Costus Root Oil

Product Name: Costus Root Essential Oil (Himalayan Kuth / Kushta Root Oil)

Botanical Name: Saussurea costus (syn. Aucklandia costus / Saussurea lappa)

Plant Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)

CAS Number: 8023-88-9 / 90106-55-1

EINECS / EC Number: 290-278-1

Plant Part Used: Dried Crushed Roots (Rhizomes)

Extraction Method: Steam Distillation (followed by solvent-free hydro-separation)

Origin: India (Himachal Pradesh / Uttarakhand / Jammu & Kashmir — Cultivated Stock / Distilled & Supplied from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh)

Manufacturer / Supplier: Meena Perfumery, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India

Product Overview

Costus Root Essential Oil—revered across India as Kuth or Kushta—is a rare, deeply enigmatic, aristocratic base-note essential oil steam-distilled from the dried cultivated roots of Saussurea costus native to the Western Himalayas. Celebrated in classic haute perfumery and traditional Indian attars for its extraordinary fixative power and sensual, skin-like warmth, it delivers a complex, tenacious bouquet uniting warm woody-earthy and powdery violet-orris nuances with sweet dried-fruit, fatty-aldehydic, and rich animalic-ambergris undertones. (Note: Due to natural sesquiterpene lactones, raw Costus Root Oil is IFRA-prohibited for direct skin contact in leave-on/rinse-off cosmetics unless specially rectified/lactone-free, and is supplied strictly for restricted fragrance, incense, or technical/export compliance use under CITES regulations).

Organoleptic Properties

Physical & Chemical Specifications

Key Natural Constituents

(Varies naturally by root age, Himalayan cultivation region, and distillation parameters)

• Sesquiterpene Lactones (Primary Characteristic Markers): Costunolide, Dehydrocostus lactone, Dihydrocostus lactone

• Sesquiterpene Hydrocarbons & Alcohols (Woody-Earthy Body): Beta-costene, Alpha-costene, Beta-elemene, Beta-caryophyllene, Alpha-humulene, Costol, Elemol, Beta-selinene

• Ketones & Norisoprenoids (Signature Violet-Orris Nuances): Dihydro-alpha-ionone, Beta-ionone, Aplotaxene

Applications & Blending

• Haute Perfumery, Niche Accords & Traditional Indian Attars: Used in trace dilutions as a master fixative and sensual animalic-woody modifier in oriental, chypre, leather, woody, violet-iris, incense, and traditional Indian attar compositions (including Shamama, Hina, Oud-Amber, and Majmua blends).

• Incense, Dhup & Non-Dermal Botanical Perfumery: Prized in luxury temple incense (agarbatti / dhup), potpourri, and natural olfactory archives.

• Blends Well With: Sandalwood Oil, Oud (Agarwood), Vetiver (Khus), Patchouli, Orris Butter/Root, Violet Leaf, Rose Otto, Jasmine Sambac, Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin, Labdanum, Cedarwood, Civet/Ambrette Seed, Bergamot, and Cardamom.

Packaging, Storage & Compliance

• Quality Grade: 100% Pure & Natural, Cultivated Indian Himalayan Stock, Fine Fragrance & Attar Grade, Cruelty-Free, Vegan.

• Regulatory & IFRA Compliance: Conforms to applicable CITES Appendix I / Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act cultivated-origin certification for legal export, and IFRA Standards (raw Costus Root Oil is restricted/prohibited for dermal cosmetic applications under IFRA due to sensitizing sesquiterpene lactones; supplied for compliant fragrance/incense/technical applications; Certificate of Analysis, GC-MS Report, SDS, and IFRA documentation available upon request).

• Storage: Store in tightly sealed amber glass, stainless steel, or aluminum containers in a cool, dry, dark place away from air, heat, and direct sunlight.

• Shelf Life: 36 to 48 months under recommended storage conditions.

• Available Pack Sizes: 100 mL, 500 mL, 1 kg, 5 kg, and bulk export drums (with required CITES/export documentation).