May Chang Essential Oil 10mL
May Chang is distilled from the small pepper-like fruits of Litsea cubeba, a tree related to bay and cinnamon rather than to lemon. It is citral-rich, which is why it reads as bright lemon, but because it is steam distilled from fruit rather than cold pressed from peel it carries none of the phototoxicity that expressed citrus oils do.
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May Chang is steam distilled from the small fruits of Litsea cubeba, a tree in the Lauraceae family alongside bay laurel, cinnamon and camphor. The fruits look like tiny peppercorns, which is where the alternative name mountain pepper comes from. The aroma is sweet, fruity and distinctly citrusy.
From bush to bottle
Litsea cubeba grows across southern China and into South-East Asia. It is a laurel, so it is a relative of bay and cinnamon, and the fruit rather than the leaf carries the aromatic oil. That botanical distance from citrus turns out to matter a great deal.
The fruits are small, round and pepper-like, and they are harvested when ripe. It takes a lot of them for very little oil, which is the main reason May Chang is not as cheap as its bright, simple aroma might suggest.
This is the important step. May Chang is steam distilled, whereas lemon, lime, bergamot and grapefruit are cold pressed from peel. Steam distillation leaves behind the heavy furocoumarins that make expressed citrus oils phototoxic.
Cold-pressed citrus oils carry furocoumarins, large non-volatile molecules that come across in the pressing and can make skin react badly to sunlight. That is why bergamot, lime, lemon and grapefruit all carry dilution limits for anything applied to skin that will see the sun.
May Chang gets its lemon character from citral, the same aldehyde pair that leads Lemon Myrtle and Honey Myrtle, but it is steam distilled from fruit. Furocoumarins are too heavy to carry over in steam, so they simply are not in the oil. If you want a bright citrus note in a skincare or massage blend without managing phototoxicity, this is the straightforward answer.
Quality and testing
Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis. The full constituent breakdown sits on the batch certificate rather than here, because the ranges shift with each season and harvest.
Litsea cubeba grows across southern China and into neighbouring South-East Asia, and China remains the main producer. It is a mountain tree rather than a lowland crop, and the fruit is small enough that yields stay modest however good the season.
May Chang, Lemon Myrtle and cold-pressed lemon
| May Chang | Lemon Myrtle | Lemon (cold pressed) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical | Litsea cubeba | Backhousia citriodora | Citrus limon |
| Family | Lauraceae | Myrtaceae | Rutaceae |
| Part distilled | Fruit | Leaf | Peel, cold pressed |
| Extraction | Steam distilled | Steam distilled | Cold pressed |
| Phototoxic | No | No | Yes, cold-pressed citrus |
| Aroma | Sweet, fruity lemon | Intense, sharp lemon | Fresh peel |
A botanical and aroma comparison to help you choose between oils. It is not a claim that one oil performs better than another.
Properties
Traditional and aromatherapy properties associated with this oil. Individual results differ, and this is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.
Ways to use it
3 to 6 drops in a diffuser or oil burner. The simplest way in.
May Chang blends with Rose Geranium, Cedarwood, Lavender and the woody oils.
One or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba. Patch test first.
One drop inhaled from a tissue when you want the aroma on the move.
A few drops in water instead of a synthetic air freshener.
Well dispersed in a carrier or with bath salts, never neat on water.
A few drops in a homemade surface spray as a fresh deodoriser.
A bright citrus note without the sun-exposure limits of pressed citrus.
May Chang is citral-rich. Citral can sensitise skin, so keep skin dilution low and patch test, even though this oil is not phototoxic.
What customers tell us
★★★★★
“Excellent quality oil for day to day use for creating relaxing resort feel at home. Definitely ongoing buy!! Thanks Zea for creating excellent products.”
Amit S. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“I recently purchased May Chang and Honey Myrtle. Oh my goodness! After trying many different oils, the ones purchased from Zea are simply beautiful. Full scent, refreshing, relaxing, just beautiful. May Chang is the favourite.”
Melissa A. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“Absolutely beautiful oils, I love them all and can't choose a favourite yet! Excited to use these for me and my family.”
Debbie E. · Verified buyer
Five-star reviews from verified Judge.me buyers. The third speaks to the Zea Essentials range rather than to this oil specifically. Individual experiences differ.
Complete your blending kit
May Chang is a bright top note. These are the oils that give it a base.
Foresty depth under the sweet citrus.
$24.95
Floral and citrus together.
$19.95
Wood to anchor a very bright top note.
$19.95
Soft floral beneath it.
$24.95
Resinous base under the fruit.
$32.95
Unscented base for diluting before any skin use.
$17.95
Single origin Australian essential oils since 2016
Questions, answered
A 100% pure essential oil, steam distilled from the small fruits of Litsea cubeba in China. It is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis.
Sweet, fruity and citrusy with a slightly spicy undertone. Softer and rounder than a pressed lemon oil.
Start with 3 to 6 drops in a diffuser. For skin, dilute one or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and patch test first.
Not botanically. Litsea cubeba is in the laurel family, alongside bay and cinnamon. It smells citrusy because it is citral-rich, not because it is related to lemons.
No. Phototoxicity in citrus oils comes from furocoumarins carried over in cold pressing. May Chang is steam distilled, and those molecules are too heavy to come across in steam.
No. Never apply an undiluted essential oil and never take one internally. Dilute in a carrier oil first, and patch test.
Yes. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis, which is how the specifications on this page are established.
Keep it out of reach of children and never apply it undiluted. Diffuse in a ventilated room rather than a closed space. Check with your vet before diffusing around pets.
Below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap on firmly. The lighter constituents are always the first to escape.
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Free shipping on Australian orders over $75 · 100% pure · GC/MS tested · single origin China. Choose your pack and we will get it on its way.
Choose your packMay Chang Essential Oil is an aromatherapy product for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always dilute before use and follow the label directions. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents, not to an outcome from using this product. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
May Chang Oil 10mL
