Camphor used to be made by distilling the bark and wood of the camphor tree. Today, camphor is usually manufactured from turpentine oil. It is used in products such as Vicks VapoRub. People apply camphor to the skin to relieve pain and reduce itching.

How we can make camphor?

Camphor can be produced from alpha-pinene, which is abundant in the oils of coniferous trees and can be distilled from turpentine produced as a side product of chemical pulping.

Where do camphor come from?

Synthetic camphor is synthesised mainly from α-pinene obtained from turpentine oil, whilst natural camphor, i.e., (+)-camphor, is obtained through distillation of the wood from the camphor laurel tree (Cinnamomum camphora) found especially in Borneo and Taiwan; the Borneo camphor tree (Dryobalanops aromatica) and the ...