Cypress oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the Mediterranean cypress, a tall evergreen conifer. It gives our glass and mirror cleaner a fresh, woody evergreen note. It does not lift fingerprints or film from glass; the rest of the formula does the cleaning.
Contains added scent. Prefer none? Our Fragrance-Free All-Purpose Refill and Spray Kit have no fragrance or essential oils. There is no fragrance-free glass cleaner yet.
Quick facts
- What it is: An essential oil from cypress leaves and twigs (Cupressus sempervirens oil), named Cypress Oil in our ingredient lists
- Its job: Fragrance only
- Where it comes from: Usually steam-distilled; its makeup varies with region and harvest
- EPA Safer Choice: Not on the Safer Chemical Ingredients List
- CAS number: 8013-86-3
What gives it the piney note
The oil is mainly alpha-pinene and delta-3-carene, two monoterpenes with a fresh, piney note (Tisserand & Young, 2014). Cupressus sempervirens is in the same plant family as the junipers sold as cedarwood (Tisserand & Young, 2014).
The one name to look for
Alpha-pinene was added in 2023 to the EU list of fragrance allergens that cosmetic labels must name above 0.001% in leave-on or 0.01% in rinse-off products. Cypress oil and delta-3-carene are not named (European Commission, 2023). If you react to scents, look for alpha-pinene.
A side note from older research, not on cypress oil or our cleaner: in Scandinavian turpentine, the air-oxidized form of delta-3-carene (its hydroperoxides) was the main skin sensitizer (Karlberg & Lepoittevin, 2021). One more reason to rinse cleaner off your skin.
Safer Choice judges fragrances under separate criteria (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.-a, n.d.-b). See how we vet ingredients.
Handling and safety
- Undiluted essential oils can irritate skin and eyes. Each refill tablet holds a small amount, diluted once it dissolves in water.
- Keep unused tablets in their packaging, up high and out of sight. A small tablet can look like candy to a child.
- The ASPCA lists orange and grapefruit plants, also in our glass cleaners, as toxic to dogs and cats if eaten (ASPCA, n.d.-b, n.d.-c); we found no listing for cypress. Keep pets out until surfaces dry, and never apply cleaner to an animal.
- We have not measured residue on dry glass. If toddlers touch low windows or glass doors, wipe those panes with a damp cloth.
If something goes wrong
- Eyes or skin: rinse well with water. Call your doctor if irritation continues.
- Swallowed a tablet or cleaner: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (America's Poison Centers, n.d.).
- Pet ate a tablet or cleaner: call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. A fee may apply (ASPCA, n.d.-a).
Where you will find it
In our Glass & Mirror scent blend, with orange, grapefruit, patchouli and cedarwood oils:
- Glass & Mirror Cleaner Refills (scented with essential oils)
- Streak-Free Glass & Mirror Cleaner Kit (scented with essential oils)
See all our ingredients →
Sources
- America's Poison Centers. (n.d.). [Homepage]. https://poisoncenters.org/
- ASPCA. (n.d.-a). ASPCA Poison Control. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
- ASPCA. (n.d.-b). Grapefruit. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/grapefruit
- ASPCA. (n.d.-c). Orange. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/orange
- European Commission. (2023). Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products. Official Journal of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1545/oj
- Karlberg, A.-T., & Lepoittevin, J.-P. (2021). One hundred years of allergic contact dermatitis due to oxidized terpenes: What we can learn from old research on turpentine allergy. Contact Dermatitis, 85(6), 627-636. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.13962
- Tisserand, R., & Young, R. (2014). Essential oil safety: A guide for health care professionals (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-a). Safer Chemical Ingredients List. https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-ingredients
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-b). Safer Choice criteria for fragrances. https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-criteria-fragrances
