Birch Essential Oil

Birch Essential Oil (Betula lenta): Wintergreen-Scented Sweet Birch Oil for Balms, Perfumery, Soap and Fragrance Blends

Birch Essential Oil, also called sweet birch oil, is distilled from the bark of Betula lenta, with a fresh, sweet, minty, wintergreen-like aroma. It is almost entirely methyl salicylate, which is why it smells like traditional wintergreen. It is used in small, well-diluted amounts in balms, soaps, candles and fresh perfumery. It is a colourless to pale yellow, thin liquid with a two year shelf life, and COA and MSDS are available on request.

RV Organica’s Birch Essential Oil is steam distilled from sweet birch bark, packed at our facility in Nimbri, Panipat, Haryana, and offered in sizes from 100 ml to 25 kg.

What is birch essential oil and how is it made?

Sweet birch, Betula lenta, is a North American hardwood, also called black birch or cherry birch, and its bark and twigs carry a distinctive wintergreen scent. The bark is soaked and steam is passed through it. The steam carries the volatile compound away, and when it cools, the oil separates from the water and is collected. No solvents are used. Sweet birch oil is different from silver birch, Betula pendula, which gives a darker, smoky birch tar oil with a different scent.

Sweet birch oil is almost entirely methyl salicylate, at 99 percent or more in our specification. Methyl salicylate is the same compound that gives wintergreen oil, from Gaultheria, its smell, so the two oils are very close in scent and in how they behave. See our wintergreen essential oil for the comparison. Because the oil is so concentrated, regulations treat it carefully. In the United States, for example, consumer products containing more than 5 percent methyl salicylate must be sold in child-resistant packaging. The COA for your batch shows its exact composition.

What does birch essential oil smell like?

Birch smells fresh, sweet and minty, with the unmistakable, slightly candy-like scent of wintergreen and a clean, cooling freshness. It is sweeter and rounder than peppermint and sharper than most woody oils. It evokes the smell of sports rubs, mint candy and forest air, which makes it instantly familiar.

How do you use birch essential oil in balms, massage oils and body care?

Always dilute birch oil well before it touches the skin. It is slightly soluble in water and dissolves in alcohol and fixed oils, so mix it into a carrier oil first. The right ratio depends on how much you are making and where it will be used, and our essential oil dilution calculator works it out for you. Use a much lower ratio than you would for a gentle oil, do a patch test first, and keep it away from the eyes, mouth and other mucous membranes. Once diluted, it gives balms, salves and body massage oils a fresh, minty, wintergreen scent.

How do you use birch essential oil in a diffuser?

Add a very small amount to a diffuser, in a well-ventilated room, for a fresh, clean, minty atmosphere. The scent is strong, so blend it with gentler oils. Pair it with peppermint essential oil for a crisp, cooling mix, or with lavender essential oil for a softer, herbal-minty one. Keep diffusers out of reach of children and pets.

Can you use birch essential oil in soap, candles and perfume?

Yes, in small amounts. In soap and body care bases, add it at the level your formulation recommends. In candles and room sprays, test a small batch first, because strong mint scents can dominate and scent throw changes with wax type and wick size. In perfumery it works as a sweet, minty accent in fresh, herbal and fougère-style compositions, and it pairs well with peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, camphor and clove.

What are the specifications of birch essential oil?

The botanical name is Betula lenta. The oil has a flash point above 96°C, an acid value of up to 2.0 mg KOH/g and moisture content of up to 0.3 percent. It is a thin liquid, colourless to pale yellow, with a characteristic fresh, sweet, minty, wintergreen-like odour. The shelf life is two years, and the oil is slightly soluble in water and soluble in alcohol and fixed oils. Batch-specific values are given on the COA.

How should you store birch essential oil?

Keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dark place away from heat and direct sunlight, and keep it locked away from children. Close the cap straight after each use. Stored well, the oil keeps its quality for the full two year shelf life.

Is birch essential oil safe to use?

Birch essential oil is for external use only. Do not ingest it. Sweet birch oil is toxic if swallowed, even in small amounts, so keep it locked away from children and pets. Always dilute it heavily in a carrier oil, never use it neat, and do a patch test first. Avoid it if you are sensitive to aspirin or take blood-thinning medicine, and avoid use during pregnancy. If you are nursing or have any medical condition, consult a doctor before use. Avoid direct sunlight on treated skin. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Can you buy birch essential oil in bulk?

Yes. The oil is available in 100 ml, 500 ml, 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg and 25 kg packs, which suits small makers and manufacturers. COA and MSDS can be requested for each batch. For wholesale or private label enquiries, write to info@rvorganica.com.

About RV Organica

RV Organica is the brand of RV International, an essential oil manufacturer in India based at Nimbri, Panipat, Haryana 132104. Our work is backed by ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher, HACCP and MSME registration. For questions about this oil or bulk supply, contact us at info@rvorganica.com or +91 8937003005