Uses
Ocotea produce essential oils, which are rich in camphor and safrole. East African camphorwood (O. usambarensis), Peruvian rosewood (O. cernua) and Brazilian sassafras (O. odorifera) are traded internationally. Safrole derived from "Ocotea cymbarum oil" (a trade name) is used in the production of the recreational drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy"). Research into the essential oils of some Ocotea species has demonstrated that the compounds can have anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties.
Dried fruit cupules of ishpingo (O. quixos) are used in Ecuador to flavor beverages, such as colada morada.
Some fast growing Ocotea tree species are harvested commercially for timber. These include O. puberula, O. bullata (black or true stinkwood) and O. usambarensis. The timber is valued for its resistance to fungal decay.
O. odorifera (Brazilian sassafras) and O. kuhlmanni are frequently used as honey plants.
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