ISO 4720:2018

Overview

ISO 4720:2018 - Essential oils: Nomenclature is the fourth edition (2018) international standard published by ISO/TC 54. It provides an authoritative, harmonized list mapping botanical names of plants used to produce essential oils to their corresponding common (English) names. The document includes a detailed Table 1 (botanical name, family, part of plant used, common oil name) and an alphabetical index of common names, supporting consistent naming across manufacturing, trade and regulatory documentation.

Key topics

• Harmonized nomenclature: authoritative pairing of Latin botanical names with common essential-oil names to avoid ambiguity in labeling and documentation.
• Plant part identification: specification of the part of the plant used (e.g., leaf, flower, pericarp, wood, rhizome), which is essential for correct identification of the oil.
• Tabular reference (Table 1): a comprehensive table listing species, family, common oil names and the plant part used.
• Alphabetical index: quick lookup of common names and cross-reference to botanical names.
• Edition history: fourth edition cancels and replaces ISO 4720:2009 and records technical revisions (additions, deletions, and updates to botanical names).
• Scope limitations: ISO 4720:2018 is a nomenclature reference - it does not include test methods or numerical identifiers; there are no normative references or terms/definitions within the document.

Applications

Who uses ISO 4720:2018 and why:

• Essential oil manufacturers and distillers - to standardize product names on certificates of analysis and labels.
• Perfumery, cosmetics and aromatherapy industries - for consistent ingredient declaration and supply‑chain communication.
• Regulatory authorities and customs - to interpret product descriptions and support compliance and trade classification.
• Analytical laboratories and quality control - as a reference when reporting botanical origins and plant parts in test reports.
• Procurement and trading companies - to reduce ambiguity in purchase orders and shipping documents.

Practical benefits include clearer labeling, reduced misidentification risk, improved traceability in the supply chain, and harmonized international communication about essential oils.

Related standards

• ISO/TR 21092 - companion technical report referenced in the standard: lists different numbers and identifiers (CAS, EINECS, FEMA, EC, FDA) useful for broader characterization of essential oils.
• Where applicable, ISO 4720 entries often reference other ISO methods or product-specific standards for analytical characterization.

Keywords: ISO 4720:2018, essential oils nomenclature, botanical names, common names, ISO/TC 54, essential oil labeling, aromatherapy, perfumery, essential oil suppliers.