Ravensara Essential Oil
Ravensara aromatica
Description
Ravensara Oil is often confused with Ravintsara Oil. Although the source for both oils is often Madagascar and their common names are quite similar, Ravensara and Ravintsara are both very different essential oils.
This profile pertains to oil steam distilled from the leaves of Ravensara aromatica. See the Safety Info section for recommendations regarding avoidance of oil distilled from the bark.
Not a lot of accurate information is documented in print about Ravensara Leaf Oil. For a period of time,some information regarding Ravintsara was attributed to Ravensara. For further details regarding the background and uses of Ravensara, see the Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness by Neryls Purchon and Lora Cantele.
Ravensara Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Influenza
- Colds
- Bronchitis
- Other Respiratory Tract Infections
- Cold Sores
- Shingles
- Joint and Muscular Pain
Source: Neryls Purchon and Lora Cantele, Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness (Toronto ON: Robert Rose, 2014), 100.]
Dr. Jane Buckle reports interesting findings regarding use of Ravensara for insomnia. Source: Jane Buckle, PhD, RN, Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Healthcare (Third Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2015), 176-77, 242.
Botanical Name
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Leaves
This profile pertains to the leaf oil. For most applications, oil distilled from the bark should be avoided due to the significant ratio of Estragole (Methyl Chavicol) content.
Color
Clear with a Tinge of Yellow
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Top
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium
Aromatic Description
Ravensara Essential Oil smells slightly medicinal, eucalyptus-like, slightly sweet and fruity.
Primary Constituents of Ravensara Leaf Oil
- Limonene
- Sabinene
- Isoledene
- Estragole
- B-Caryophyllene
- B-Myrcene
- a-Terpinene
- a-Pinene
- Linalool
See Essential Oil Safety for more complete list of typical constituents.
Source: O. Behra, C. Rakotoarison, R. Harris. Ravintsara vs. Ravensara, a Taxonomic Classification. (The International Journal of Aromatherapy 11, 2001), 4-7. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 403.
Ravensara Essential Oil Safety Information
Due to the 90-95% concentration of Estragole (Methyl Chavicol) contained in Ravensara Bark Oil, it is strongly encouraged that only Ravensara Leaf Oil is used unless under the direct guidance of a qualified aromatherapist. For Ravensara Leaf Oil, Tisserand and Young indicate that the Estragole percentage range is 2.4-11.9% and recommend a dermal maximum usage rate of 0.12%.[Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 403.]
General Safety Information
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. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. 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. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for basic educational purposes only. The references to safety information, test results, constituents and percentages is generalized information. Essential oils can vary greatly in composition. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil composition and color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several CO2 Extracts and absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
