Blue Tansy Oil in Skincare: INCI Name, Origin and Labels

Blue tansy oil is the volatile (essential) oil distilled from the flowers of Tanacetum annuum, an annual plant of the daisy family that grows in northern Morocco and the wider Mediterranean. On an ingredient list it appears under the INCI name Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, and its deep blue colour comes from a compound called chamazulene.

This guide explains what blue tansy oil in skincare actually is, how it is classified and labelled, and what a buyer should check before stocking it. It does not make or repeat any claims about skin benefits.

Step 1: Know the plant behind blue tansy oil in skincare

The name causes confusion. Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a different plant; the cosmetic ingredient sold as blue tansy comes from Tanacetum annuum. Aromatherapy author Salvatore Battaglia’s blue tansy monograph describes it as a yellow-flowered Mediterranean annual growing in northern Morocco, and notes that it is easily confused with Moroccan chamomile.

The European Commission’s CosIng database defines Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil¹ as “the volatile oil derived from the flowers of Tanacetum annuum, Asteraceae”. A second entry, Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil², covers oil distilled from flowers, leaves and stems together. The INCI name on the pack therefore tells you which parts of the plant the supplier used.

Step 2: Understand why the oil is blue

The monograph attributes the bright blue colour to chamazulene. It cites an analysis of Moroccan oil that identified more than 130 constituents, with these main components:

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The same analysis found chamazulene falling and myrcene rising as harvest moved from June to October. In other words, composition varies with season, origin and lot, as it does for most essential oils. The monograph also points out that very few scientific studies look at blue tansy oil itself, so much of what circulates online comes from ingredient sellers.

Chamazulene is also listed in CosIng as a separate ingredient, CHAMAZULENE³. A blue product is not automatically a blue tansy product: always read the full ingredient list.

Step 3: Read the INCI listing and the classification

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A CosIng “function” describes the job an ingredient does in a formula. It is not evidence of an effect on skin, and it does not license a marketing claim.

Korea’s Cosmetics Act⁴ requires every ingredient used to be listed on the outer pack (Article 10), bans labels or ads that could be mistaken for a medicine (Article 13), and requires that factual claims can be substantiated (Article 14). Your own market will have equivalent rules.

Step 4: Write product copy that stays within the rules

Blue tansy oil sells on colour and story, which makes it tempting to over-claim. For retailer listings and staff training, stick to verifiable facts: the plant, the origin of the colour, the INCI name and where the oil sits in the ingredient list. Avoid wording that implies a medical effect. If a product page you receive from a supplier contains such wording, rewrite it for your market rather than translating it directly.

Step 5: Check documents before you import

Before placing a wholesale order for a product containing blue tansy oil, ask for:

• Full ingredient list in INCI, to confirm whether the oil is the flower oil or the flower/leaf/stem oil, and whether chamazulene is added separately.
• Fragrance information, because the oil also acts as a fragrance ingredient; check whether your market requires certain fragrance allergens to be named on the label.
• Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which freight forwarders commonly request for air shipments.
• Batch (lot) numbers, since natural oils can vary in colour from lot to lot; record them on receipt.
• Storage instructions printed on the pack, and keep stock away from heat and direct sunlight.

Step 6: Korean brands that use blue tansy oil

SEONGWOO GLOBAL is the Official Distributor of Carenology95, a Korean skincare brand created by a dermatologist and best known for its Re:Blue line with blue tansy oil and its sun care. For brand information or a wholesale enquiry, see the pages below.

Related pages: Carenology95 · Brands we supply · FAQ · Contact us · Jojoba oil in skincare · Heartleaf in Korean skincare · Is there a clean beauty definition?