Ingredients

Camphor

What camphor does in balms and skincare, why it feels cool then warm, who should skip it, and why it must be kept from children.

By Nora Ellison · Published

Scent ingredientIn 11 products we cover

Annotations are editorial flags, not safety scores or measured reaction rates. How we classify and match ingredients.

Also known as Bornan-2-one, 2-Bornanone

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Chemical structure of Camphor (C10H16O)
Chemical structure of Camphor (C₁₀H₁₆O), drawn from PubChem CID 2537.

Quick facts

INCI name
Camphor
CAS number
76-22-2
Origin
Plant-derived or Synthetic
Chemical class
Bicyclic monoterpene ketone
What it does in a formula
fragrance, cooling sensation
Why it is in the formula
Adds a sharp medicinal scent and a cooling, tingling feel, mostly in balms, lip products and body care.
Regulatory notes
In the United States, camphor is also an active ingredient in some over-the-counter drug products, such as external analgesic rubs. Those products carry a Drug Facts label.

What is Camphor?

Camphor is a fragrant, waxy compound with a sharp, medicinal smell. It occurs naturally in the wood of the camphor laurel tree (Cinnamomum camphora), and much of the camphor used today is made from pinene, a compound in turpentine.

In cosmetics you’ll find it mostly in lip balms, body balms, foot creams and some cleansers and masks. It’s rated here as a scent ingredient. Some products also list camphor as a drug active: in the United States it is an approved active in certain over-the-counter rubs for minor aches, and those carry a Drug Facts label. Camphor bark oil and camphor wood oil are separate label ingredients, essential oils from the same tree.

What does Camphor do?

  • Adds scent. Its strong, clean smell is part of the classic “medicated balm” scent.
  • Creates a cool, then warm feel. Camphor acts on temperature-sensing nerve endings. In a study in people, it produced both cold and warm sensations and increased blood flow in the skin.
  • Shapes how a product feels. Brands use that tingle to make a balm or mask feel refreshing or active.

None of this means camphor is repairing anything. The sensation is the main effect in a cosmetic.

Who is Camphor for?

If you like the tingle and the scent and haven’t had trouble with camphor before, it may suit you. If you avoid fragrance or your skin is easily irritated, skip it. The sensation that some people find pleasant can sting dry, chapped or broken skin.

Camphor is poisonous if swallowed, and children are the main concern. Store camphor balms closed and out of reach of children. If a child swallows camphor, contact poison control right away.

What to pair Camphor with, and what to avoid

Camphor often appears with menthol and essential oils, which add to the cooling and scent. If your skin is sensitive, avoid stacking several tingling products at once. On sore, dry lips, a plain balm is usually kinder; the dry, chapped lips guide explains why.

Quick picks with Camphor

Picked from label facts only. We haven't tested these products.

All 11 products with Camphor

Daily Moisturizers & Water Gel Creams (3)

Shaving Creams, Gels & Oils (3)

Body Creams, Butters & Body Oils (2)

Pimple Patches & Overnight Spot Treatments (1)

Gel, Foam & Cream Facial Cleansers (1)

Anti-Aging & Retinoid Serums (1)

Common questions

Why does camphor feel cold and then warm?

Camphor acts on the nerve endings in skin that sense temperature. In a study in people, it produced both cool and warm sensations and increased blood flow in the skin. That feeling is a sensory effect, not proof a product is helping your skin.

Is camphor bad for your skin?

Many people use camphor balms without trouble, but the tingle can sting skin or lips that are already dry, cracked or sensitive. Stop using a product that burns or leaves you red.

Is camphor safe around children?

Camphor is poisonous if swallowed, and young children are at particular risk. Keep camphor products closed and out of reach. If a child swallows one, contact poison control or emergency services right away.

Is camphor natural?

It can be. Camphor occurs in the wood of the camphor laurel tree, but much of today's camphor is made from compounds in turpentine. The label name is the same either way.

Sources