KATAFRAY/ KATRAFAY ESSENTIAL OIL

Cedrelopsis grevei

SKIN CARE HYDRATING DRY TO VERY DRY AND DAMAGED SKINS, CRACKED HANDS, HEELS OR LIPS. SOOTHING TO MUSCLES AND JOINTS, BODY MASSAGES, COMPRESSES. 

IDENTIFICATION

INCI name: Cedrelopsis grevei (katafray) bark oil

SKU code:

EXTRACTION METHOD: steam distillation

PARTS USED: bark

ORIGIN: South Africa

COMMON NAMES: Katafa, Katrafay, Katrafray, Kathrafay, Cedrelopsis essential oil

APPEARANCE: pale yellow to pale brown clear liquid.

ODOUR NOTE: Middle to top note. Suave & earthy, clean, slightly sweet, warm & woody. 

QUALITY: 100 % pure, natural, and whole essential oil.

STORAGE CONDITION: Keep in a dry, cool place, away from light.

INFOS AND INTERESTING FACTS 

Aromatic molecules: Ishwarane (46.9%).

Our Katafray essential oil is extracted from the bark of Cedrelopsis grevei, the small tree native to Madagascar. Katafray bark extract has been known to promote the good hydration of the skin, and to offer its invigorating, stimulating, and restoring properties to overworked and depleted minds and bodies. Katafray essential oil is also well loved for its warm, gentle, soothing support for strained muscles and joints, while its aroma carries the same warm, enveloping, appeasing yet energizing qualities. 

• Anti-Inflammatory++++: to skin, muscles, and joint discomforts
• Skin Hydrating+++: stimulates skin hydration.
• General Tonic, Stimulant, energizing +++
• Skin repair and regenerating+++: various damaged skin conditions (eczema, dermatitis, burns, insects’ bites. 
• Antalgic, pain soothing+++: minor pain of all kinds, migraines, back pain, sore throat.
• Anti-histaminic for skin related allergies +++
• Decongestant+++ 
• Antipruritic+++: calming to itchy, irritated, fragile, reactive, allergic skins reactions (eczema, psoriasis...)

Key Benefits & High-Intent Features

• Muscle & Joint Relief: Soothes muscle aches, joint pain, back tension, arthritis, and rheumatism. Excellent in massage blends and spot applications for physical comfort and post-workout recovery.
• Skin Hydration & Repair: Provides lasting moisture and supports repair of dry, cracked, or damaged skin—ideal for hands, heels, lips, or mature and sensitive skin. Calms irritation and supports skin renewal.
• Calming & Revitalizing: Helps recover from physical and mental fatigue, restoring energy and clarity. Its warm, enveloping aroma is grounding, comforting, and gently uplifting.
• Anti-inflammatory & Antibacterial: Reduces swelling, calms inflamed tissues, and offers gentle cleansing for minor skin troubles.
• Emotional Balance & Grounding: Promotes release of emotional blockages, soothes the mind, and restores stability—perfect for wellness rituals, meditation, and daily resilience.
• Natural Perfumery: Adds warm, woody depth to blends, colognes, and masculine fragrances.

How to Use Katafray Essential Oil Organic

Topical (Always Dilute!):

• Massage: Use 1–6 drops in 10ml carrier oil for a relaxing massage on muscles, joints, or along the spine for fatigue recovery.
• Skin & Face Care: Add 1–3 drops to 10ml carrier or neutral cream for hydrating, healing, and soothing dry, damaged areas (always patch test first).
• Cracked Areas: Mix 2 drops with soothing carrier (e.g., shea butter) and apply to heels, hands, or lips.
• Bath: First mix 10–15 drops with Epsom salts or vegetable glycerine, then add to bathwater to restore energy and soothe sore muscles.

Blending:

• Combines well with lavender, rosemary, frankincense, vanilla, eucalyptus, marjoram, and clary sage for enhanced effects in both skincare and aromatherapy blends.
• For energy, pair with bergamot, basil, or peppermint; for muscle/joint relief, try wintergreen or lavandin.

Safety & Precautions:

• For external use only. Not recommended for diffusion or inhalation.
• Do not use undiluted—always dilute in a carrier oil or cream (max 20%).
• Avoid during the first 3 months of pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Patch test for sensitivities. Keep away from children and pets.

Product Details

For wellbeing massage, topical, local & target applications on muscles & joints, on temples and forehead, on compresses, application to pressure points, on damaged or irritated skins. dry to very dry and damaged skins, cracked heels or lips.

External uses only. For skin applications. Not recommended for Diffusions. Not recommended for inhalations.

Always use diluted on the skin (max. 20%) in a carrier oil, creams.

Fantastic for this use +++

Acceptable (suitable) for this use ++

On skin for wellbeing massages, body care and face care

• General soothing body massages+++: use 1 to 6 drops essential oil for 10 ml carrier oil (0.5 to 2 % concentration) 
• Energizing body massages, overwork, fatigue+++: 2 drops of Katafray essential oil in 8 drops of carrier oil, massaged along the spine. 
• Local and targeted massage on joints and articulations+++: 2 drops of katafray essential oil diluted in a teaspoon of carrier oil (Arnica) For localized pressure points, tendons:1 drop local with 5 drops of carrier oil.
• Rehydrating face care +++: use 1 to 3 drops essential oil for 10 ml carrier or base (0.5 to 1 % concentration). Incorporate a few drops to clays for face masks. Add 1-2 drops of katafray essential oil into 2 Teaspoons of neutral cream.
• Dry skin, cracked heel or lips body oil+++: 2 drops of Katafray essential oil in 8 drops of hydrating, calming carrier oils (St John’s worth, Calendula, wheatgerm, Tamanu…) butter (shea, avocado…) or cream: applied and massaged onto the affected area(s)
• Wellbeing revitalizing baths for exhausted bodies and minds, to help restore and maintain good general energy levels ++: First mix 10 to 15 drops of essential oil with 20 ml vegetable glycerine or 1 cup of Epsom salts. 

For Perfume making+++: Link to Perfume base page for dilutions ratios.

For more detailed information, please go check this LINK TO Instructions of use essential oils page

DO NOT USE UNDILUTED and SEEK MEDICAL AND SPECIALIST ADVISE WHEN IN DOUBT.

SEE OUR PAGE ON PRECAUTION - HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS SAFELY.

• To local massage concerned areas with Joints, Articulations, Lumbago, back tensions, Tendons: Wintergreen, Rosemary, Lavandin, Thyme, Eucalyptus citriodora. 
• For Insect Bites, Skin irritations and itches: Lavender.
• Dry skins:  German chamomile, Roman camomile, Spearmint, Citronella.
• Cracked heels: with shea butter jojoba or wheat germ carrier oil, Rock rose or Rosemary essential oils.
• Physical Fatigue: Ravintsara, Peppermint.
• Mental fatigue: bergamot, basil, peppermint
• Head and neck tensions: Peppermint.
• In natural perfumes (Excellent in masculine colognes, fresh waters, or perfumes): west indies bay, Clary sage, Marjoram, Rosemary, Tea tree, Frankincense, Myrrh, Vanilla, Benzoin absolute. 
• In general, with lavender, tea tree, and rosemary

The Malagasy people have traditionally relied on the Katafray special attributes, to support their daily wellbeing. The plant dried bark strips, tied in balls, are purchased on local health markets, then grinded with water. Mixed with clay, that paste is used to make hydrating face masks and cataplasms for muscles and joints ointments.

Do not use during the first 3 months of pregnancy / breastfeeding 

Keep out of reach of children and pets.

As a general rule, always perform a skin patch test before using your essential oils for the first time.

DO NOT USE UNDILUTED and seek medical and specialist advise when in doubt