Inhaltsstoff
*Camphor
Nutzen
Natürlich
Of all the bioactive aromatic compounds found in plants, camphor is probably the most famous (on par with menthol and vanillin).
What is camphor?
People have extracted camphor from trees for centuries and used it as a medicine and fragrance. Its potent scent – sharp, fresh, somewhat medicinal – is so distinctive that it is described as "camphoraceous." From repelling insects to embalming and even manufacturing plastics, camphor has had and continues to have a wide variety of uses around the world.
Where can you find natural camphor?
Of course, the main natural source of camphor is the camphor tree (Camphora officinarum or Cinnamomum camphora), whose extracts we sometimes use at Lush. But camphor is also present at various levels in many other oils and extracts from plants: rosemary, lavandin, lavender, sage, basil, feverfew, mugwort, fenugreek, yarrow, galangal, coriander seeds or tansy.
What are the benefits of natural camphor?
Please note that the following benefits have been observed with pure camphor. Therefore, they may vary considerably depending on the concentration of camphor in our essential oils:
- Pain reliever: Acts on the sensory nervous system, reducing the perception of pain in the area of application.
- Muscle-relaxing and calming: Traditionally used to calm the nervous system, relieve anxiety and stress, and promote sleep.
- Detoxifying: Acts as a vasodilator, thus promoting blood circulation.
- Antimicrobial: Cleanses the skin of certain bacteria and fungi.
- Penetration enhancer: Increases the penetration and therefore the effectiveness of other substances in the skin, particularly menthol.
- Oral care: Valued for its taste, antimicrobial properties, and soothing effect on minor aches and pains.
- Bonus: Has powerful insect-repellent properties and relieves coughs when inhaled.
And I love what you smell like, don't you know that you're toxic?
You're probably wondering (and will soon ask us): "Isn't camphor toxic? I heard it's banned in some countries!" First, our products aren’t meant to be ingested, which considerably reduces risks. Plus, rest assured that a well-known ingredient like this is subject to strict regulations, which we follow meticulously.
Also, it’s worth noting that, at Lush, we strive to make our ingredient lists as clear as possible. When you see *Camphor with an asterisk, as here, it means it occurs naturally in the essential oils we use, not that we've added it to the product.
Declaring part of the chemical composition of our essential oils is a legal requirement imposed by several regulatory bodies worldwide. Indeed, these substances are considered allergens, meaning they are more likely to cause allergic reactions in the form of skin sensitisation or irritation in susceptible individuals.
While allergies affect only a small minority, it is still important to highlight the presence of allergens in products so that customers who may be more sensitive to them can make informed decisions. These substances are subject to restrictions to ensure their safe use in cosmetics. They must also appear on product labels when they occur above a certain limit: 0,001 % for leave-on products like moisturisers and 0,01 % for rinse-off products like shower gels.