Market Report: Winter 2024 to 2025

This market report for Winter 2024 to 2025 provides a detailed overview of key essential oils worldwide. It highlights sourcing countries, harvest timelines, crop seasons, and pricing trends while focusing on sustainability and supply chain challenges. Below is an expertly curated list of essential oils, including their scientific names, sourcing regions, harvesting periods, and market updates.

1. Citronella Oil

Scientific Name: Cymbopogon winterianus
Main Sourcing Country: India / Indonesia
Harvest Period: June to December
Crop Season: Spring to Fall
Flowering Season: Year-Year-round in tropical climates

Citronella is a tall, perennial grass that thrives in warm, humid regions with high rainfall (2000-2500 mm annually). It is widely cultivated for its aromatic leaves, which contain essential oils used in natural insect repellents, perfumes, and wellness products. Unlike its unscented flowers, the leaves of citronella are rich in citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol, making it an effective antimicrobial and antifungal agent.

Currently, the supply of citronella oil is tight, leading to price hikes as suppliers hold stock in anticipation of further increases. India remains one of the leading producers, ensuring a consistent but controlled output.

Market Price: INR 950.00/kilo

2. Eucalyptus Oil

Scientific Name: Eucalyptus globulus
Main Sourcing Country: China (Yunnan, Jiangxi, and Guangxi Provinces)
Harvest Period: July to October
Crop Season: Annual
Flowering Season: Spring and Summer

The eucalyptus tree, native to Australia, is widely cultivated in China’s provinces of Yunnan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Guizhou. It thrives in temperate climates and requires well-drained soil with adequate moisture. The oil is distilled from the leaves, offering a fresh, camphorous scent with powerful antimicrobial properties. Eucalyptus oil is a staple in respiratory therapies, cold relief products, and pain-relieving balms.

Due to high labor costs and reduced farmer interest, production has dropped significantly, causing market prices to stabilize at USD 14.00/kilo.

Market Price: INR 850.00/kilo

3. Geranium Oil

Scientific Name: Pelargonium graveolens
Main Sourcing Country: China / India
Harvest Period: May to September
Crop Season: Annual
Flowering Season: Seasonal

Geranium plants are known for their fragrant leaves and pink-to-purple flowers, flourishing in well-drained soil with ample sunlight. This oil is widely used in cosmetics, perfumes, and aromatherapy, thanks to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and stress-relief properties.

Farmers in India have reduced geranium cultivation due to low market prices and high production costs. As a result, stocks are limited, causing a 9% increase in oil prices compared to last season.

Market Price: INR 2300.00/kilo

4. Litsea Cubeba Oil

Scientific Name: Litsea cubeba
Main Sourcing Country: India
Harvest Period: July to September
Crop Season: Annual
Flowering Season: March to April

Litsea cubeba, or "mountain pepper," is a small deciduous tree growing up to 7 meters. It produces fragrant yellow flowers and pepper-like fruits, which are distilled to obtain a refreshing, citrus-scented oil used in aromatherapy, cosmetics, and natural insecticides.

Due to high demand and limited supply, the price of Litsea cubeba oil has increased. Many farmers are holding stocks, expecting further price appreciation.

Market Price: INR 1950.00/kilo

5. Star Anise Oil

Scientific Name: Illicium verum
Main Sourcing Country: India
Harvest Period: March to May, November to December
Crop Season: Bi-annual
Flowering Season: Spring and Autumn

Star anise is an evergreen tree, producing star-shaped fruits that are rich in anethole, a key compound in medicinal, culinary, and fragrance industries. India is a major producer, particularly in hilly regions with humid climates.

Currently, low market demand has caused a decline in oil prices. Farmers are only producing small batches based on confirmed orders.

Market Price: INR 1050.00/kilo

6. Wintergreen Oil

Scientific Name: Gaultheria procumbens
Main Sourcing Country: India
Harvest Period: July to September
Crop Season: Monsoon
Flowering Season: Summer

Wintergreen is a low-growing, evergreen shrub found in the Himalayan regions of India. It thrives in cool, moist environments with well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.5-6). The plant produces small white or pink bell-shaped flowers that bloom in summer, followed by red berries. The oil is extracted from the leaves through a steam distillation process, requiring prior fermentation to enhance methyl salicylate content—the primary compound responsible for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.

Wintergreen oil continues to see stable demand, especially in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. With limited cultivation and wild harvesting, supply remains moderate, maintaining steady pricing in the market.

Market Price: INR 550.00/kilo

7. Cardamom Oil

Scientific Name: Elettaria cardamomum
Main Sourcing Country: India (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu)
Harvest Period: September to December
Crop Season: Annual
Flowering Season: Spring

Cardamom is a perennial herbaceous plant that thrives in the tropical rainforests of southern India, particularly in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The plant requires humid conditions, loamy soil, and temperatures between 15-35°C. It grows up to 16 feet, producing long, lance-shaped leaves and white flowers with purple veins. Cardamom pods, harvested for essential oil production, contain high levels of cineole and terpinyl acetate, giving the oil its woody, spicy, and slightly sweet aroma.

Cardamom oil remains a high-value essential oil, driven by strong demand from the food, pharmaceutical, and fragrance industries. Prices have seen an upward trend due to limited availability and increased global demand.

Market Price: INR 6500.00/kilo

8. Black Pepper Oil

Scientific Name: Piper nigrum
Main Sourcing Country: India (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu)
Harvest Period: December to February
Crop Season: Annual
Flowering Season: Year-round

Black pepper is a woody climbing vine grown in tropical climates across India. It flourishes in loamy, well-drained soil with moderate rainfall. The plant produces small white flowers that turn into green berries, which ripen to black when dried. Essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of dried peppercorns, yielding a spicy, warming aroma with high levels of β-caryophyllene and limonene. It is widely used in pain relief formulations, digestive health, and muscle relaxation therapies.

Despite fluctuating production volumes, black pepper oil maintains consistent demand in the global market. Factors like rising labor costs and erratic rainfall patterns have contributed to price fluctuations.

Market Price: INR 3500.00/kilo

9. Ginger Oil

Scientific Name: Zingiber officinale
Main Sourcing Country: India (Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha)
Harvest Period: January to April
Crop Season: Winter to Early Summer
Flowering Season: Late Summer

Ginger is a rhizomatous herb that thrives in warm, humid climates with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil (pH 5-7.5). It grows up to 3 feet in height, producing long, narrow leaves and yellow-green flowers with purple streaks. Ginger oil is extracted from the rhizome using steam distillation, yielding a strong, spicy, earthy aroma rich in zingiberene and gingerol compounds. It is widely used for anti-inflammatory, digestive, and immune-boosting benefits.

Ginger oil is experiencing increasing demand in the food, pharmaceutical, and wellness industries. However, erratic rainfall in key growing regions has affected production, leading to a price increase.

Market Price: INR 4500.00/kilo

10. Tea Tree Oil

Scientific Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
Main Sourcing Country: India and Australia
Harvest Period: October to January
Crop Season: Late Monsoon to Winter
Flowering Season: Late Spring

Tea tree is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that thrives in well-drained sandy or loamy soil with a pH of 6-7. It requires at least six hours of direct sunlight and protection from dry winds. The plant grows up to 20 feet tall, producing narrow, aromatic leaves and small white to cream-colored flowers. Essential oil is extracted via steam distillation of the leaves and branches, yielding a pale yellow oil rich in terpinen-4-ol, known for its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Tea tree oil remains highly sought after in the cosmetics, skincare, and pharmaceutical sectors. Despite stable supply, increased demand for natural disinfectants and skincare solutions has kept prices firm.

Market Price: INR 1550.00 or 3250 / kilo

Conclusion

The Winter Market Report 2024-2025 highlights the evolving landscape of India's essential oil industry, with fluctuating prices driven by climate conditions, labor costs, and international demand. While Cardamom and Black Pepper oils remain premium products, Tea Tree and Ginger oils continue to gain market traction.

For businesses seeking reliable sourcing, understanding these market trends and price movements is essential. Stay ahead by monitoring industry insights and making informed procurement decisions.