Export essential oils

What is exported

India produces mint oils (Uttar Pradesh), lemongrass, palmarosa, vetiver, eucalyptus and spice oils. Buyers are flavour and fragrance houses, cosmetic makers and aromatherapy brands that test every lot. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 899 million under HS 3301; the USA led, followed by China, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

Varieties, grades and forms

• Mint oils and mentholPeppermint, spearmint and dementholised mint oil — India is a leading supplier.
• Spice oils and oleoresinsPepper, ginger, turmeric, capsicum and cardamom extracts for food and flavour makers.
• Lemongrass, citronella, palmarosa and eucalyptus oilsAromatic grass and tree oils for soap, cosmetic and aromatherapy buyers.
• Sandalwood, rose and floral oils; attarsHigh-value oils and traditional attars in a sandalwood-oil base.

Where it is grown or made

• Uttar PradeshBarabanki, Sambhal, Rampur and Badaun (mint); Kannauj (attar and floral oils)
• KeralaKochi and Ernakulam — spice oils and oleoresins
• KarnatakaMysuru and Bengaluru — sandalwood oil and extracts
• Tamil NaduNilgiris and Madurai — eucalyptus and floral extracts
• GujaratVapi and Ahmedabad — aroma chemicals and blends

The quality buyers ask for

Composition (GC / GC-MS)

Gas chromatography profile with key constituents in range (for example menthol in mint oil, citral in lemongrass oil)

Physical constants

Relative density, refractive index and optical rotation within the range of the ISO standard for that oil (ISO has standards for many oils, for example ISO 3518 sandalwood oil)

Purity

No adulteration with synthetics or cheaper oils; buyers may run chiral or isotope analysis

Allergens

Declared fragrance allergens (EU cosmetics rules) and IFRA restrictions for the end use

Contaminants

Pesticide residues for organic and food-grade oils; heavy metals for pharmaceutical grade

Flash point

Needed to classify the oil as dangerous goods for transport

Certificates

• Certificate of analysis and SDSRequiredA batch COA and a safety data sheet in the buyer's format; every buyer asks for them, and the SDS is legally required for hazardous substances in the EU.
• REACH registration (EU)Often askedEssential oils are substances under REACH; the EU importer (or your only representative) must register them if imports reach 1 tonne a year.
• Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU organic)Often askedFor oils sold as organic; covers farm and distillation unit.
• IFRA conformity / allergen statementOften askedStatement for perfumery use showing IFRA compliance and allergen levels.
• FSSAI licenceOften askedNeeded if you make food-grade oils or flavours in India.
• Halal / KosherOften askedAsked for by flavour buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

What goes on the pack and carton

• Drum labels: product name, botanical name, batch, net weight, dates, and origin.
• GHS/CLP hazard labels (pictograms, signal word, hazard statements) and UN number for dangerous goods.
• Retail aromatherapy bottles in the EU: CLP label, child-resistant closure and tactile warning where the classification requires it.

Benefits of exporting this product

• RoDTEP: 1.3% of FOB

  Tariff item 3301 24 00 (essential oil of peppermint (Mentha piperita)) earns 1.3% of FOB value, with no rupee cap, as a duty credit scrip on ICEGATE. Other mint oils (3301 25 90) get 1.6% capped at ₹22.9/kg; most other essential oils (3301 29) get 0.8%; turmeric and capsicum oleoresins get 1.4%. These rates continue to 31 Dec 2026 (DGFT Notification 41/2026-27). Confirm your exact 8-digit line on the DGFT RoDTEP page before you price an order.

  DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27 ↗
• Duty drawback: 1.3% of FOB

  Drawback item 330101 (peppermint oil) has an All Industry Rate of 1.3% of FOB, paid into your bank account. It is not available on exports under Advance Authorisation or from EOU/SEZ units. Spearmint oil and dementholised oil also get 1.3%; other essential oils (330199) get only 0.15%. Check the current schedule on the CBIC drawback page before shipping.

  Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback, in force from 30.10.2023 ↗
• Registered GI tags

  Kannauj Perfume (Uttar Pradesh) and Mysore Sandalwood Oil (Karnataka) are registered Geographical Indications. Only registered producers and authorised users may sell under these names, which helps genuine makers stand out and fetch a better price.

  IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications ↗
• Zero duty into the UK (CETA)

  The India-UK CETA came into force on 15 July 2026 and gives zero-duty access to nearly 99% of India's exports; the Commerce Ministry named chemicals among the sectors that gain. Claim it with a CETA certificate of origin and check the line for your code on the UK Trade Tariff.

  PIB — India-UK CETA enters into force (15 Jul 2026): zero-duty access for nearly 99% of India's exports ↗

Where to register

• CHEMEXCILEssential oils and perfumery compounds are listed under CHEMEXCIL in Appendix 2T; take the RCMC there.chemexcil.in ↗
• Spices Board (for spice oils and oleoresins)Oils and oleoresins made from spices are handled by the Spices Board, which issues its own exporter registration.indianspices.com ↗

Quality and checks

• Certificate of analysis for each lot: GC profile, specific gravity, optical rotation, refractive index; buyers match it with their own tests.
• EU: REACH registration by the EU importer (or your Only Representative) above one tonne a year, and CLP hazard labelling; a safety data sheet with every shipment.
• Dangerous-goods rules: many essential oils are flammable liquids, so packing, labels and declarations must follow IMDG (sea) or IATA (air) rules.

Where new exporters go wrong

• Adulterated or blended oil sold as pure — GC tests expose it and buyers blacklist the supplier.
• Shipping flammable oils as general cargo — the line or airline can refuse or fine the shipment.
• Price swings with crop size (for example mint); keep quotes short-dated.

Documents this product needs

• Proforma invoice
• Certificate of origin (CoO)
• Inspection / quality certificate
• Marine insurance certificate

Schemes that apply

• RoDTEP Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products
• Drawback Duty Drawback (All Industry Rates)
• Advance Authorisation Advance Authorisation
• ECGC ECGC export credit insurance for small exporters
• LUT Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated exports under GST