Cinnamon bark oil
Cinnamon bark oil suppliers and sourcing guide
Cinnamon bark oil is steam-distilled from the dried inner bark of cinnamon trees. Ceylon cinnamon bark oil (Cinnamomum verum, from Sri Lanka) is costly and low-yielding; cassia oil, distilled mainly in China from Cinnamomum cassia leaves, twigs and bark, is the far more common and cheaper oil. Both are dominated by cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamon leaf oil is a different product, rich in eugenol rather than cinnamaldehyde.
- Also known as
- Cinnamomum verum bark oil · Ceylon cinnamon bark oil · Cassia oil (Cinnamomum cassia) · CAS 8007-80-5
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of cinnamon bark oil
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Ceylon cinnamon bark oil
Oil from Cinnamomum verum bark, with a rounder, sweeter profile and premium price.
Cassia oil
Oil from Cinnamomum cassia, higher in cinnamaldehyde and coumarin, used widely in beverages and confectionery.
Rectified
Redistilled oil with lighter color and cleaner odor.
Organic
Certified organic cinnamon bark or cassia oil in limited supply.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- GC profile
- Gas chromatography of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, linalool, coumarin and other markers; high eugenol suggests leaf oil in the blend.
- Physical constants
- Specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation at a stated temperature, compared with the supplier's specification or the Food Chemicals Codex monograph where one exists.
- Cinnamaldehyde and coumarin
- Cinnamaldehyde content by GC or aldehyde titration, plus coumarin, which distinguishes cassia from Ceylon oil.
- Appearance and odor
- Color, clarity and odor against a retained standard; off-notes often show up before the GC profile shifts.
- Heavy metals
- Lead and arsenic, typically by ICP-MS, against the supplier's specification.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep the oil in full, tightly closed amber glass, aluminum or lined steel containers, cool and out of light; headspace air oxidizes terpenes and dulls the odor. Blanket partly used drums with nitrogen where possible. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock is usually retested for odor, peroxide value and GC profile before use. Cinnamaldehyde slowly oxidizes to cinnamic acid, so watch acid value on older stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and coumarin vary by species and plant part, and cassia oil is sometimes sold as cinnamon oil. Record species, plant part and GC profile per lot, and specify the botanical name on purchase orders.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.20 lists Ceylon, Chinese and Saigon cinnamon bark among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists cinnamon bark oil (Cinnamomum spp., CAS 8007-80-5), with other names including cassia oil, with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 182.20.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Cinnamon bark oil suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking cinnamon bark oil suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell cinnamon bark oil? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of cinnamon bark oil can brands buy?
Common forms include ceylon cinnamon bark oil, cassia oil, rectified and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for cinnamon bark oil include?
Expect gC profile, physical constants, cinnamaldehyde and coumarin, appearance and odor and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should cinnamon bark oil be stored?
Keep the oil in full, tightly closed amber glass, aluminum or lined steel containers, cool and out of light; headspace air oxidizes terpenes and dulls the odor. Blanket partly used drums with nitrogen where possible. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock is usually retested for odor, peroxide value and GC profile before use. Cinnamaldehyde slowly oxidizes to cinnamic acid, so watch acid value on older stock.
What is the regulatory status of cinnamon bark oil?
21 CFR 182.20 lists Ceylon, Chinese and Saigon cinnamon bark among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists cinnamon bark oil (Cinnamomum spp., CAS 8007-80-5), with other names including cassia oil, with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 182.20.
More flavors, spices and essential oils
- Vanilla extractExtract of vanilla · Pure vanilla extract
- Vanilla beansVanilla planifolia · Vanilla tahitensis
- Vanillin4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde · Vanillic aldehyde
- Ethyl vanillin3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde · Bourbonal
- Natural flavorsNatural flavoring · Natural flavour
- Artificial flavorsArtificial flavoring · Synthetic flavors
- CinnamonCinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) · Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cassia)
- NutmegMyristica fragrans · Nutmeg seed
- CloveSyzygium aromaticum · Eugenia caryophyllata
- CardamomElettaria cardamomum · Green cardamom
- Black pepperPiper nigrum · Peppercorns
- Cayenne pepperCapsicum annuum · Capsicum frutescens
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