Camellia Oil (Tsubaki): Evidence and Safety
Camellia oil (tsubaki) is a pale, oleic-acid-rich seed oil used on hair and skin in Japan and as a cooking oil in China. See what trials show and what they do not.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Quick safety points
- Camellia oil is not tea tree oil. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a strong essential oil that NCCIH says should not be swallowed. Camellia oil is a mild fixed (fatty) seed oil from a different plant. Do not mix up their rules. [13][3]
- The only skin safety data we found for the plain oil is a 20-volunteer test of a makeup remover, which caused no skin irritation. A 2026 dermatology review says human safety data on Camellia-derived ingredients are still insufficient. [8][11]
- We found no source describing allergy to camellia oil or to tea saponin (a soap-like compound in the seed) in the oil. That is a gap in the research, not proof of safety. A simple patch test on the inner arm is still sensible with any new oil. [11]
- Oil quality varies. A 2026 study built tests for cheaper oils (corn, olive, soybean, sunflower) mixed into camellia oil, and a roasting study showed that roasting temperature affects a smoke by-product called benzo[a]pyrene. [15][16]
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies, pets and medicines: not described in the sources we read.
What camellia oil is
Camellia oil is pressed from the seeds of plants in the genus Camellia, the same family as the tea plant. Two species matter here. Camellia oleifera (oil-tea camellia) supplies most of the oil grown for food in China; it makes up about 98% of the planted area for camellia-oil plants there. Camellia japonica is the Japanese camellia, called tsubaki in Japan, and its seed oil is what is meant by "tsubaki oil". [1][3] Researchers also test seed oil from other Camellia species. One study found seed oil from C. japonica was as stable as, or more stable than, oil from C. oleifera. [3]The oil is made by pressing the seeds cold or after roasting, by refining, or by newer water-and-enzyme methods. [2][16] The main fat is oleic acid, the same fat that is the main one in olive oil. One analysis found about 77% oleic acid in C. oleifera oil, with smaller amounts of linoleic acid (about 10%), palmitic acid (about 10%) and stearic acid (about 2%). Another study found 77%. Published ranges are wide, from about 60% to 85%, because species, place and method differ. [1][2] The oil also contains vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), squalene, plant sterols and some polyphenols, which scientists link to its antioxidant activity in the lab. [1][4] A review of 2026 oil comparisons names camelliasaponin as a marker compound of camellia oil. [17]
On skin it is generally described as a thin-to-medium, pale golden oil. We found no study that measures how fast it absorbs, so treat that as a loose description.
How it is used
- Hair and skin (Japan and beyond): sold as a hair oil, face oil, massage oil and ingredient in creams.
- Cooking (China, Japan): a cooking oil, sometimes called "Oriental olive oil". [1] For its role as a food, see the dietary pages in Healthy oils and fats.
- Makeup remover and cleansing: one study tested a remover containing 50 to 60% tea seed oil. [8]
- Not the same as shampoo saponin: the soap-like extract of the seed cake, called tea saponin, is used in shampoos. That is a different material from the oil. [12]
Traditional use (not proof)
Tsubaki oil has a cultural reputation as a Japanese hair oil, often linked to women's traditional hairstyling and to the geisha. We found this only on retail, brand and general-interest pages, not in a scholarly source we could cite, so we treat it as reputation rather than a documented history. The edible oil has a long history in Chinese and Japanese cooking. [1] A review calls C. japonica an East Asian species with wide traditional use. [11] A long history of use does not show that the oil changes hair or skin.What research shows
Human research on camellia oil is very small. We found two trials of the oil or a product made from it on skin, one hospital study, and one feeding trial of the oil as food. All are small and none is large enough to settle a question.| Use | Who, how many, how long | Product | Result | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensitive skin | 25 Chinese young women with sensitive skin, 4 weeks, double-blind half-face | Moisturizer with 5% fermented tea seed oil versus base moisturizer | Better skin hydration, less redness and fewer facial wrinkles; skin bacteria diversity unchanged [6] | Preliminary (tiny; fermented oil, not plain oil) |
| Incontinence-related skin damage | 204 high-risk ICU patients in one hospital | Camellia oil, a fecal catheter system, or both, versus zinc oxide ointment | The oil plus catheter group had fewer cases, later onset and faster healing; the abstract does not say how patients were assigned [7] | Preliminary (mixed intervention) |
| Skin irritation | 20 volunteers | Makeup remover with tea seed oil | No irritation seen; 60% oil remover removed foundation slightly better than an olive-oil-based remover [8] | Small safety test |
| Cooking oil and heart risk markers | 90 Chinese women at high heart risk, 3 months, double-blind, fed meals | Camellia seed oil versus olive oil versus soybean oil | No clear difference in body weight; the camellia group had a larger fall in the liver enzyme AST than the soybean group [5] | Preliminary (secondary outcome) |
Lab and animal findings: in mice, camellia oil improved dry-skin and eczema-like skin damage and raised filaggrin, a skin-barrier protein. [9][10] A camellia-oil drink lowered blood fats and aortic plaque in mice bred to develop artery disease. [17] Mouse findings do not show what happens in people.
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for camellia oil as a hair-growth, hair-strength, scar or stretch-mark treatment.
Claims checked
| Claim | What sources show |
|---|---|
| "Tsubaki oil makes hair stronger and glossier." | No human hair study of the oil found. A review lists Camellia oleifera as a traditional shampoo ingredient, but that concerns saponin extracts, not the oil. [12] |
| "Camellia oil is like olive oil." | Both are high in oleic acid, and a feeding trial compared them. Their other compounds differ (for example camelliasaponin in camellia oil). [1][5][17] |
| "Camellia oil heals dry or eczema-prone skin." | Mouse studies only for dry skin and eczema models. A small human trial used a fermented-oil moisturizer, not plain oil. [6][9][10] |
| "It lowers cholesterol." | Mouse studies show lower blood fats. The human feeding trial did not report a clear cholesterol benefit in its abstract. [5][17] |
| "It is anti-aging." | One trial reported fewer facial wrinkles with a fermented-oil product over 4 weeks; the sample was 25 women. [6] This is not evidence of anti-aging in general. |
| "It is the same as tea tree oil or green tea seed oil." | No. Tea tree oil is an essential oil from Melaleuca alternifolia. [13] Camellia oil is a seed oil from Camellia plants. Green tea itself comes from Camellia sinensis; seed oil from that species was measured in the same study as camellia oils, but "camellia oil" in shops usually means C. oleifera or C. japonica. [3] |
Forms, grades and why they matter
Camellia oil is sold cold-pressed, roasted ("fragrant"), refined, and as cosmetic products or blends. Refining reduces smell and color; a study of different refining temperatures in mice found that the heat used changes the oil's effects, which suggests process matters. [16] Roasting changes flavor and creates smoke by-products unless controlled. [16] Cosmetic and food grades are not always the same: check that the label says "food grade" if you plan to eat it. Blends may hold little camellia oil. Studies of fermented tea seed oil do not carry over to plain oil. [6]Safety and cautions
- Patch test and allergy: no allergy report for the plain oil was found in the sources we read. Try a small amount on the inner forearm first. See patch testing natural oils and butters.
- Tea saponin in extracts: in a laboratory study, camellia seed extract that killed Candida yeast also harmed human gum cells at lower concentrations. That tested a seed extract, not oil, and it is not advice. [14]
- Quality: blending with cheaper oils happens, so buy from sellers that state species and process. [15]
- Swallowing: as a food oil, camellia oil is eaten in China and Japan. [1] Do not swallow cosmetic hair or massage products.
- Babies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, pets, medicines: not described in the sources we read. Ask a clinician or vet. See natural oils and pets and baby skin and massage.
Quality and storage
One study found C. japonica, C. furfuracea and C. laufoshanensis seed oils stayed relatively stable over six months of storage. [3] Even so, keep any oil sealed, in a cool dark place, and discard it if it smells sharp or paint-like. See rancidity and storage of natural oils.Related pages
Uses studied and safety checks for Camellia Oil (Tsubaki)
Read the safety checks first. Each card says whether a finding comes from people, from the lab or from tradition, which product and way of use was tested, and how strong the evidence is. A finding for one product or one way of using it does not carry over to another.
Check before you use (4)
- Tea-seed saponin in extracts. Camellia seed extracts contain tea saponin, which in a laboratory study blocked a yeast (Candida) but also harmed human gum cells at lower concentrations than needed to kill the yeast. This concerns seed extracts, not refined oil.
- Adulteration and processing quality. Camellia oil is a premium oil, and a 2026 study built tests to detect cheaper oils (corn, olive, soybean, sunflower) mixed into it. A roasting study found benzo[a]pyrene (a smoke by-product) undetectable under one roasting setting, which shows roasting conditions matter.
- Not tea tree oil. Camellia oil (from seeds of Camellia plants) is not tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia, an essential oil that NCCIH says should not be swallowed).
- Human safety data are limited. A 2026 dermatology review says human safety data on Camellia-derived ingredients are insufficient. The 20-volunteer makeup-remover test found no irritation. No source we read reports allergy to the oil.
Camellia oil as a cooking oil rich in oleic acid
Preliminary or mixedCamellia oil is mostly oleic acid (the same main fat as olive oil). Analyses found about 77% oleic acid in one study and a published range of 60 to 85%.
Supplements: Composition is a fact about the oil, not proof of a health effect.
Camellia oil and sensitive or dry skin
Preliminary or mixedOne small randomized half-face trial (25 women, 4 weeks) of a moisturizer with 5% fermented tea seed oil found better hydration and less redness than the base moisturizer. Plain oil was not tested and the product was fermented. A separate 20-volunteer test of a makeup remover found no skin irritation.
Supplements: Preliminary; results do not carry over to plain camellia oil.
Camellia oil and incontinence-related skin damage (ICU)
Preliminary or mixedA hospital study of 204 high-risk ICU patients compared camellia oil, a fecal catheter system, or both with zinc oxide ointment. The group using both had less and later-starting dermatitis and faster healing. The abstract does not say how patients were assigned.
Supplements: Preliminary; the best result came from the oil plus a catheter system.
Camellia oil and cooking-oil heart risk markers
Preliminary or mixedIn a 3-month feeding trial of 90 Chinese women at high heart risk, camellia seed oil and olive oil were compared with soybean oil. Body weight did not differ between groups; the camellia group had a larger fall in the liver enzyme AST than the soybean group. This is about eating the oil.
Supplements: Preliminary; does not show disease prevention.
Camellia oil and hair care
Not enough evidenceNo human trial of camellia or tsubaki oil for hair was found. A review describes Camellia oleifera extracts (the saponin-rich seed extract, not the oil) as traditionally used in shampoos; that is a different material from the oil.
Supplements: No verified evidence that camellia oil changes hair strength, shine or growth.
Camellia oil and atopic dermatitis or dry skin in animals
Lab or animal research onlyIn mice, camellia oil reduced skin lesions and raised filaggrin, a skin-barrier protein, in dry-skin and eczema-like models. Mouse results do not show what happens in people.
Supplements: None shown for people from animal findings alone.
Camellia oil, blood fats and arteries in animals
Lab or animal research onlyIn mice, camellia oil and a camellia-oil drink lowered blood fats and plaque in the aorta. This does not show the same in people.
Supplements: None shown for people from animal findings alone.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Healthy SkinPreliminary or mixed
Two tiny trials of camellia-oil skin products reported benefits for sensitive skin and for incontinence-related dermatitis; neither tested plain oil on healthy skin.
Body systems (2)
- Integumentary SystemPreliminary or mixed
Skin barrier findings in two small human studies and in mice.
- Skin, Hair & BeautyPreliminary or mixed
Small skin trials on special products; hair not studied.
Body parts (1)
- SkinPreliminary or mixed
Applied to skin in small trials; evidence preliminary.
Frequently asked questions
What is tsubaki oil?
Tsubaki oil is camellia oil from the seeds of Camellia japonica, the Japanese camellia. In shops, "camellia oil" and "tea seed oil" often mean oil from C. oleifera. [1][3]
Does camellia oil make hair grow or stronger?
We found no human study showing that. It has a traditional hair reputation, but the evidence we read does not test the oil on hair. [12]
Is camellia oil the same as tea tree oil?
No. Tea tree oil is an essential oil from Melaleuca alternifolia that should not be swallowed. Camellia oil is a fatty seed oil from Camellia plants. [13]
Is camellia oil good for dry or sensitive skin?
A small trial of a fermented tea seed oil moisturizer in 25 women with sensitive skin reported better hydration over 4 weeks. Plain oil was not tested, and mouse studies cannot be applied to people. [6][9]
Can you cook with camellia oil?
It is used as a cooking oil in China, and a feeding trial used it in meals. Cosmetic products are not meant for eating. [1][5]
References
- Duan B et al., Foods 2024, A comparative study on the characteristics of different types of camellia oils (full text on PubMed Central, PMC11431759). Read 2026-10-24.
- Fan H et al., RSC Advances 2026, Process optimization and characterization of fatty acids and lipid concomitants in the aqueous extraction of camellia oil. Read 2026-10-24.
- Hsu FL et al., Foods 2024, Characterization of seven species of Camellia oil. Read 2026-10-24.
- Qin P et al., Current Research in Food Science 2024, A critical review of the bioactive ingredients and biological functions of Camellia oleifera oil. Read 2026-10-24.
- Wu MY et al., Food & Function 2022, Soybean oil, olive oil and camellia seed oil on weight and cardiometabolic profiles among Chinese women. Read 2026-10-24.
- Zhi L et al., International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2026, Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin. Read 2026-10-24.
- Li Q et al., Advances in Skin & Wound Care 2025, Double-pocket fecal catheter system combined with camellia oil in ICU incontinence-associated contact dermatitis. Read 2026-10-24.
- Parnsamut N et al., Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises 2017, Development and efficacy assessments of tea seed oil makeup remover. Read 2026-10-24.
- Li A et al., Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports 2026, Camellia oil in alleviating xerosis cutis (mouse model and multi-omics). Read 2026-10-24.
- Jiao S et al., European Journal of Histochemistry 2025, Camellia oil on skin-barrier function in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in mice. Read 2026-10-24.
- Zhang L et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2026, Camellia-derived bioactive compounds: research advances and application prospects in dermatology. Read 2026-10-24.
- Sang SH et al., Heliyon 2023, Natural alternatives from your garden for hair care. Read 2026-10-24.
- NCCIH, Tea tree oil. Read 2026-10-24.
- Zhang X et al., Scientific Reports 2026, Camellia oleifera seed extracts against oral thrush. Read 2026-10-24.
- Wang M et al., Foods 2026, Adulteration detection of multi-species vegetable oils in camellia oil. Read 2026-10-24.
- Li Y et al., Food Chemistry: X 2026, Roasting protocol for fragrant camellia seed oil; and Chen L et al., Foods 2024, Tea seed oil refining temperatures and intestinal microbiota in obese mice. Read 2026-10-24.
- Zhang B et al., Frontiers in Nutrition 2026, Comparative metabolomics of olive, walnut, flaxseed and camellia oils; and Zhang W et al., Frontiers in Nutrition 2026, Camellia oil-based beverage and anti-atherosclerotic effects in ApoE-/- mice. Read 2026-10-24.