# Copaiba essential oil

> A mellow, woody single oil steam-distilled from tree resin, often described as a versatile 'booster' oil.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/copaiba

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Copaifera reticulata
- **Plant part:** Trunk resin
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Mellow, woody, sweet
- **Origin:** Amazon basin, Brazil
- **Blends with:** Frankincense, orange

## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate)

Based on 15 GC-MS samples from 3 peer-reviewed papers (2016–2021); Limited evidence base. 22 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range):

| Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| β-caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 50.63 | 27.22–50.86 | 51.1 | 3 |
| spathulenol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 14.52 | 8.46–20.58 | 26.64 | 2 |
| α-humulene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 6.18 | 3.41–7.14 | 8.1 | 3 |
| α-copaene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 5.1 | 2.69–6.34 | 7.58 | 3 |
| α-bergamotene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 7.28 | 7.22–7.34 | 7.4 | 2 |
| germacrene d | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 4.26 | 3.38–7.59 | 10.92 | 3 |
| δ-cadinene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 2.43 | 2.34–3.06 | 3.7 | 3 |
| β-bisabolene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 3.25 | 3.02–3.47 | 3.7 | 2 |
| β-elemene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.56 | 1.18–1.58 | 1.6 | 3 |
| α-cubebene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.22 | 1.11–1.32 | 1.43 | 2 |

Chemotypes seen in the samples: β-caryophyllene (73% of samples), spathulenol (20% of samples), germacrene d (7% of samples).

## Key constituents

- **Beta-caryophyllene** (40-60%) — The dominant compound in most Copaifera species; a woody-spicy sesquiterpene also found in black pepper and clove

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** 3–5 drops for a grounding note, or with frankincense and orange.
- **On skin:** Dilute to 1–3% in a carrier oil as a mellow booster in massage blends.

## Safety

- For topical use, dilute in a carrier oil and keep out of reach of children.
- Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin.
- A gentle, well-tolerated oil; dilute before topical use as usual.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- Copaiba is one of the richest natural sources of β-caryophyllene, a sesquiterpene widely studied for anti-inflammatory-related activity in laboratory and preclinical models. These are early findings about the constituent, not clinical proof of a health benefit. — Food Chemistry Advances study (2026) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2026.101269)

## Evidence

- Copaiba oil is dominated by β-caryophyllene — often around half the oil — making it one of the highest natural sources of this much-studied sesquiterpene. — Food Chemistry Advances study (2026) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2026.101269)

## Frequently asked questions

### What makes copaiba special?

It's one of the richest natural sources of β-caryophyllene, a sesquiterpene studied for anti-inflammatory-related activity. That high concentration is why copaiba is so often paired with other oils in soothing blends.

### Where does copaiba come from?

It's tapped as an oleoresin from Copaifera trees in the Amazon, then refined into the oil. Because several Copaifera species are used, the exact composition varies by source.

### Is copaiba phototoxic?

No — copaiba isn't phototoxic, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. It's a gentle oil; just dilute it for skin use as usual.

## Sources (GC-MS studies)

- Urasaki Y, Beaumont C, Workman M, Talbot JN, Hill DK, Le TT. Fast-Acting and Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Neuronal Signaling Pathways by Copaiba Essential Oil. _International journal of molecular sciences_, 2020. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC7177672
- de Almeida LF, Portella Rde O, Bufalo J, Marques MO, Facanali R, Frei F. Non-Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes in the Essential Oil of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. Increase during the Day in the Dry Season. _PloS one_, 2016. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC4757570
- Monteschio JO, de Vargas Junior FM, Alves da Silva AL, das Chagas RA, Fernandes T, Leonardo AP, Kaneko IN, de Moraes Pinto LA, Guerrero A, de Melo Filho AA, Ferraz VP, Fagundes GM, Muir JP. Effect of copaíba essential oil (Copaifera officinalis L.) as a natural preservative on the oxidation and shelf life of sheep burgers. _PloS one_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC7971551

_Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._