Citrus Beyond Citrus
Litsea cubeba, called may chang in its native China, is the citrus oil that never grew on a citrus tree. Steam-distilled from the small pepper-like fruits of Litsea cubeba, it pours out an intense, lemon-drop brightness that outlasts nearly every true citrus in a blend.
Shop Litsea Cubeba OilLitsea cubeba essential oil is steam-distilled from the ripe berry-like fruits of Litsea cubeba, a small tree of the laurel family grown across southern China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Its exceptional natural citral content makes it a workhorse of the world fragrance trade.
The scent is vivid sweet lemon with a fruity, slightly floral roundness, bolder and longer-lasting than expressed lemon peel. It energizes blends of ginger, rosemary, geranium, and vetiver, and it is a favorite trick for keeping citrus accords alive past the first hour.
May chang brightens morning diffuser sessions, scents kitchen and bathroom cleaning sprays, gives handmade soap a durable lemon note that survives saponification, and freshens gym bags and shoe closets via a few drops on a cotton pad.
Pure, intense, sweet, and lemon-bright — bottled with nothing added.
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