May Chang (Litsea cubeba) (Litsea cubeba) is a green essential oil with a lemony, sweet aroma and a heart note. Steam distillation from fruit, it is a versatile blending oil that pairs well with Lavender, Bergamot (FCF), Ylang Ylang (Complete). For topical use, keep dilution at or below 0.8%.
May Chang (Litsea cubeba) (Litsea cubeba) is a green essential oil, steam-distilled from the fruit, produced in China and Vietnam. Its aroma is lemony, sweet, sitting as a heart note in a blend. It's commonly paired with Lavender, Bergamot (FCF), Ylang Ylang (Complete), Geranium. Keep topical use at or below 0.8%. It is noted for dermal irritant. Always patch-test first.
Aroma & character
Aroma
Traditional aromatherapy associations
Traditional associations only — not medical claims or evidence of efficacy.
Properties
| Perfumery note | Heart |
| Aroma family | Green |
| Chemical family | Aldehyde |
| Material type | Essential oil |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Plant part | fruit |
| Origin | China, Vietnam, Indonesia |
| Blending factor | 3 |
| Volatility index | 3 |
| Tenacity (hours) | 6.0 |
Safety & dilution
| Max topical dilution | 0.8% |
| Max facial dilution | 0.4% |
| Pregnancy | No specific caution recorded |
| Nursing | Generally suitable when properly diluted |
| Children | Generally suitable, well diluted (from ~6 years) |
| Cats | Not recommended |
| Dogs | Generally suitable when properly diluted |
Safety flags
Evidence: Traditional — EODB: 5 GC-MS analyses (Litsea cubeba).
For education only — not medical or veterinary advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always patch-test and consult a qualified professional before use during pregnancy, on children, with pets, or with a health condition.
Plan safe amounts with our essential oil dilution calculator.
Blends well with
Used in these blends
- Deep Cleanse →
- Recovery →
- Acne-Prone Serum →
- Electric Patio Anchor →
- No-Bite Breeze →
- Guard Cocoon →
- Patio Spark →
- Calm Patio Harbor →
- No-Bite Glow →
- Silver Guard Breeze →
- No-Bite Compass →
- Silver Guard Sanctuary →
- Fresh & Clean →
- Quiet Sparkle Focus →
- Sparkle Harbor →
- Shine Breeze →
- Purify Horizon →
- Electric Shine Cocoon →
- Velvet Sparkle Cocoon →
- Purify Pulse →
- Velvet Shine Harbor →
- Purify Reset →
- Bright Shine Glow →
- Purify Focus →
Frequently asked questions
What does May Chang (Litsea cubeba) smell like?
May Chang (Litsea cubeba) has a lemony, sweet aroma, classed as a green oil with a heart note.
What is the safe dilution for May Chang (Litsea cubeba)?
For topical use, keep May Chang (Litsea cubeba) at or below 0.8%, and 0.4% on facial skin. Always patch-test before wider use.
Is May Chang (Litsea cubeba) safe to use during pregnancy?
Our dataset records no specific pregnancy caution for May Chang (Litsea cubeba). That is not the same as it being established as safe — always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any essential oil during pregnancy.
Is May Chang (Litsea cubeba) safe to use around children?
May Chang (Litsea cubeba) is generally considered suitable for children when well diluted (from around 6 years old). Consult a professional for young children.
Is May Chang (Litsea cubeba) safe around pets?
For cats — avoid; not considered safe; dogs — generally lower-risk when well diluted. Diffuse only in ventilated spaces and consult a veterinarian.
What does May Chang (Litsea cubeba) blend well with?
May Chang (Litsea cubeba) pairs well with Lavender, Bergamot (FCF), Ylang Ylang (Complete), Geranium, Cedarwood (Atlas).