Cinnamon Essential Oil: Three Different Types and Differences

Cinnamon has always been one of those scents I associate with a warm, welcoming home. Whether it's cinnamon rolls baking in the oven, holiday decorations, or a diffuser filling the room with a spicy scent, there's quite a bit about cinnamon essential oil I love.

But when it comes to cinnamon essential oil, there are three different types: cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, and cassia. They may have similar scents, but they're not the same, and there are differences in how to use them.

I enjoy using cinnamon in my diffuser blends, especially when paired with orange, clove, or other warm, woodsy essential oils. I've also learned that cinnamon can be a little tricky. Sometimes the citrus comes through more than expected, even when I've added cinnamon and clove.

I'm not a professional aromatherapist. I'm simply someone who enjoys essential oils, experimenting with different scents, and learning more about what I'm using. Here's what I've learned about cinnamon essential oil, including the differences between bark, leaf, and cassia, their potential benefits, everyday uses, and precautions.

Where Does Cinnamon Essential Oil Come From?

Cinnamon essential oil comes from evergreen trees belonging to the Cinnamomum genus. These trees grow in tropical regions, particularly Sri Lanka, China, and other parts of Asia.

Two of the essential oils come from the same species, Cinnamomum verum, also known as Ceylon cinnamon or Cinnamomum zeylanicum.

• Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil: Steam-distilled from the inner bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree.
• Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil: Steam-distilled from the leaves of the Ceylon cinnamon tree.
• Cassia Essential Oil: Usually distilled from the bark of a different cinnamon species, Cinnamomum cassia, also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum.

Although all three belong to the cinnamon family, they don't smell exactly alike, and there are differences in how they can be used.

That's why checking the botanical name and plant part on the bottle rather than relying on a label that simply says "Cinnamon Essential Oil" is important.

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Cinnamon bark has that familiar, sweet, warm, spicy cinnamon scent most of us recognize. It's the one I think of when thinking of cinnamon sticks, holiday baking, and the spicy scents around Christmas.

Cinnamon bark essential oil contains a high concentration of cinnamaldehyde, which is what gives it that familiar cinnamon scent. Because of this, cinnamon bark is particularly strong and can easily take over a diffuser blend. I like a noticeable cinnamon scent, but I also want to smell the other essential oils I've added as well. Finding the right balance takes a little experimenting and usually, you don’t need much at all.

Cinnamon bark is often used in holiday inspired fragrances, especially with citrus, clove, and woodsy essential oils.

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil

Cinnamon leaf essential oil has a different scent. It's still warm and spicy, but it's usually less sweet and has a more herbal, clove like scent. Cinnamon leaf contains more eugenol, which is also found in clove essential oil. That's why its scent reminds you more of cloves than traditional cinnamon.

Cinnamon leaf can be an alternative when you want something warm and spicy without the familiar sweet cinnamon bark scent. It pairs nicely with cedarwood, rosemary, citrus, and other herbal or woodsy essential oils.

Cassia Cinnamon Essential Oil

Cassia has that strong, spicy cinnamon scent many of us associate with cinnamon candies and scented holiday pinecones. It's a little sharper and bolder than Ceylon cinnamon bark, which tends to have a softer, sweeter scent. Cassia comes from a different cinnamon tree, Cinnamomum cassia, which is native to China and sometimes called Chinese cinnamon. The essential oil is usually distilled from the bark.

Cassia may smell more like the cinnamon spice many of us grew up with. That's because much of the ground cinnamon sold in American grocery stores comes from cassia or related cinnamon species rather than Ceylon cinnamon, also known as true cinnamon.

Like Ceylon cinnamon bark, cassia contains cinnamaldehyde, which gives it that familiar cinnamon scent. It's a strong oil that can stand out in diffuser blends, even when you're using several other essential oils.

Comparing These Three Oils

Although cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, and cassia have similarities, their scents and compositions make them different.

None of these oils is automatically better than the others. It really depends on the scent you're looking for and how you plan to use it.

Potential Benefits of Cinnamon Essential Oil

Cinnamon has a long history of traditional use, and researchers have studied the oil and their natural compounds for several possible benefits. However, there's an important difference between laboratory research and what happens when we use a few drops of essential oil in a diffuser.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties

It has been studied for its ability to fight certain bacteria and fungi, and some laboratory results have shown promise.

But, that doesn't mean adding cinnamon essential oil to a diffuser will kill germs in your home or prevent you from getting sick.

Antioxidant Properties

It has also been studied for its antioxidant properties, which may help protect cells from certain types of damage.

While that is interesting, there's no good evidence that diffusing cinnamon essential oil provides these benefits to our bodies.

Creating a Warm, Comforting Atmosphere

For me, this is one of the reasons I use cinnamon essential oil. I love how a little cinnamon can change the scent of a room, especially during fall and winter.

Combined with orange, it creates a bright, spicy scent. Add a little clove, and it reminds me of the holidays. Paired with cedarwood or frankincense, cinnamon takes on a warmer, woodsy character.

Some people find these familiar scents comforting or uplifting, although that's a personal response.

Traditional Aromatherapy Uses

It's sometimes described in aromatherapy as warming, stimulating, or energizing. Cinnamon essential oil is often used in aromatherapy for its warm, spicy, and uplifting scent. I personally enjoy it for the cozy, welcoming feeling it brings to a room, especially during the cooler months.

Using Cinnamon Essential Oil

There are several ways to enjoy it around the home:

Cinnamon in Diffuser Blends

Diffusing is my favorite way to use cinnamon essential oil. Particularly during the most wonderful time of the year, but there's no reason to limit cinnamon to Christmas.

Some essential oils that pair nicely with cinnamon include:

• Sweet orange
• Lemon
• Clove bud
• Cedarwood
• Frankincense
• Ginger
• Cardamom
• Nutmeg
• Pine
• Rosemary

From my experimenting with diffuser blends - the number of drops doesn't always tell you how noticeable an essential oil will be. For example, orange may stand out more than expected in a blend, even when cinnamon and clove are included. The type of cinnamon oil, the other essential oils, diffuser size, room size all make a difference.

Cinnamon bark, leaf, and cassia are all potentially irritating when inhaled in concentrated amounts. Start with just a drop or two, diffuse intermittently, and stop if you notice coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or discomfort. Adding more cinnamon isn't always the best way to make a blend stronger.

Cinnamon Scented Decorations

Another way to enjoy cinnamon is through scented seasonal decorations. A tiny amount can be placed on an absorbent, disposable scent pad or other suitable material like pine cones or ordinary cinnamon sticks you may only bring out during the holidays.

Avoid applying the oil directly to furniture, painted surfaces, plastics, fabrics, or delicate decorations, since concentrated essential oils can stain or damage materials.

Homemade Room Sprays

Cinnamon can be used as an ingredient in room sprays, but I wouldn't recommend simply adding cinnamon essential oil to a bottle of water and shaking it. Essential oils don't dissolve in water and a properly formulated spray needs an appropriate solubilizer, and water based mixtures also need a preservative.

Because cinnamon oils can irritate the respiratory system, be cautious about using them in sprays that produce a fine mist, particularly around people with breathing sensitivities or pets.

Cinnamon in Homemade Cleaning Products

Cinnamon essential oil can be a nice addition to homemade cleaning products, especially when paired with lemon or other fresh-smelling essential oils. It has also shown antibacterial and antifungal properties in laboratory studies. While that doesn't make a homemade cleaner a disinfectant, cinnamon can add a warm, spicy scent to a properly made cleaning solution.

Cinnamon Essential Oil Cautions

Cinnamon may be a familiar kitchen spice, but cinnamon essential oil is far more concentrated than the cinnamon we use in cooking.

All three cinnamon essential oils require care, particularly around the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.

Skin Irritation and Allergic Reactions

Cinnamon bark and cassia essential oils are among the more irritating essential oils for topical use. Their high cinnamaldehyde content can cause burning sensation, redness, irritation, or allergic reactions, even when diluted. Cinnamon leaf also has risks because of its eugenol content. These should never be applied to the skin neat.

All three cinnamon essential oils can irritate the skin, even when diluted. If you are using them in homemade skin care products knowing the proper dilution for each oil is important and avoid adding them directly to bathwater.

Diffusing Around Children and Pets

Extra care is needed when diffusing cinnamon around children and animals. Always keep diffusers a safe distance away from them.

Dogs and cats can be sensitive to concentrated essential oils, and birds have especially delicate respiratory systems.

Pregnancy and Medical Conditions

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or managing a medical condition, get qualified advice before using cinnamon essential oil therapeutically.

This is especially important for topical use, which can result in greater exposure than enjoying a faint scent in a room.

Internal Use and Respiratory Irritation

Cinnamon essential oil should Never be swallowed or added to drinks as a home remedy. The cinnamon spice used in cooking is not the same as taking concentrated essential oils internally.

Strong essential oil scents aren't comfortable for everyone. Cinnamon can be particularly irritating to sensitive noses and throats. If you experience coughing, wheezing, burning eyes, or throat discomfort, turn off the diffuser and get some fresh air.

For anyone sensitive to fragrances, even a small amount may be too much.

How to Choose Cinnamon Essential Oil

When shopping for cinnamon essential oil, I like knowing exactly what's in the bottle.

Look for the following information:

• Botanical name: Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum zeylanicum for Ceylon cinnamon, and Cinnamomum cassia for cassia.
• Plant part: Bark or leaf.
• Extraction method: Usually steam distillation.
• Purity information: The label should identify the oil without undisclosed fragrance additions.

Be careful with bottles simply labeled "Cinnamon Essential Oil." Without the botanical name and plant part, you may not know whether you're buying cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, cassia, or a blend.

Price can also be a consideration. Cinnamon bark essential oil is often more expensive than cinnamon leaf, although prices vary by supplier.

Enjoying Cinnamon Essential Oil

Cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, and cassia may all have cinnamon in their names, but they aren't identical essential oils.

Bark has the sweeter, more familiar cinnamon scent, leaf is more herbal and clove-like, and cassia has a particularly bold, spicy cinnamon scent. Their different chemical compositions also mean they have different safety considerations.

I enjoy using cinnamon in my diffuser blends and sprays, especially during the fall and winter months. Whether you prefer cinnamon bark, leaf, or cassia, each has its own scent, and it's worth trying the different types to see which you like best. Just remember that a little cinnamon can go a long way, so use it with care.