Clove Oil: Scent, Origin, Uses & Safety

Clove oil – Nelkenöl in German – smells of Advent, mulled wine and gingerbread. This powerful spice oil is a classic for warm winter blends. Here you will learn what clove oil is made from, how leaf and bud oil differ, what it smells like, how to dose it and what to look out for.

What is clove oil?

Clove oil comes from the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum), an evergreen tree of the myrtle family originally native to the Moluccas in Indonesia. The cloves in your kitchen are its dried flower buds.

Depending on the part of the plant, there are different clove oils:

• Clove leaf oil – steam-distilled from the leaves. Strong and spicy, slightly more herbaceous, and the most widely traded clove oil.
• Clove bud oil – distilled from the flower buds. Somewhat rounder and sweeter, and usually considerably more expensive.

Our clove oil is a leaf oil, steam-distilled from the leaves of the clove tree from Indonesia. A reputable supplier should state which clove oil they sell.

What does clove oil smell like?

Clove oil smells intensely spicy, warm and slightly sweet – instantly recognisable as clove. Its main component, eugenol, gives it its typical, penetrating character. Because it is so intense, a few drops are usually enough; in blends, clove forms the warm heart note.

Ideas for using clove oil

• In a diffuser: 1–2 drops of clove combined with 3–4 drops of a milder oil such as orange in 150–200 ml of water. On its own, clove quickly becomes too dominant. More in our diffuser guide.
• In an oil burner: 1–2 drops for a cosy winter evening.
• In a sauna infusion: sparingly, 1 drop per litre of infusion water, ideally with orange or Swiss stone pine. Tips in our sauna guide.
• For scented candles and room sprays as a warm spice note.
• On scented wood or potpourri: 1 drop refreshes dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks in your Advent decorations.

Blends with clove oil

Three winter blends for the diffuser (each for 150–200 ml of water):

• Baked apple: 4 drops sweet orange oil, 1 drop clove oil, 1 drop cinnamon leaf oil.
• Christmas market: 3 drops orange oil, 1 drop clove oil, 1 drop star anise oil, 1 drop cardamom oil.
• Winter forest by the fire: 3 drops Swiss stone pine oil, 2 drops orange oil, 1 drop clove oil.

Ready-blended: Winter Warmth with cassia, clove, orange and Swiss stone pine – or the Winter Magic Set with orange, cinnamon, clove, star anise and Winter Warmth.

Safety information

Clove oil is one of the strongest essential oils. Its label states, among other things: may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways, may cause an allergic skin reaction, causes serious eye irritation. Therefore:

• Do not ingest. Our clove oil is not intended for consumption – for cooking, use whole or ground cloves.
• Never apply neat to the skin and avoid eye contact.
• Dose sparingly and ventilate well.
• Children and pregnancy: keep out of reach of children; seek expert advice before use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Pets: animals are sensitive – see essential oils and pets.

Buying clove oil: what to look for

• Botanical name Syzygium aromaticum (formerly also Eugenia caryophyllata).
• Plant part: leaf or bud oil? Reputable suppliers say which.
• 100 % pure, no additives, with origin and batch number.
• Amber glass bottle and complete hazard information.

Our clove oil is 100 % pure, steam-distilled from the leaves of Syzygium aromaticum from Indonesia and hand-filled in Germany – from 10 ml to 1 litre. More criteria in our guide buying essential oils: how to recognise quality.

Frequently asked questions about clove oil

What is clove oil called in German?
Nelkenöl – the essential oil of the clove tree.

What is the difference between clove leaf oil and clove bud oil?
Leaf oil is distilled from the leaves and smells strong and herbaceous; bud oil comes from the flower buds and smells rounder and sweeter.

Can clove oil be taken internally?
No, our clove oil is not intended for consumption.

How many drops of clove oil in a diffuser?
1–2 drops, ideally together with milder oils such as orange.

What can clove oil be blended with?
Orange, cinnamon, cassia, star anise, cardamom, ginger, Swiss stone pine and cedarwood.

🌿 Casse-Q – Natural oils with character
Spicy, warm, intense: discover our clove oil – 100 % pure and hand-filled in Germany.