Nagarmotha oil, nut grass oil, cyperus rotundus oil: it's all the same plant
Nagarmotha in India. Nut grass in English. Purple nutsedge to botanists. Under every name it's the plant that matched laser in a clinical study, and the hero of Bare Oil.
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Nagarmotha oil and nut grass oil are cyperus rotundus oil. They're regional and common names for oil from the same plant, Cyperus rotundus. That's the oil a randomized clinical study found as effective as an Alexandrite laser for reducing underarm hair growth, and better than laser on white hair. If you want those results in a ready-to-use, skin-friendly formula, that's Bare Oil.
Every name for cyperus rotundus oil
Search for this oil and you'll find it under a dozen names, depending on the country, the tradition and the shop. They all point to one species:
| Name | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|
| Cyperus rotundus oil | The botanical (Latin) name, used in clinical studies and on ingredient labels |
| Nagarmotha oil | Hindi common name, widely used in India, in attars and incense |
| Nut grass / nutgrass oil | English common name, from the plant's small nut-like tubers |
| Purple nutsedge oil | Name used by botanists and gardeners in the US |
| Musta / mustaka | Sanskrit name, used in Ayurvedic texts |
| Xiang fu (Rhizoma Cyperi) | Name in traditional Chinese herbal practice |
| Coco grass, Java grass | Other English common names |
| Juncia real, coquito, castañuela | Spanish common names |
| "Cyprus rotundus oil" | A very common misspelling. Same oil |
Botanical and common names: Wikipedia (English) and Wikipedia (Spanish); nagarmotha and xiang fu are the names used in Indian and Chinese herbal trade.
What is the nut grass plant?
Cyperus rotundus is a sedge, a grass-like plant in the Cyperaceae family. Above ground it looks like slender grass with purple-brown flower spikes. Below ground is where it gets interesting: a network of rhizomes and small, fragrant tubers, the "nuts" in nut grass. It grows in warm climates around the world and is famous among gardeners as one of the toughest plants on earth to pull up.
The oil comes from those tubers and rhizomes. It has a warm, earthy, woody scent, which is why nagarmotha has been prized for centuries in Indian perfumery, attars and incense. One of its aroma molecules, rotundone, is named after the plant because it was first extracted from its tubers; it's the same molecule behind the spicy aroma of black pepper.
For centuries it was valued for scent and tradition. Modern dermatology research has given it a new job: slowing unwanted hair.
Under any name, the same clinical result
In a randomized clinical study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2014), 65 people with unwanted underarm hair were assigned to topical cyperus rotundus oil, saline, or an Alexandrite laser (GentleLase). Results were judged three ways: hair counts, independent professionals and patient self-assessment.
"Cyperus rotundus essential oil is as effective as the Alexandrite laser for decreasing the growth of axillary hair (both dark and white)."Study conclusion · Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2014 · PubMed 24408514
Follow-up randomized trials: 153 people (PubMed 34618367) and 308 people (PubMed 35290702) both recorded significantly reduced hair growth in the cyperus rotundus oil groups; a 153-person trial after laser favored the oil for pain relief (PubMed 34132024).
Don't confuse it with these
- Cypress oilFrom cypress trees (Cupressus). Different plant, no hair studies. See the difference.
- Tiger nut / yellow nutsedgeCyperus esculentus. Same genus, different species. Not the one in the studies.
- Generic "hair inhibitor" spraysMany don't list cyperus rotundus at all. Read the ingredient list.
- Perfume-grade nagarmotha attarMade for fragrance, often blended with other aromatics. Not formulated for just-shaved skin.
Pure nagarmotha oil vs. a ready-to-use formula
You can buy nagarmotha essential oil in tiny bottles for aromatherapy. The catch: pure essential oils are concentrated, sold for scent, and not made for skin that was just shaved or waxed. Mixing your own dilution every night is a chore, and the quality of no-name bottles is a gamble.
Bare Oil does the work for you. It's built around cyperus rotundus oil and finished with ingredients that make sense after hair removal:
The clinically studied hero, a.k.a. nagarmotha and nut grass oil.
A peptide used in hair-minimizing skincare.
Soothing and softening, so it doubles as your post-shave body oil.
Vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free and sulfate-free. Full breakdown: Bare Oil ingredients.
What it feels like to use it
★★★★★ Rated 4.9★ · trusted by 100,000+ women worldwide
"it actually does work I never expected that from an oil, smells nice too its more of a natural scent"
"I bought this with VERY low expectations tbh. I just wanted something to use after waxing that wouldn't make my sensitive skin freak out. Now I'm over here checking my legs like "where is the hair??" 😭 It's been growing back slower and softer, and my skin feels ridiculously smooth after I use it."
"Funciona bien tengo menos crecicimiento, se aplica diario pero sirve igual de bien que mi hidratante tengo 6 semanas usandolo 🧡"Translation: "Works well, I have less growth. It's applied daily but it works just as well as my moisturizer. I've been using it for 6 weeks."
"love this! definitely am seeing less hair overall, on to my third bottle now"
Reviews are from verified buyers on our Bare Oil product page (Judge.me), quoted word for word; Spanish reviews are shown with our English translation. Individual results vary.
How to use nagarmotha (cyperus rotundus) oil for unwanted hair
- Remove hair your way. Shave, wax, sugar or epilate.
- Apply right after. 3 to 5 drops per area on clean, dry skin. Massage until absorbed.
- Repeat morning and night. Every day, including days you don't remove hair.
- Stay consistent for 4 to 8 weeks. Results compound with every application.
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Nagarmotha and nut grass oil: your questions, answered
Is nagarmotha oil the same as cyperus rotundus oil?
Yes. Nagarmotha is the common Hindi name for Cyperus rotundus, the plant whose oil was tested in the clinical studies on hair growth. Nagarmotha oil, nut grass oil, purple nutsedge oil and cyperus rotundus oil all refer to oil from the same species. What differs from bottle to bottle is purity, concentration and the formula around it.
What is nut grass oil?
Nut grass (or nutgrass) is the English common name for Cyperus rotundus, a sedge with small, nut-like tubers. The oil is taken from those tubers and rhizomes. The Bare Oil Amazon listing describes its hero ingredient as Cyperus Rotundus Oil (Nut Grass Extract).
Does nagarmotha oil remove hair?
It slows regrowth rather than removing hair. Remove hair first, then apply the oil to slow the hair that comes back. See does cyperus rotundus oil stop hair growth.
Is nut grass the same as tiger nut or yellow nutsedge?
No. Tiger nut (chufa) and yellow nutsedge are Cyperus esculentus, a different species in the same genus. The hair studies tested Cyperus rotundus, also called purple nutsedge. Check the botanical name on the label.
Is cyprus or cypress oil the same thing?
No. 'Cyprus rotundus' is a common misspelling of cyperus rotundus. Cypress oil comes from cypress trees (Cupressus) and is unrelated. Full explainer: cyprus vs. cypress rotundus oil.
Can I use pure nagarmotha essential oil on my skin?
Pure essential oils are concentrated and are usually sold for aroma or perfumery, not for freshly shaved or waxed skin. A ready-to-use formula like Bare Oil blends cyperus rotundus oil with skin-friendly oils (jojoba, sweet almond) and aloe, so you can apply it straight after hair removal. Patch test any new product first.
How do I use it for unwanted hair?
Remove hair, then apply 3 to 5 drops per area on clean, dry skin, morning and night. Most people notice slower, finer regrowth between weeks 4 and 8. Step by step: how to use cyperus rotundus oil.
What if it doesn't work for me?
Bare Oil comes with our 30-day Smooth or It's Free guarantee, and Amazon orders include a 30-day refund or replacement.
References
- Mohammed GF. Topical Cyperus rotundus oil: a new therapeutic modality with comparable efficacy to Alexandrite laser photo-epilation. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2014;34(2):298-305. doi:10.1177/1090820X13518801 · PubMed 24408514
- Mohammed GF. Topical Cyperus rotundus essential oil for treatment of axillary hyperpigmentation: a randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled study. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2022;47(3):534-541. PubMed 34618367
- Mohammed GF, Al-Dhubaibi MS, Mohamed ML. Genital whitening with topical Cyperus rotundus oil enhances sexuality and quality of life. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022;21(10):4490-4502. PubMed 35290702
- Mohammed GF. The effectiveness of Cyperus rotundus essential oil in reducing the side effects of laser hair removal. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022;21(4):1501-1505 (online 2021). PubMed 34132024
- Wikipedia. Cyperus rotundus. en.wikipedia.org
- Bare Oil product listing (ingredients, directions and recommended uses). amazon.com
Published by nellaskin, the maker of Bare Oil. The clinical studies cited tested topical cyperus rotundus essential oil, the hero ingredient in Bare Oil. Individual results vary with hair type and consistency of use. Not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist or physician about unwanted hair related to a medical condition.
Bare Oil: nagarmotha / nut grass oil, clinically studied to slow regrowth30-day Smooth or It's Free · Ships from Amazon · $29.99