Allspice Essential Oil
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.
Allspice Oil is a wonderful oil to use in the diffuser during the fall and winter. If used at full-strength, it can be a potent mucous membrane irritant, so it's best blended at a low ratio with other essential oils before diffusing. I particularly like Allspice Oil blended with Orange Oil or Bergamot Oil. Allspice Essential Oil's high Eugenol (a phenol) content suggests that Allspice may act as an anti-viral oil.
Allspice Essential Oil, in small dilutions, is said to act as an aphrodisiac. Its rich, warm aroma also complements masculine blends.
Although Allspice Essential Oil is regarded for its use within personal fragrancing, massage, arthritic and muscular applications, Allspice Oil can be a dermal irritant. If you choose to use Allspice Oil within topical applications, be certain to dilute it very well (see safety info shown below).
Botanical Name
Pimenta dioica / Pimenta officinalis
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Berries
Color
Cocoa Brown
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Middle
Strength of Initial Aroma
Strong
Aromatic Description
Allspice Essential Oil smells sharp yet is sweet with a spicy, cinnamon and clove-like aroma.
Allspice Essential Oil Uses
- Arthritis
- Muscle Tone
- Stiffness
- Rheumatism
- Muscular And Gastric Cramps
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Depression
- Nervous Tension/Exhaustion
- Neuralgia
- Coughs
- Bronchitis
Source: Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 60-65, 194.
Major Constituents
- Eugenol
- 1,8-Cineole
- B-Caryophyllene
- a-Caryophyllene
- Methyleugenol
- Gamma-Cadinenel
- Caryophyllene oxide
Source: B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1976-1978 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1979), 72. B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1988-1991 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1993), 86-87. B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1988-1991 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1995), 184.C.L. Green, F. Espinosa, Jamaican and Central American pimento (Allspice, Pimenta dioica): Characterization of Flavor Differences and Other Distinguishing Features. (Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1988). A.O. Tucker, M.J. Maciarello, L.R. Landrun, Volatile Leaf Oils of Caribbean Myrtacea. Three Varieties of Pimenta racemosa (Miller) J. Moore of the Dominican Republic and the Commercial Bay Oil. J. Essential Oil Res. 3, 195-196. Sources cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 393.
Allspice Essential Oil Safety Information
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.
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 educational purposes only. The references to safety information, constituents and percentages is generalized information. 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 color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
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