Vetiver oil |

Last updated: 22/08/2025
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(Also known as: vetiver essential oil; Indian essential oil; khas khas grass oil) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
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An oil extracted from the perennial grass Chrysopogon zizanioides which may be used as an insect repellent |
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Termites; Ticks; Mosquitos |
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Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Poales; Family: Poaceae |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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No UK approval for use as a plant protection agent |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
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Not approved |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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No |
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ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
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ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
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LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
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ISIceland |
NONorway |
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Vetiver oil is a complex mixture and contains a large number of different sesquiterpenes, many of which exist in isomeric forms. For example, the oil contains vetiverol, vetivone, and khusimol, all of which exhibit stereoisomerism due to multiple chiral centres. It also contains the positional isomers methyl zizanoate and methyl isozizanoate as well as valerenol, beta-vatirenene, and longiverbenone which are structural isomers. |
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No |
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Insecticide; Semiochemical |
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Plant-derived substance; Plant oil |
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Natural; Complex mixture |
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Non-toxic mode of action - repellency |
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Derived from the aromatic roots of the evergreen perennial grass Chrysopogon zizanioides (formerly Vetiveria zizanioides) that is native to China, Africa and India |
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General pest management |
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Termites; Ticks; Mosquitos |
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8016-96-4 |
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84238-29-9 |
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616-993-4 |
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vetiver oil |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Oil is anber coloured with a sweet odour. It is comprised of multiple volatile organic substances including vetivone, caryophyllene and isovalencenol |
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Current |
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Used for centuries informally; 1980s, scientific studies regarding its repellency; 2000s, used in Asian pest manageemnt systems |
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Often formulated as ready-to-use formulations and emulsifiable concentrates |
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Commercial production of vetiver oil centres on cultivating Chrysopogon zizanioides. The oil is extracted from the plant’s deep, fibrous roots, which are harvested after 12–18 months of growth to ensure high aromatic content. Once dug up, the roots are cleaned, dried, and subjected to steam distillation, with two main approaches: low-pressure distillation for premium-grade perfume oil and high-pressure distillation for larger-scale commercial use. |
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Data for specific plant oils is scarce. However, from publicly available data the carbon footprint of plant oils has been estimated at between 1.0 and 4.0 kg CO₂e per kg of oil. This depends on the plant oil content, agricultural practices and processing methods used. |
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276 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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119 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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0.99 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
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Soil adsorption and mobility |
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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> 2000 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Low |
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
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> 2000 |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat |
Low |
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Carcinogen |
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Endocrine disruptor |
No data found |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data |
No data found |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
No data found |
No data found |
No data found |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
No data found |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
✓Yes, known to cause a problem |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
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No data found |
No data found |
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Considered to be beneficial due to its strong antioxidant properties May cause allergic skin reactions |
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Not compatible with oxidising agents or streong acids and bases IMDG Transport Hazard Class 9 |
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Health: H304, H315, H317 Environment: H411 |
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Not listed (Not listed) |
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UN3082 |
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Packaging group III (minor danger) |
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vetiver oil |
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Record last updated: |
22/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |