze M, Mowitz M et al.. Contact allergy to oxidized linalool and oxidized limonene: Patch testing in consecutive patients with dermatitis.. Contact Dermatitis. 2022. PMID 34561893. DOI 10.1111/cod.13980. (abstract)
- Sœur J, Marrot L, Perez P et al.. Selective cytotoxicity of Aniba rosaeodora essential oil towards epidermoid cancer cells through induction of apoptosis.. Mutat Res. 2011. PMID 21070863. DOI 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2010.10.009. (abstract)
- Teles AM, Silva-Silva JV, Fernandes JMP et al.. Aniba rosaeodora (Var. amazonica Ducke) Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Antitrypanosomal Activity.. Antibiotics (Basel). 2020. PMID 33396612. DOI 10.3390/antibiotics10010024. (abstract)
- Wikipedia contributors. Aniba rosaeodora (Wikipedia). en.wikipedia.org, read 2026-10-25. 2026. (page text)
- Xavier JKAM, Maia L, Figueiredo PLB et al.. Essential Oil Composition and DNA Barcode and Identification of Aniba species (Lauraceae) Growing in the Amazon Region.. Molecules. 2021. PMID 33805452. DOI 10.3390/molecules26071914. (abstract)
- d'Acampora Zellner B, Lo Presti M, Barata LE et al.. Evaluation of leaf-derived extracts as an environmentally sustainable source of essential oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and enantioselective gas chromatography-olfactometry.. Anal Chem. 2006. PMID 16448064. DOI 10.1021/ac051337s. (abstract)
- da Trindade RCS, Xavier JKAM, Setzer WN et al.. Chemical Diversity and Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oils of Aniba Species from the Amazon: A Review.. Plants (Basel). 2021. PMID 34579388. DOI 10.3390/plants10091854. (PMC full text, parts)
- de Almeida RN, Araújo DA, Gonçalves JC et al.. Rosewood oil induces sedation and inhibits compound action potential in rodents.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009. PMID 19505550. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2009.05.044. (abstract)
- de Siqueira RJ, Rodrigues KM, da Silva MT et al.. Linalool-rich rosewood oil induces vago-vagal bradycardic and depressor reflex in rats.. Phytother Res. 2014. PMID 23447129. DOI 10.1002/ptr.4953. (abstract)