India Camellia Oil Market Overview, 2030

India’s camellia oil market is emerging as a niche yet promising segment within the wellness and beauty industry, blending Ayurvedic inspiration with modern plant-based trends. Though still in early stages, it is gaining momentum, particularly among urban millennials seeking clean, non-toxic skincare and haircare solutions. Demand is concentrated in metros where global beauty trends are quickly adopted, while traditional haircare uses are being rediscovered and rebranded. Domestic production is limited, with most supply imported from China and Japan, though experimental cultivation in Northeast India's tea-growing regions shows potential due to favorable climate conditions. Camellia oil is priced as a premium product, positioning it as a luxury alternative to conventional Indian oils in the personal care space. Regulatory oversight includes the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for edible variants and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for cosmetic-grade oils, with BIS specifications guiding product safety and quality for hair and skin applications. Organic certification follows the National Programme for Organic Production. While culinary use remains limited, food-grade camellia oil is gaining niche traction among health-focused consumers and gourmet chefs. The Ministry of AYUSH has acknowledged camellia oil’s cosmetic relevance but has not yet included it in the official Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. Imports are governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under general plant oil regulations, with strict quality checks for cosmetic use.

According to the research report "India Camellia Oil Market Overview, 2030," published by Bonafide Research, the India Camellia Oil Market is anticipated to grow at more than 9.43% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. Urban consumers' increasing preference for lightweight, non-greasy plant oils in their beauty routines; the global K-beauty wave popularizing camellia oil's haircare benefits; and Ayurvedic brands seeking to expand their premium offerings with scientifically-backed ingredients. Recent developments include Indian beauty startups formulating camellia-based serums, specialty importers expanding distribution beyond metro cities, and Northeast Indian farmers experimenting with small-scale camellia cultivation. The market features specialized importers like Nature's Absolutes bringing in Japanese and Korean camellia oils, domestic brands such as Forest Essentials and Kama Ayurveda incorporating it in luxury beauty products, and e-commerce platforms making international brands accessible to Indian consumers. These players cater to distinct segments importers focus on authentic single-origin oils for beauty professionals, Ayurvedic brands emphasize traditional-modern fusion formulations, while e-commerce bridges the accessibility gap. Significant opportunities exist in developing domestic supply chains leveraging India's tea-growing regions, creating camellia oil blends with native Indian botanicals, and positioning it as the next premium haircare ingredient in India's massive traditional oil market. The certification framework also enables differentiation between mass-market imports and potential future domestic production, while helping brands navigate India's complex regulatory landscape for beauty and wellness products.

Pure camellia oil represents the standard market offering, typically comprising refined or conventionally processed oils that meet basic quality parameters for cosmetic and haircare applications, serving as an accessible entry point for Indian consumers newly discovering this botanical oil. This segment dominates imported product offerings and initial domestic production efforts, focusing on functional performance at moderate price points while complying with BIS standards for cosmetic oils and FSSAI requirements for edible grades. Extra camellia oil occupies the premium tier, characterized by cold-pressed extraction methods that preserve higher concentrations of natural antioxidants, polyphenols, and vitamin E, resulting in superior sensory qualities and enhanced efficacy that command significant price premiums in India's growing luxury beauty and wellness sectors. The extra-grade segment shows particular promise in India's prestige haircare market, where formulators value its lightweight texture and hair-repair properties for high-end serums and treatments, while Ayurvedic brands appreciate its compatibility with traditional oiling rituals.

Cosmetics and personal care products dominate current consumption, with camellia oil gaining rapid adoption in premium haircare formulations where its lightweight texture and nourishing properties address the growing consumer preference for non-greasy alternatives to traditional heavy oils, while facial skincare applications leverage its high antioxidant content in serums and moisturizers targeting urban millennials. The pharmaceutical sector shows emerging interest in camellia oil as a carrier base for topical Ayurvedic preparations and modern dermatological formulations, particularly for scalp treatments and massage therapies, though this requires stringent quality controls and stability testing under AYUSH and pharmaceutical regulations. Food and beverage applications remain limited but present untapped potential, with specialty health food brands beginning to explore camellia oil's culinary benefits as a high-smoke-point cooking oil and functional food ingredient in India's growing wellness nutrition market. Industrial lubricant applications currently represent a negligible segment due to cost considerations and established alternatives, though niche uses exist in precision instrument maintenance and environmentally-sensitive applications where its biodegradability offers advantages. The others category includes traditional applications in wooden comb conditioning and leather care, along with emerging uses in aromatherapy blends and natural candle making, where camellia oil's stability and mild aroma make it a versatile base material.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets carry limited selections of primarily imported food-grade camellia oil, typically stocked in the international or gourmet sections of upscale urban stores, though product visibility remains low compared to established cooking oils and placement varies significantly between retail chains. Specialty shops - including premium Ayurvedic pharmacies, organic beauty boutiques, and high-end salon supply stores - serve as critical discovery channel’s where knowledgeable staff can demonstrate camellia oil's benefits to curious consumers, often carrying both cosmetic and culinary grades while emphasizing its versatility across haircare and skincare applications. E-commerce platforms have become the dominant distribution avenue, particularly for premium international brands, with Amazon India, Nykaa, and Purplle offering extensive camellia oil selections alongside detailed usage guides and customer reviews that help overcome consumer unfamiliarity; this channel proves especially effective for reaching India's tech-savvy, urban millennial demographic. The others category includes direct sales from Ayurvedic resorts and wellness centers, traditional oil vendors in regional markets adapting their offerings to include camellia oil, and business-to-business sales to cosmetic manufacturers and luxury spa chains, each requiring tailored marketing approaches. These channels demonstrate varying levels of maturity - while Ayurvedic pharmacies have begun successfully positioning camellia oil as a premium haircare ingredient, mainstream supermarkets are still experimenting with optimal merchandising strategies, and e-commerce platforms continue refining their categorization between beauty and gourmet sections.



Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Camellia Oil Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product
• Pure Camellia Oil
• Extra Camellia Oil

By Application
• Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
• Pharmaceuticals
• Food and Beverage
• Industrial Lubricants
• Others

By Distribution Channel
• Supermarkets
• Specialty Shops
• E-Commerce
• Others

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.