Tsubaki oil is camellia oil, pressed from the seeds of the Japanese camellia, Camellia japonica. In Japan it has a long history as a hair oil, used to smooth and add shine to traditional hairstyles, and it has also been used on skin and to care for tools and blades. Today it's sold as a light, simple oil for hair and skin, often as a single ingredient.
The camellia, tsubaki in Japanese, grows wild across warmer parts of Japan, and its red winter and spring flowers are a familiar sight. Izu Oshima, a volcanic island south of Tokyo, is especially known for its camellias and for pressing their seeds into oil.
This guide covers where the oil comes from, how it has traditionally been used, and how people use it at home today, along with a few safety points to know first.
Tsubaki oil is best known in Japan as a hair oil. It was worked through hair with a fine boxwood comb, called a tsuge-gushi, to smooth and add gloss, and it's closely tied to the elaborate hairstyles of the Edo period.
The oil has also been used on skin as a simple softening oil and, in many accounts, to help remove the heavy traditional white makeup worn by performers.
Camellia oil has long been used to protect metal from rust, including kitchen knives, woodworking tools, and swords, a use that continues among knife and tool owners today.
On Izu Oshima, camellia trees were planted as windbreaks around homes and fields, and pressing the seeds for oil became part of island life and trade.
One oil for the comb, the face, and the blade.
Camellia seed oil is made up mostly of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that is also the main fat in olive oil. It's a light oil with little scent, which is part of why it has been used for hair and as a simple single-ingredient oil for skin. Pure tsubaki oil is typically sold cold-pressed or refined, and the label will list camellia seed oil (Camellia japonica seed oil).
As a hair finishing oil. Warm a very small amount between your palms and smooth it over the lengths and ends of your hair. A little goes a long way, and too much can look greasy.
With a comb, the traditional way. Put a tiny amount on a wooden comb and draw it slowly through dry hair, the way the oil was used with boxwood combs.
On skin after cleansing. Some people press a few drops onto the face or body after washing, on their own or under a moisturizer.
To loosen makeup. Massage a little oil over dry skin to loosen makeup, then wipe away with a damp cloth and wash as usual.
Oshima Tsubaki is one of the best-known tsubaki oil brands in Japan and takes its name from Izu Oshima. Its classic camellia oil comes in a simple bottle and is widely sold outside Japan.
A long-established Japanese camellia oil brand named for Izu Oshima island. Its classic product is a camellia seed oil used for hair and skin. Check the ingredient list on the listing before you buy, since formulations can vary by product and market.
Find on Amazon → This is an Amazon Associates link. Javier Discovers earns a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.Tsubaki oil is camellia oil, pressed from the seeds of the Japanese camellia, Camellia japonica. It has a long history in Japan as a hair oil and has also been used on skin and to protect blades and tools.
Yes. Tsubaki is the Japanese word for camellia, so tsubaki oil is camellia seed oil. Products labeled camellia oil may come from different camellia species, so check the label if you want oil from Camellia japonica specifically.
Traditionally, a small amount was worked through the hair with a fine boxwood comb. Today, people warm a tiny amount between their palms and smooth it over the lengths and ends of their hair. Using too much can make hair look greasy.
Camellias grow wild across warmer parts of Japan. Izu Oshima, a volcanic island south of Tokyo, is especially known for its camellias and its camellia oil.
Many people use it without problems, but any oil can irritate or cause breakouts for some people. Patch test first, start slowly if you're acne-prone, and ask a dermatologist if you have a skin condition.
Each new tradition as it's published: where it comes from, how it's used, and where to find it.
| About Javier | Javier is the storytelling voice of Javier Discovers, a persona rather than a real traveler. This post is built from research into Japan and its traditions, not first-hand travel or personal product testing. Images on this site are AI-generated illustrations. |
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| Health Note | This post is for general information and cultural interest only. It is not medical or skincare advice. Patch test new products, and talk to a dermatologist if you have a skin condition. |