Cardamom oil
None of the restricted materials in IFRA's annex limits this oil in rinse-off soap.
IFRA maximum for soap
no IFRA limit in soap
Restricted constituents, at the typical levels IFRA's annex gives:
- Geraniol
- 1 %
- Citral
- 0.5 %
Worked out from typical levels. A supplier's certificate for your lot comes first, and its figure is the one to follow.
Check a blend against its IFRA limits and list its allergens in the fragrance and allergen calculator.
How essential oils behave in soap, and how much to use: Scenting soap.
Identity and labelling
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
- Botanical name
- Elettaria cardamomum
- CAS
- 8000-66-6, 85940-32-5
- EC
- 288-922-1
The EU does not name this oil itself as an allergen to label, but some of its constituents may be: the fragrance allergen tool works them out for a recipe.
What it is and how it behaves in soap
Cardamom oil is steam-distilled from the seeds of green cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum, the spice of curries and Scandinavian baking (Grosso). Guatemala is the largest producer, then India (EFSA). It smells fresh and eucalyptus-like at first, then sweet and spicy, from 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate (ISO 4733).
Our books have almost nothing on cardamom in cold process: Grosso lists it, and none of their recipes use it. Treat it as untested. Add it at thin trace after the colour, and try it first in a batch of 454 g (1 lb) of oils or less (Faiola). Fisher's general start is 3.1 to 4.4 % of the oils, and the IFRA figure on this page is the ceiling.
Like other terpene-rich oils it oxidises in air, and oxidised terpenes are stronger skin sensitisers (SCCS), so keep the bottle cool, full and closed.
Recipes that use it
Sources
- CosIng, the cosmetic ingredient database: ELETTARIA CARDAMOMUM SEED OIL, European Commission
- Alicia Grosso, The Everything Soapmaking Book, 3rd edition, Adams Media (2013). Cardamom in her table of essential oils: steam distilled from seeds; sweet, spicy; used in curries and Scandinavian baking
- EFSA FEEDAP Panel, Safety and efficacy of an essential oil from Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton when used as a sensory additive in feed for all animal species, EFSA Journal (2019). Steam distillation of the seeds; Guatemala the largest producer, then India
- ISO 4733:2004, oil of cardamom, International Organization for Standardization (2004). α-Terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole as the main components
- Anne-Marie Faiola, Soap Crafting, Storey Publishing (2013). Add scent at thin trace after the colour; test an untried scent in a batch of 1 lb or less
- David Fisher, The Complete Photo Guide to Soap Making, Creative Publishing International (2018). Starting rate of 0.5 to 0.7 oz of scent per pound of oils
- Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (SCCS/1459/11), Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, European Commission (2012). Fragrance terpenes autoxidise on air exposure, and their oxidation products are potent sensitisers