Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil: What Is It, Cosmetic Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Curious about this ingredient? In this article we're explaining exactly what it is and why it's used within cosmetic formulations.
Updated on: June 24, 2025
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All information on this page is verified using publicly available nomenclature standards and reference materials from The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and the European Commission's CosIng database. Our analyses are based on technical data from these sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

What Is Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil?

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil comes from the blooms of German chamomile, a small daisy-like plant known to gardeners for its soft scent and calming blue color. The dried flower heads are steam-distilled, a process that uses hot vapor to pull out the plant’s fragrant oil. This gentle method keeps the oil’s natural compounds intact, including azulene that gives the oil a blue tint, plus small amounts of bisabolol and flavonoids that help soothe skin.

Chamomile has been brewed as a calming tea for hundreds of years and was rubbed on skin in folk care for minor redness. Modern cosmetic labs noticed how well it softened skin and added it to creams in the 1950s. Today the oil is a regular in face masks, night creams, baby lotions, after-sun gels, beard oils and relaxing bath blends. Its mild scent pairs well with other botanicals so formulators often use it in aromatherapy-style products.

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses

In beauty formulas this oil serves two main jobs

  • Fragrance: It gives products a light, sweet herbal scent that can help cover raw ingredient odors and provide a spa-like feel during use
  • Skin conditioning: Its trace azulene and bisabolol can help calm the look of temporary redness while the oil itself adds a touch of emollience that leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable

Who Can Use Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil

This botanical oil is generally suitable for all skin types. Dry and sensitive complexions often appreciate its calming nature while normal and combination skin benefit from its light emollience. Oily or blemish-prone users usually tolerate it well because only tiny percentages of the oil are needed for effect though anyone with a known allergy to ragweed or other daisies should proceed with extra caution.

Because it is extracted from a plant and contains no animal-derived components it fits comfortably into vegan and vegetarian routines. Cruelty-free shoppers can look for brands that do not test finished products on animals.

Topical chamomile is considered mild but data on use during pregnancy or breastfeeding are limited. This is not medical advice and anyone who is pregnant or nursing should show the ingredient list to a healthcare professional before adding new products to a routine.

The oil is not known to cause photosensitivity so it can be worn during the day without making skin more prone to sunburn. Ordinary sun protection habits should still be followed. Its gentle profile also makes it a popular choice in baby lotions and after-sun formulas.

Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions

Responses to Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil vary from person to person. The points below list potential reactions but most users experience none of them when the ingredient is used at typical cosmetic levels.

  • Allergic contact dermatitis in individuals sensitive to ragweed, marigold or other Asteraceae plants
  • Localized redness, itching or rash from general irritation
  • Eye stinging or watering if the product migrates into the eye area
  • Temporary blue staining of light fabrics or under nails due to the natural azulene pigment

If any of these issues occur stop using the product and consult a healthcare professional.

Comedogenic Rating

Rating: 1/5 (very low). Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil is a light essential oil with almost no lingering fatty content so it rarely mixes with sebum or sticks inside pores. Cosmetic formulas usually include it at well under 1 percent which keeps clogging risk minimal.

Thanks to this low score it is generally considered fine for acne-prone skin.

Remember a product’s overall pore clogging potential depends on the complete recipe and how the product is used and removed.

Summary

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil delivers a gentle herbal scent and a soothing skin feel. Trace azulene and bisabolol help calm visible redness while the oil rounds out the fragrance profile of creams masks lotions and bath blends.

The ingredient has enjoyed steady use since the mid twentieth century. It is not a headline grabbing superstar but formulators appreciate its mild nature and reliable performance in baby care soothing after sun products and spa style treatments.

Safety reviews list it as low risk for most people with the main caution being possible allergy in those sensitive to daisies. It is not known to be phototoxic and scores very low on the comedogenic scale. Even so it is smart to patch test any new product that contains this oil especially if your skin tends to react easily.

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