Fennel Essential Oil

 

Fennel Essential Oil (CAS 8006-84-6, INCI name -distilled essential oil standardized to anethole 50%-60%, fenchone 10%-20%, distilled from Foeniculum vulgare fruits. Baisifu supplies food-grade, BP/USP and Ph.Eur. equivalent batches from a Xi’an facility, with every drum shipped with a COA, allergen declaration and IFRA documentation.

Botanical identity and chemistry

Fennel Essential Oil is the steam-distilled volatile oil obtained from the dried, crushed fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., a perennial herb of the Apiaceae family cultivated across China for its sweet, anise-like seed. The oil is dominated by trans-anethole, a phenylpropanoid whose warm, sweet, anise-spicy character defines fennel flavour and fragrance; the secondary marker fenchone, a bicyclic monoterpene ketone, contributes a slightly camphoraceous, bitter edge that distinguishes fennel oil from the cleaner anise star oil.

Distillation and standardisation

Dried fruits are comminuted and charged to a stainless-steel still for steam distillation at atmospheric pressure; the yield typically runs 2 to 4 percent on a dry-fruit basis. The crude oil is settled, filtered and standardised in-house to 50 to 60 percent trans-anethole and 10 to 20 percent fenchone by GC-MS against pharmacopoeial reference standards. Baisifu does not dilute with synthetic anethole or blend in star anise oil; every drum is single-botanical-source fennel fruit oil.

Active profile by GC-MS

Beyond the two principal markers, the GC-MS fingerprint carries a reproducible secondary cast of estragole (methyl chavicol), limonene, alpha-pinene and fenchyl alcohol. Baisifu records the full chromatogram on each COA; the estragole level is monitored closely because it carries regulatory limits in food applications, and any batch approaching the ceiling is flagged and routed to non-food use.

Physical and sensory behaviour

The oil is a clear, mobile, colourless to pale-yellow liquid with a density near 0.96 g/cm3, a refractive index around 1.535 at 20 degrees Celsius and a boiling point in the 230 degree range. Its odour is a warm, sweet, anise-spicy top-to-body note with a faint camphoraceous undertone from the fenchone and a persistent sweet dry-down; in perfumery it blends with citrus, spice and woody materials and is a classic anise note for confectionery, beverage and liqueur flavours.

Typical applications

Fennel Essential Oil enters the following formulation workflows:

• confectionery and beverage flavours
• liqueur and bitters flavouring
• pharmaceutical digestive products
• functional fragrance and soaps
• culinary spice blends
• aromatherapy and wellness blends

Formulation and blending notes

The oil is soluble in ethanol and fixed oils and dispersible in propylene glycol at typical use levels. Trans-anethole can crystallise at low temperature, so gentle warming may be required to restore fluidity. The estragole level must be respected in food applications because of regulatory limits; the material is stable under normal storage but should be protected from prolonged air exposure to suppress oxidation.

COA and batch documentation

Each drum ships with a Certificate of Analysis carrying the GC-MS chromatogram, trans-anethole and fenchone assay, estragole flag, specific gravity, refractive index, heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) and pesticide residue screen. An allergen declaration, an IFRA conformity statement and a Statement of Origin complete the pack, giving QC and regulatory teams a single-shipment document set.

Regulatory and compliance

Trans-anethole is listed as FEMA GRAS 2086 and is permitted in flavour applications where local regulation allows; estragole carries restrictions in food because of genotoxicity concerns, and the level is flagged on every COA. Under EU CLP the concentrated oil is classified as hazardous (flammable liquid category 3, aspiration toxicant category 1, skin sensitiser category 1), so Hazmat labelling and UN 1993 shipping names apply for bulk movement.

Packaging, storage and supply

Fennel Essential Oil is filled into 180 kg HDPE drums or 50 kg sample drums, nitrogen-blanketed and sealed under COA. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; the recommended storage temperature is 15 to 25 degrees Celsius with a shelf life of 24 months from manufacture in original sealed packaging. Baisifu ships ex-Xi’an, MOQ 50 kg for sample development and 1,000 kg and above for production orders; standard lead time 7 to 15 days depending on batch availability, with express air freight on request.

Questions buyers ask

What anethole and fenchone levels can you guarantee?

The standardised grade is assayed by GC-MS to 50 to 60 percent trans-anethole and 10 to 20 percent fenchone against pharmacopoeial reference standards; the exact figures and the full secondary fingerprint are printed on the COA of every drum.

How do you manage estragole compliance?

The estragole level is flagged on every COA against the applicable food-use limit; any batch approaching the ceiling is routed to non-food applications. For food buyers, the estragole figure allows direct compliance checking against the target market regulation.

How does this compare to star anise oil?

Fennel oil carries 50 to 60 percent anethole with a 10 to 20 percent fenchone contribution, giving a slightly bitter, camphoraceous edge; star anise oil carries above 85 percent anethole with minimal fenchone, giving a cleaner, sweeter anise profile. The two are related but not interchangeable in sensitive flavour systems.

Need specifications, COA, or a wholesale quote? Contact Baisifu — typical response within 24 hours.