What is it?
An essential oil steam-distilled from the crushed seeds of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum, a spice plant in the ginger family. Its two main constituents are alpha-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole (also called eucalyptol). It is used to scent perfumes, skin care, soaps and other personal care products, and the same oil flavors foods and drinks.
Key information
- Cardamom seed oil is on the FDA's list of essential oils generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in food.
- Its main constituents are alpha-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole, with smaller amounts of linalyl acetate, linalool and limonene.
- Linalool and limonene are established fragrance allergens, especially after they oxidize in air, and are among the fragrance ingredients EU rules require to be named on labels.
- According to the supplier safety data sheet cited by EFSA, the undiluted oil can irritate the skin and eyes and may cause skin allergy.
More information
Cardamom oil is made by steam distillation of crushed seeds harvested before they are fully ripe, according to a 2019 assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA’s specification lists alpha-terpinyl acetate at 30 to 42 percent and 1,8-cineole at 16 to 35 percent, with linalyl acetate, linalool and limonene each in the single digits. The balance varies with the plant: a 2021 study of 22 cardamom samples from southern India found alpha-terpinyl acetate ranging from 29.9 to 61.3 percent and 1,8-cineole from 15.2 to 49.4 percent.
The FDA lists cardamom seed oil among the essential oils generally recognized as safe for their intended use in food. EFSA concluded in 2019 that it is safe as a flavoring in animal feed at the proposed level, for the animals and for people eating animal products. EFSA had no specific data on safety for people handling the oil, but the supplier’s safety data sheet it cited classifies the undiluted oil as a skin and eye irritant that may cause an allergic skin reaction.
The oil’s main constituents give a useful guide for skin. In its 2012 opinion on fragrance allergens, the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) reported no reactions to alpha-terpinyl acetate in 179 patch-tested patients, and its structure-based analysis predicted that 1,8-cineole is not a sensitizer, though human data were lacking. The SCCS classes linalool and limonene as established contact allergens; both oxidize in air into stronger sensitizers, which careful storage can limit.
On ingredient lists, look for Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil. People with a known fragrance allergy can also check for linalool and limonene, which EU-style labels name separately.
Sources: EFSA FEEDAP Panel (2019): Safety and efficacy of an essential oil from Elettaria cardamomum when used as a sensory additive in feed; Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2021): Essential oil profile diversity in cardamom accessions from southern India; SCCS: Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (2012); Cornell LII: 21 CFR 182.20, Essential oils generally recognized as safe