Structured natural fiber assemblies made by cattail fibers were prepared by novel air-laying-bonding with introduction of 10–20% polypropylene/polyethylene sheath-core composite fibers (ES). The oil sorption characteristics of assemblies were examined by pure oil and oil-over-water tests and compared with as-prepared kapok and cotton fiber assemblies. It was found that although cattail/ES fiber assemblies were relatively less preferred in oil sorption capacity (11–14 g/g), they showed about 90% of oil retention capacity even after 24 h dripping and remained above 80% of initial sorption capacity after 10 sorp-tion/desorption cycles.