Camphor
Camphor suppliers and sourcing guide
Camphor is a white, waxy, crystalline terpene ketone with a strong odor. Natural camphor (d-camphor) is distilled from the wood of the camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora, while most commercial camphor is synthetic racemic dl-camphor made from alpha-pinene in turpentine. Brands buy it as crystals, powder or tablets for balms, rubs, lip products and foot products.
- Category
- Cosmetic actives
- Also known as
- d-Camphor · dl-Camphor · 2-Bornanone · Cinnamomum camphora · CAS 76-22-2
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of camphor
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Synthetic dl-camphor
Racemic camphor made from pinene, the most common and lowest-cost grade, sold as crystals or powder.
Natural d-camphor
Camphor distilled and purified from camphor tree wood, sold at a premium and identified by optical rotation.
Pharmacopeial grade
Camphor made to a USP or Ph. Eur. monograph, needed when it is a declared drug or natural health product active.
Tablets and blocks
Pressed camphor for some traditional uses; most formulators buy free-flowing crystals instead.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity and assay
- Identity by IR and assay by GC, confirming camphor content and showing related terpenes such as borneol.
- Optical rotation
- Specific rotation, which separates natural d-camphor from racemic synthetic dl-camphor.
- Melting point
- Melting range as a quick purity and identity check.
- Water and nonvolatile residue
- Water content and residue left after evaporation, which flag impurities.
- Heavy metals
- Lead and other metals by ICP-MS against the supplier specification.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Camphor sublimes at room temperature, so keep it in tightly sealed, well-filled containers in a cool place away from heat and ignition sources; it is flammable. Weigh it quickly and reseal to limit losses and odor transfer. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, with assay retest for aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Record whether each lot is natural or synthetic, its optical rotation and GC assay. Partly used containers lose camphor by sublimation, so reassay or use them first.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist restricts camphor (CAS 76-22-2) in cosmetics to 3%.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Counterirritants monograph lists dl-camphor and/or d-camphor at 3 to 11% as a medicinal ingredient.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists d-camphor with technical effects including flavoring agent or adjuvant and cites 21 CFR 172.515.
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.
Camphor suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking camphor 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 camphor? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of camphor can brands buy?
Common forms include synthetic dl-camphor, natural d-camphor, pharmacopeial grade and tablets and blocks. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for camphor include?
Expect identity and assay, optical rotation, melting point, water and nonvolatile residue and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should camphor be stored?
Camphor sublimes at room temperature, so keep it in tightly sealed, well-filled containers in a cool place away from heat and ignition sources; it is flammable. Weigh it quickly and reseal to limit losses and odor transfer. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, with assay retest for aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of camphor?
Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist restricts camphor (CAS 76-22-2) in cosmetics to 3%. Health Canada's Counterirritants monograph lists dl-camphor and/or d-camphor at 3 to 11% as a medicinal ingredient. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists d-camphor with technical effects including flavoring agent or adjuvant and cites 21 CFR 172.515.
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