BOTANICAL EXTRACT
Elder Flower Extract
Sambucus Nigra (Elder) Flower Extract
An extract of the creamy white flowers of the elder tree, Sambucus nigra, rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids, used in skincare to condition skin and leave it feeling fresh and comfortable.
Source
The flowers of the elder tree (Sambucus nigra)
Used for
Comfortable, refreshed-feeling skin
How it works
Creamy blossoms of the hedgerow.
Elder flower extract is made from the flat clusters of small, creamy white flowers of the elder tree, Sambucus nigra.
The flowers are rich in phenolic compounds, chiefly quercetin and chlorogenic acid derivatives, with rutin the main flavonoid, and elderflower extract shows good antiradical activity.
In cosmetics its listed functions are skin conditioning, refreshing, soothing and tonic: it keeps skin in good condition, gives a pleasant freshness and helps skin feel comfortable. It suits toners, creams and gels, morning or night.
The flowers are rich in phenolic compounds, chiefly quercetin and chlorogenic acid derivatives, with rutin the main flavonoid, and elderflower extract shows good antiradical activity.
In cosmetics its listed functions are skin conditioning, refreshing, soothing and tonic: it keeps skin in good condition, gives a pleasant freshness and helps skin feel comfortable. It suits toners, creams and gels, morning or night.
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Extracted from the flowers of the elder tree, Sambucus nigra
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Rich in flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin, plus chlorogenic acid
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Leaves skin feeling fresh, comfortable and conditioned
Questions
Is elder flower extract the same as elderberry extract?
No. Both come from the same tree, Sambucus nigra, but elder flower extract is made from the creamy white blossoms, while elderberry (elder fruit) extract is made from the dark purple berries that follow them. They have different compositions and each has its own entry in this dictionary. (COSMILE Europe; Polak et al., 2026)
What does elder flower extract contain?
Mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids. Studies of elderflower extracts found quercetin and chlorogenic acid derivatives to be the main phenolic compounds, with rutin the leading flavonoid. (Ferreira-Santos et al., 2021; Polak et al., 2026)
What does it do in skincare?
In the European cosmetic ingredient database, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract is listed as skin conditioning, refreshing, soothing and tonic, so it keeps skin in good condition and helps it feel fresh and comfortable. (COSMILE Europe)
Is elder flower a traditional European plant?
Yes. Elder flower, the blossom of Sambucus nigra, has a long history in European herbal tradition, where the dried flowers are known by the Latin name Sambuci flos. (EMA)
About the plant
The elder, Sambucus nigra, carries broad, flat clusters of tiny creamy white flowers, followed later in the year by dark purple elderberries. The dried flowers are known in European herbal tradition by the Latin name Sambuci flos. (EMA)
Its common names include black elder and European elderberry. In cosmetics, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract is an extract of the flowers, of plant origin. (COSMILE Europe)
Its common names include black elder and European elderberry. In cosmetics, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract is an extract of the flowers, of plant origin. (COSMILE Europe)
The research
- Ferreira-Santos P, Badim H, Salvador ÂC, Silvestre AJD, Santos SAO, Rocha SM, Sousa AM, Pereira MO, et al. Chemical Characterization of Sambucus nigra L. Flowers Aqueous Extract and Its Biological Implications. Biomolecules. 2021;11(8):1222. PMID: 34439888. (opens in a new tab)
- Polak B, Jaglińska K, Boćkowska A, Świątek Ł, Salwa K, Boguszewska A, Józefczyk A, Jóźwiak G. Elderberry and Linden Flowers Ethanol-Water Extracts: Extraction Type Effect, Analysis and Biological Activity Determination. Molecules. 2026;31(5):764. PMID: 41828765. (opens in a new tab)
- COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe) cosmetic ingredient database: Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract (black elder, European elderberry; flowers; solvent extract; functions: refreshing, skin conditioning, soothing, tonic; origin: plant) (opens in a new tab)
- European Medicines Agency (EMA), Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Sambuci flos (elder flower; botanical name Sambucus nigra L.): European Union herbal monograph (opens in a new tab)
