Myrtle Essential Oil (Myrtus communis)

Overview

Myrtle may also be referred to as foxtail myrtle, myrtle bonsai tree, sweet myrtle, true myrtle, true roman myrtle. It is typically processed using steam distilled as a method for extracting oil from the leaves.

Summary

Myrtle oil comes from the leaves of the Myrtus communis plant. It has a camphorous, floral scent.

Myrtle Essential Oil is sweet, fresh, green and slightly camphorous in aroma. Red Myrtle Essential Oil smells camphorous than does Green Myrtle Essential Oil due to its higher 1,8 Cineole content.

Myrtle Essential Oil
By Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, Link

Essential Facts

  • Aroma Description:

    Camphoraceous Fresh Herbaceous Slightly sweet

  • Common Name(s): foxtail myrtle, myrtle bonsai tree, sweet myrtle, true myrtle, true roman myrtle
  • Botanical Family: Myrtaceae
  • Botanical Genus: Myrtus
  • Chemical Family: Esters, Monoterpenes, Oxides
  • Major Compounds: a-Pinene, 1,8-Cineole, Myrtenyl Acetate, (+)-Limonene, Linalool
  • Perfumery Note: Middle/Top
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
  • Indigenous Country: Morocco
  • Cultivation: Distiller is Certified Organic
  • Processing Methods: Steam Distilled
  • Part Typically Used: Leaves
  • Shelf Life: 4-5 years
  • Ethically and sustainably sourced Ethically and sustainably sourced
  • Organic Organic
  • Vegan Vegan

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

May be benefitial for addressing the following ailments:

Bad Breath

Therapeutic Benefits of Myrtle:

Analgesic Anti-allergenic Anti-asthmatic Anti-bacterial Anti-fungal Anti-histamine Anti-infectious Anti-inflammatory Anti-oxidant Anti-septic Anti-spasmodic Anti-viral Carminative Cephalic Expectorant Immuno-stimulant Mucolytic Stomachic Tonic

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Myrtle:

Tisserand and Young recommend a maximum dermal use level of \"1.9% for myrtle oils based on either 1.4% estragole and 0.8% methyleugenol content or 0.2% estragole and 1.0% methyleugenol content, and dermal limits of 0.12% and 0.02% for estragole and emthyleugenol, respectively.\" 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), 357-358.]

Safety Precautions for Myrtle:

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.

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities of Myrtle:

Clarity, Protective, Purifying

Articles

Myrtle Articles or Publications:

Myrrh
Myrtle, Lemon Essential Oil