What is Sassafras Oil For?

Sassafras oil is extracted from the root-bark of varieties of the sassafras tree. The United States has banned the use of sassafras oil in food and drugs since 1960 because safrole, the oil's active ingredient, is a known carcinogen. Safrole and sassafras oil have also been linked to liver damage and pregnancy complications, among other health issues.

Former uses

• Sassafras oil was a favored ingredient in a number of products that it is no longer used to produce. These include root beer, for which it was a major component of the drink's flavoring, and a range of household cleaning products, including polishes, detergents and floor waxes, for which its scent was valuable.

Fragrances

• Sassafras oil is still used for its fragrant qualities in candles, soaps and perfumes. Sassafras oil is also favored by some aromatherapists.

Insecticide

• Sassafras oil is used in the production of certain insecticides, particularly one called piperonyl butoxide (PBO). In the production of PBO, safrole is removed from the sassafras oil and used in the making of the chemical.

Ecstasy

• According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), sassafras oil is used in the production of the illegal narcotic MDMA, which is known more widely as Ecstasy. The DEA has warned U.S. providers of sassafras oil to avoid selling the product to customers who might be planning to use sassafras oil to make Ecstasy.