Allspice (Pimento Berry) Essential Oil (Pimenta dioica)

Overview

Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil may also be referred to as Clove pepper, English spice, Jamaica pepper, Pimento, pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, Turkish Yenibahar, or newspic, Pimenta officinalis. It is typically processed in Caribbean Islands and South America using steam or hydro distillation as a method for extracting oil from the berries.

Summary

Allspice Essential Oil is also known as Pimento Berry Essential Oil. The warm, spicy aroma of Allspice Essential Oil is similar to that of clove and cinnamon essential oils. The high content of Eugenol is partly responsible for this similarity.

The rich, warm aroma of Allspice is reminiscent of fall, especially when combined with oils such as Sweet Orange, Clove Bud, or Cinnamon. Because of this rich, spicy scent, Allspice is often a favorite with men and can be used as a grounding scent for cologne. Allspice essential oil, also known as Pimento, is helpful in supporting healthy digestion and during times of seasonal illness. These wonderful properties make Allspice the perfect oil to have all year round. To learn more about our Allspice's uses and benefits, check out our Allspice essential oil spotlight blog post.

Essential Facts

Aroma Description:
Spicy Sweet Warm
Common Name(s): Clove pepper, English spice, Jamaica pepper, Pimento, pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, Turkish Yenibahar, or newspic, Pimenta officinalis
+ Expand - Collapse

Synonyms(s) for Pimenta dioica: Caryophyllus pimenta, Eugenia pimenta, Eugenia pimenta var. longifolia, Eugenia pimenta var. ovalifolia, Eugenia tabasco, Evanesca crassifolia, Myrtus aromatica, Myrtus aromatica, Myrtus pimenta, Myrtus pimenta var. brevifolia, Myrtus pimenta var. longifolia, Myrtus piperita, Myrtus tabasco, Pimenta aromatica, Pimenta communis, Pimenta dioica var. tabasco, Pimenta officinalis, Pimenta officinalis var. cumanensis, Pimenta officinalis var. longifolia, Pimenta officinalis var. ovalifolia, Pimenta officinalis var. tabasco, Pimenta pimenta, Pimenta tabasco, Pimenta vulgaris, Pimenta vulgaris, Pimentus aromatica, Pimentus geminata, Pimentus vera
Botanical Family: Myrtaceae
Botanical Genus: Pimenta
Chemical Family: Phenols, Sesquiterpenes
Major Compounds: Eugenol, 1,8-Cineole, B-Caryophyllene, a-Caryophyllene, Methyleugenol, Gamma-Cadinenel, Caryophyllene oxide
Perfumery Note: Middle
Consistency: Thin
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Color: Cocoa Brown
Countries of Production: Caribbean Islands and South America
Indigenous Country: Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America
Cultivation: Wild Harvested
Processing Methods: Steam or Hydro Distillation
Part Typically Used: Berries
Shelf Life: 6 years

Ethically and sustainably sourced
Organic
Wild Harvested
Vegan
Not recommended or safe if pregnant or nursing
Not recommend or safe for children

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

May be benefitial for addressing the following ailments:

Arthritis Bronchia Bronchitis Colds Coughs Flatulence Indigestion Insomnia Libido Stress

Therapeutic Benefits of Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil:

Analgesic Anti-dontalgic Anti-oxidant Anti-septic Aphrodisiac Carminative Relaxant Rubefacient Stimulant Tonic

Blends

Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil Blends:

Black Pepper Cinnamon Geranium Ginger Lavender Orange, Sweet Patchouli Ylang Ylang

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil:

We recommend a maximum dilution of 0.3% for topical applications.

Numerous sources indicate that Allspice Oil can act as a mucous membrane irritant. Tisserand and Young recommend a dermal maximum of 0.15%. They indicate that it may interfere with blood clotting. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 393.]

This essential oil poses a higher risk of causing irritation and sensitization when used in the bath. Avoid using it in the bath, even if it is solubilized/diluted.

Safety Precautions for Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

According to Tisserand & Young, Pimento Berry Essential Oil may (oral usage) inhibit blood clotting, cause drug interactions, cause skin & mucous membrane sensitization. Contraindications: May interact with pethidine, MAOIs or SSRIs, anticoagulant medication, major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia & other bleeding disorders. Eugenol belongs to the Phenol chemical family. Phenols are potentially irritating components to the skin and mucous membranes, and they can cause dermatitis and sensitization. If phenols are present in high concentrations in the essential oil, the essential oil should be used in very low dilutions on the skin, diluted well in carrier oil, and only used for short periods of time. Phenol-high oils are skin irritating if used in a bath. Use in small amounts when blending phenol-rich oils for diffusing (no more than 10% of the pure essential oil blend). Phenol-rich oils should not be used on people with skin issues such as dermatitis, or on babies or children. Oils high in eugenol, thymol or carvacrol inhibits platelet aggregation, and are not to be used by people with blood clotting disorders, by people taking anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin or Warfarin, or before surgery. Suggested maximum topical use of eugenol is 0.5%. In small doses, eugenol can be liver-protective, however, in high concentrations, it is hepatotoxic and can cause tissue damage. Maximum dermal level 1.0% (based on 50.4% eugenol content with a dermal limit of 0.5%

Contraindications of Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil:

This essential oil can cause irritation in the mucous membrane and skin if used in high concentrations or high dosages. Therefore, it should always be used in lower concentrations and low dosages.

Botany

Botanical Description of Allspice (Pimento Berry) Oil:

The pimento berry tree is classified as an evergreen shrub. This tree can reach 10–18 m (33–59 ft) in height. It can be a small, scrubby tree, quite similar to the bay laurel in size and form. It can also be a tall, canopy tree, sometimes grown to provide shade for coffee trees planted underneath it.