oil of sassafras

plant substance

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July 16, 2026

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Oil of sassafras is a poisonous, oily cyclic ether derived from the sassafras tree, a North American plant in the laurel family. This oil, with the chemical formula C₁₀H₁₀O₂, was once a characteristic ingredient in root beer and is used in perfumery. The sassafras tree itself is known for its aromatic leaves, bark, and roots, which have been used for flavoring and traditional medicine. The tree can grow quite large and is identifiable by its distinctive leaf shapes and blue berries.123

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Laurales
Lauraceae
Oil of sassafras, as much as 80 percent composed of the compound safrole, was previously distilled in large quantities from the bark enclosing the roots of Sassafras albidum (also called S. officinale), a plant native to Canada and the United States. This oil once served…
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Oil of sassafras, as much as 80 percent composed of the compound safrole, was previously distilled in large quantities from the bark enclosing the roots of Sassafras albidum (also called S. officinale), a plant native to Canada and the United States. This oil once served…
Read More