pediaPine tar is a dark, viscous botanical tar obtained by the dry distillation (pyrolysis) of the wood of pine trees of the genus Pinus (notably Pinus palustris Mill., Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold). Pine tar is reported to have more than 2,000 years of documented use (Barnes and Greive, 2017); in Scandinavian countries, pine tar soap has been a traditional product for centuries. The framing of this monograph is clear: pine tar is treated here as a cosmetic ingredient. The information below describes the substance’s chemical, historical and cultural profile and makes no treatment or healing claims.
This article is not a product promotion. It is a cosmetic ingredient monograph and is not product or treatment advice.
Botanical source and history
The genus Pinus comprises coniferous trees of the family Pinaceae (pine family), widespread across the Northern Hemisphere. Pine tar is obtained by heating pine wood at high temperature in a low-oxygen environment (dry distillation / destructive distillation / pyrolysis). Its history goes back to Ancient Greece. In Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden, Norway), this tar was used for centuries both as a waterproofing material in shipbuilding and in traditional skin care. In Finland, traditional tar burning (tervanpoltto) is listed in the Living Heritage wiki inventory (Elävän perinnön wikiluettelo); the word “terva” (tar) holds a special place in Finnish culture.
Production method and chemical profile
Pyrolysis process
In tar production, pieces of wood are heated at 400–500°C in a low-oxygen environment, either in a closed kiln (retort) or in traditional earth kilns (Finnish terva-haudat). During this process, the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in the wood undergo thermal breakdown and form a complex organic mixture.
Main components
This botanical tar is a complex mixture containing many components; its composition varies with the pine species used and the pyrolysis conditions. The main groups are: phenols (guaiacol, cresol, catechol — 15–30%), resin acids (abietic acid, pimaric acid — 5–15%), terpenes and terpenoids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs — in crude tar) and organic acids.
| Component | Typical range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Phenols (guaiacol, cresol, catechol) | 15–30% | — |
| Resin acids (abietic acid, pimaric acid) | 5–15% | — |
| Terpenes and terpenoids | — | — |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | — | In crude tar |
| Organic acids | — | — |
Rectified pine tar
As with juniper tar, pine tar used for cosmetic purposes is in rectified (redistilled) form. This process reduces the heavy fractions and the PAH content. Barnes and Greive (2017) report that today’s pine tar is produced at increased purity to reduce its phenol and PAH content.
Place in the scientific literature
Botanical and coal tars have been studied for a long time in the scientific and chemical literature; the review by Paghdal and Schwartz (2009) is a comprehensive assessment of this literature. The medical uses described in these studies — such as prescription and OTC topical drug preparations — belong to the context of human medicinal products and fall outside the scope of this cosmetic ingredient monograph. The aim here is to describe the substance’s chemical behaviour, safety profile and cultural continuity of use.
Mechanism of action: AhR pathway (research)
Although the mechanism of action of tar on the skin has not been fully elucidated, one of the theories under investigation is activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. AhR is a transcription factor that regulates keratinocyte differentiation; AhR activation has been demonstrated in cell-model studies with coal tar (van den Bogaard et al., 2013). For pine tar, direct evidence for this mechanism is limited. This is a research question about the substance’s chemical behaviour and does not constitute a product effect claim.
PAH content and safety research
The most frequent safety question about tar-based substances concerns PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) content. In a large cohort study by Roelofzen and colleagues (J Invest Dermatol, 2010; approximately 13,200 patients with psoriasis or eczema who had been treated with coal tar ointments), coal tar use was not associated with an increased risk of internal or skin cancer; this finding belongs to coal tar and cannot be directly transferred to pine tar. Botanical tars (pine, juniper, birch) generally contain lower PAH concentrations than coal tar; rectification reduces this content further. Even so, caution is advised with crude tar and with long-term sun exposure (see below).
Finnish terva tradition
In Finland, pine tar (“terva”) and the production of tar by the tar-pit method (tervahauta) are a tradition recorded in the country’s Living Heritage wiki inventory. Pine tar produced by the traditional terva haudat (tar pit) method has been used both for waterproofing in boatbuilding and in traditional soapmaking. In Finland, the scent of pine tar is associated with “pure forest” and it also has a place in sauna culture.
Safety profile
Rectified pine tar is used at low concentrations. The review by Barnes and Greive (2017) reports that over-the-counter topical products sold in Australia contained up to 2.3% pine tar and that primary irritation was rare. Points of attention: crude (non-rectified) tar carries a higher PAH risk; there is potential for phototoxicity (caution is advised with sun exposure); its strong scent may bother some individuals; and contact with the eye area and mucous membranes should be avoided. People with skin sensitivity or a known skin condition should consult a healthcare professional.
Pine tar in soapmaking
Method of addition and rate
In cold-process soapmaking, this raw material is added at trace and is used at 3–10%. Because of its viscous structure, it is recommended to warm it slightly before addition or to dilute it with a liquid oil. It tends to accelerate trace, so work should be done quickly.
Properties it imparts to soap
It gives soap a dark brown colour, a strong “resinous-piney-woody” scent and the character of a traditional tar soap. Its scent profile differs from juniper tar: pine tar is more “piney-resinous”, while juniper tar has a more “smoky” character. Pine tar soap is a classic product in the Scandinavian soapmaking tradition.
Differences from juniper tar
Both belong to the family of traditional botanical tar products. Pine tar is obtained from Pinus species, while juniper tar is obtained from Juniperus oxycedrus. Their scent profiles, colour tones and chemical compositions differ. Both tars are supplied in rectified form for cosmetic use.
Frequently asked questions
What is pine tar?
Pine tar is a dark-coloured botanical tar obtained by the dry distillation (pyrolysis) of pine wood. It has been used in traditional skin care and soapmaking for centuries.
What does pine tar do in soap?
It gives soap a dark brown colour, a strong resinous-piney scent and the character of a traditional tar soap. It is used at 3–10%.
Is pine tar safe?
Rectified pine tar is used at low concentrations; the literature reports over-the-counter products containing up to 2.3% pine tar (Barnes and Greive, 2017). In a large cohort study (Roelofzen 2010), no increase in cancer risk was found in patients treated with coal tar; this finding belongs to coal tar. Caution is advised with crude tar and with long-term sun exposure.
What is the difference between pine tar and juniper tar?
They are obtained from different trees and have different scent profiles. Pine tar has a more “piney-resinous” character, while juniper tar has a more “smoky” character. Both belong to the family of traditional botanical tar products.
Chailea products containing this ingredient
- Natural Pine Tar Soap 100 g
References
- Paghdal KV, Schwartz RA. Topical tar: back to the future. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2009; 61(2):294-302. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2008.11.024. PMID: 19185953. (Dermatology literature; medical use falls outside the scope of this cosmetic monograph.)
- Barnes TM, Greive KA. Topical pine tar: History, properties and use as a treatment for common skin conditions. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2017; 58(2):80-85. doi:10.1111/ajd.12427. PMID: 26790564. (For history, purity and concentration data; therapeutic use falls outside the scope of this cosmetic monograph.)
- Roelofzen JH, Aben KK, Oldenhof UT, et al. No increased risk of cancer after coal tar treatment in patients with psoriasis or eczema. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2010; 130(4):953-961. doi:10.1038/jid.2009.389. PMID: 20016499. (Coal tar cohort; not direct evidence for pine tar.)
- van den Bogaard EH, Bergboer JG, Vonk-Bergers M, et al. Coal tar induces AHR-dependent skin barrier repair in atopic dermatitis. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2013; 123(2):917-927. doi:10.1172/JCI65642. PMID: 23348739. (Coal tar, cell-model mechanism study; human medical context falls outside the scope of this monograph.)
- European Parliament and Council. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. Official Journal of the European Union, 2009; L 342:59-209. EUR-Lex CELEX:32009R1223.
- European Commission. CosIng — Cosmetic Ingredient Database: PINUS PALUSTRIS WOOD TAR (ref. 59487). CosIng.
- Elävän perinnön wikiluettelo (Finland Living Heritage wiki inventory). Tervanpoltto tervahaudoissa. wiki.aineetonkulttuuriperinto.fi.