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Elderflower
ORY® product lines:
☑ Skincare
☑ Haircare
☑ Handmade Soap
☑ Cosmetics — full dual-use botanical
Elderflower is the creamy, honey-scented blossom of the European elder (Sambucus nigra), used for centuries in lotions, eye baths, and skin tonics. The flowers are rich in flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, isoquercitrin), chlorogenic acid, triterpenes (ursolic and oleanolic acids), and mucilage, giving them antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mild astringent properties [1, 2, 3]. Elderflower infusions show strong free-radical-scavenging capacity [3], and their traditional reputation for toning, brightening, and soothing is consistent with this chemistry, though controlled clinical skin trials are lacking. Gentle, lightly fragrant, and available as dried flowers, water, and oil infusion, elderflower fits every ORY® line. Note that only the flowers (and cooked berries) are used; raw leaves, bark, and unripe berries contain cyanogenic glycosides.
What is Elderflower made of?
Dried elderflowers infused in oil (or water/glycerin) release [1, 2]:
Water/glycerin extracts capture more flavonoids; oil infusions capture triterpenes and aroma — ORY® can use either.
- Flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol): Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, capillary-strengthening.
- Chlorogenic and caffeic acids: Antioxidant phenolic acids.
- Ursolic and oleanolic acids (triterpenes): Anti-inflammatory, oil-soluble.
- Tannins: Mild astringency.
- Mucilage and sugars (water extracts): Soothing, hydrating.
- Essential-oil traces (hotrienol, linalool): Honey-floral scent.
What skin type is best suited for Elderflower?
Elderflower suits all seven ORY® skin types as a gentle toning antioxidant:
- Sensitive: Mild anti-inflammatory; traditional soothing wash.
- Combination: Toning and balancing; traditional complexion tonic.
- Oily: Mild astringent tannins in water-based toners.
- Mature: Flavonoid antioxidants and capillary support; traditional brightening.
- Normal: Refreshing daily tonic.
- Dry: Infused oil nourishes; mucilage soothes.
- Acne-prone: Anti-inflammatory and mildly astringent.
What hair type is best suited for Elderflower?
Elderflower brings gentle toning and shine to scalp and hair:
- Sensitive scalp: Soothing rinse or light oil.
- Oily scalp: Mild astringent elderflower water rinse.
- Dry or damaged: Infused oil for softness and shine.
- Color-treated: Traditional rinse for brightening lighter hair tones.
- Straight, wavy, curly, coily: Light shine rinse for all.
- Dandruff-prone, mature or thinning: Supportive anti-inflammatory; not a primary treatment.
What are the benefits of Elderflower?
Elderflower’s benefits rest on its well-characterized antioxidant chemistry and long tradition [1–3]:
- Antioxidant: High phenolic content and radical-scavenging capacity [3].
- Anti-inflammatory: Flavonoids and triterpenes reduce inflammatory mediators [1, 2].
- Mild astringent and toning: Tannins refine and tone.
- Capillary support: Rutin and quercetin strengthen capillaries; traditional for redness and under-eye puffiness.
- Soothing: Mucilage calms irritated skin; traditional eye and skin wash.
- Traditional brightening: Long use as a complexion tonic (evidence traditional).
- Hair shine and scalp comfort: Gentle rinses and oils.
- Natural scent: Delicate honey-floral note for soap and cosmetics.
Dual use across ORY® product lines
Elderflower’s flowers, water, and infused oil serve all four ORY® lines.
| ORY® line | Dual use? | How it is used | Typical level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ORY® Skincare |
Yes |
Toners and mists (flower water), eye gels, face and body oils (infusion), light creams, masks. |
10–50% infused oil; 1–5% extract |
|
ORY® Haircare |
Yes |
Shine rinses, scalp mists, light hair oils. |
5–20% infused oil; 1–3% extract |
|
ORY® Handmade Soap |
Yes |
Elderflower tea as lye water and/or infused oil; dried flowers as topping. |
10–20% of oils; 100% of water as tea |
|
ORY® Cosmetics |
Yes |
Setting mists, eye creams, lip balms, light tinted balms. |
2–10% infused oil; 1–3% extract |
Pros and cons of Elderflower
Pros
Cons
- Gentle and universally tolerated: Suitable for the eye area.
- Rich flavonoid antioxidant profile: [3].
- Water and oil forms: Flexible.
- Customer-selectable carrier: Build-Your-Own friendly.
- Charming heritage and scent: Strong storytelling.
- Limited clinical trials: Evidence is chemical and traditional.
- Plant-part safety: Only flowers; raw leaves, bark, and green berries are toxic.
- Oxidation: Infusions and extracts brown with age; add vitamin E.
- Modest potency: Supportive rather than corrective.
- Pollen allergy: Rare; patch test.
What is the best application of Elderflower?
Elderflower is a toning, soothing addition across routines:
- Toner or mist: Elderflower water AM/PM for refreshing tone.
- Eye gel: Chilled, for puffiness (traditional).
- Face oil: Apricot-elderflower infusion at night.
- Light cream: With aloe and cucumber for combination skin.
- Hair rinse: Cooled elderflower tea for shine.
- Scalp mist: Cooling and toning.
- Soap: Elderflower-tea bars.
- Cosmetics: Setting mist; lip balm.
Best oils to infuse Elderflower
ORY® customers can choose the carrier oil for their Elderflower infusion. Recommended options:
- Sweet almond: Gentle, nourishing; classic for elderflower face and body oils.
- Jojoba: Stable, balanced; face oils and scalp treatments.
- Apricot kernel: Light, silky; facial and eye-area oils.
- Safflower: Very light; oily and combination skin.
- Sunflower: Affordable soap and lotion base.
- Olive: Traditional salve base; soap.
- Recommendation: Sweet almond or jojoba for skin and hair; sunflower or olive for soap.
Peer-reviewed references
- Sidor A, Gramza-Michałowska A. Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in food – a review. Journal of Functional Foods. 2015;18:941–958.
- Młynarczyk K, Walkowiak-Tomczak D, Łysiak GP. Bioactive properties of Sambucus nigra L. as a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry. Journal of Functional Foods. 2018;40:377–390.
- Viapiana A, Wesolowski M. The phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of infusions of Sambucus nigra L. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 2017;72(1):82–87.
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is provided by ORY International, LC for educational purposes only. It summarizes published research about elderflower as an ingredient, including laboratory and animal studies and clinical studies of formulas that may differ from ORY® products. Results from these studies may not apply to every person or to ORY® products. This page is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a dermatologist, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider.
ORY® Skincare, Haircare, Handmade Soap, and Cosmetics products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including redness or rosacea, under-eye swelling, capillary fragility, acne, eczema, or dandruff. References to FDA or Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) findings describe the ingredient, not ORY® products, and do not mean FDA has reviewed or approved any ORY® product.
Results vary by skin and scalp type, formulation, and use. Allergy to elderflower is uncommon, and any cosmetic can cause irritation, sometimes from other ingredients. Always patch test, follow label directions, and stop use if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are buying for a child, consult a healthcare provider before use.
ORY International, LC works to keep this page accurate and current but makes no warranty as to its completeness. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORY International, LC is not liable for any loss or injury arising from reliance on this information or from use of any product contrary to its label directions. To report a reaction, contact us at [insert contact email / phone].
