Basil Oil (Ocimum Basilicum) - What It Is And Why To Use It

Origin/History:top (head) note. Top notes are often the first
The word basil is taken from the Greek wordrecognizable scent that evaporates in short time.
Basilicum, meaning "king" or "royal". It is a fairly smallThese essential oils are typically refreshing and
annual herb that typically grows up to 3 feet (1mentally stimulating. Basil offers a clean, clear, light,
meter) in height. Basil is a thick-stemmed plant withpeppery and sweet aroma. Middle (heart) notes are
larger lush, leaves and small, delicate flowers thatdescribed as the main or dominant scent. These
range in color from white to pink. The color of theessential oils are typically flowery or spicy scents.
Basil plant, stems and leaves can also range in colorBottom (base) notes are the scents that remain
from a vibrant, radiant green to a deep, dark purpleafter all other scents have evaporated. These
(referred to Dark Opal Basil). This remarkableessential oils are typically sweet and earthy scents.
variation in color can easily be attributed to decadesChemically Speaking:
of cross pollination, from which an extremely largeBasil oil contains numerous chemical compounds,
number of species, varieties and forms have beenincluding: 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene; alpha-terpineol,
born. Today, over 50 species and more than 60ß-pinene, camphene, camphor, cis-ocimene,
varieties of Ocimum basilicum L. currently exist. Thiscitronellol, eugenol, geraniol, limonene, linalool, methyl
range includes Ocimum suave known as tree basil,chavicol, methyl cinnamate, myrcene, sesquiterpenes,
which grows in India and Africa and can reach heightsterpinolene; terpinen-4-ol and y-terpineol. Basil oils
of 6 to 9 feet (2 or 3 meters). Another commonoffering the greatest benefits often contain rich
form of basil is Ocimum citriodorum Vis. This form islevels of methyl chavicol, eugenol linalool, camphor,
more commonly referred to as lemon basil, becauseand methyl cinnamate. Traditionally, the highest quality
of its particularly strong lemon scent. Ocimumbasil oil has been produced in Europe, specifically in
kilimandscharicum is yet another basil. This basil isBulgaria and in the Mediterranean region. Basil oil
native to the US and is commonly referred to asharvested in Europe is considered to be superior,
African blue basil or camphor basil, because of thebecause contains extremely high levels of linalool and
easy to smell camphor present in the oil. Other typesmethyl chavicol. Bulgarian oils are traditionally rich in
of basil are most easily differentiated by measuringmethyl-cinnamate and eugenol respectively.
their chemical constituents and are thereforeSweet basil or holy basil (Ocimum sanctum L.)
discussed in the "Chemically Speaking" section.contains traditionally high levels of eugenol and is
Features/Benefits:grown throughout Malaysia, Australia, India, and
Basil oil is believed to possess biologically activewestern Asia. Basil grown in Africa, the East Indies
constituents that may be insecticidal, anti-fungal andand Belgium (formerly Ocimum americanum L.,
anti-bacterial. It is believed to assist with such thingscurrently Ocimum canum Sims.) is well known,
as Bronchitis, asthma, colds, coughs, exhaustion,because they also possess a high methyl-cinnamate
flatulence, flu, gout, insect bites, insect repellent,content. Ocimum gratissimum L. is often called tree
muscle aches, constipation, nausea, rheumatism, sinusbasil, because of its wood-like scent. It is native to
congestion, mental clarity, steady nerves, migraines,Southeast Asia and contains a high phenol content of
fevers, menstrual problems and ear infections.eugenol.
Researchers form the Landspitali University Hospital inBasil oil blends well with: bergamot, black pepper,
Reykjavik, Iceland completed a comprehensive studycedarwood, fennel, ginger, geranium, grapefruit,
on the ability of basil oil to aid the body against earlavender, lemon, marjoram, neroli and verbena.
infections. They were able to determine that vaporsPrecautions:
released from basil oil may actually diffuse throughNo precautions are known for basil (Ocimum
the eardrum, penetrating the eardrum allowing it tobasilicum), though some lines of basil contain methyl
reach infected areas in the middle ear. Thechavicol, which is under review as a possible
researches accomplished this by testing basil oilcarcinogen when taken in extremely high levels.
against a placebo, on rats. They concluded that 81Sweet basil is generally recognized as safe as a spice
percent of the animals achieved the desired resultsnatural flavoring and as a plant/oil extract (21 CFR
and the infection of no longer present.sections 182.10, 182.20 [1982]).
In the world of perfume making, basil is considered a