Overview
ISO 3218:2014 - Essential oils - Principles of nomenclature defines the principles to be used when designating essential oils in English and French, particularly for labelling and marking. Issued by ISO/TC 54 (Essential oils), this second edition replaces the 1976 version and focuses on clear, unambiguous naming so users can identify botanical origin, plant part, production method and other critical identity elements.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Bilingual designation: Principles apply to both English and French; examples in the standard show English first, then French.
- Use of the expression: To distinguish from fatty oils, use the phrase “Essential oil of …” [“Huile essentielle de …”] consistently for international standards.
- Clarity of identification: Names must remove ambiguity about:
- Botanical origin (species and, when necessary, variety or cultivar)
- Plant part used (leaf, flower, fruit, stem, etc.)
- Phenological stage and any pre‑processing (predrying, fermentation)
- Method of obtaining the oil (distillation, expression, etc.)
- Botanical names: Use common names when accepted; when no common name exists, use complete binomial (genus + species). For hybrids and varieties, include botanical nomenclature following current rules.
- Chemotypes / chemical races: When a species has distinct chemical types, specify the principal constituent (e.g., “methyl chavicol type”).
- Geographical / type qualifiers: Different regional origins or cultivars that affect oil properties should be indicated (e.g., “India type”, “Madagascar type”).
- Method annotation: If multiple extraction methods exist, indicate the method at the end of the title, preceded by a comma (e.g., “, obtained by distillation”).
- Placement differences: In English the plant part follows the common name; in French it precedes it (illustrated by examples in the standard).
Applications and users
ISO 3218:2014 is practical for:
- Essential oil producers and distillers creating standardized product names for labels and technical sheets
- Importers, exporters and distributors ensuring correct marking and compliance
- Regulatory bodies and customs officials assessing product identity
- Quality and R&D laboratories linking composition data to precise oil identity
- Standards committees and documentation teams harmonizing nomenclature across markets
Clear nomenclature improves traceability, trade transparency and consumer safety in aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumery, food flavouring and pharmaceutical supply chains.
Related standards
- ISO 4720 - Essential oils - Nomenclature (normative reference for botanical names)
- ISO 1342 - Example standard: Essential oil of rosemary (cited in ISO 3218)
- ISO/TC 54 - Technical committee responsible for essential oils standards
Keywords: ISO 3218:2014, essential oils, nomenclature, labelling, botanical name, chemotype, extraction method, ISO standard.