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Bay Essential Oil

Bay Essential Oil is what gives "Bay Rum" its distinctive aroma. (See AromaWeb's Bay Rum Diffuser Blend and Room Mist Recipe).

Bay Essential Oil (Pimental racemosa) is sometimes confused with Bay Laurel Essential Oil (Laurus nobilis). Though they share some broad aromatic similarities, both are very different oils.

Masculine and spicy, Bay Essential Oil is a warming oil that is a favorite during Fall and Winter. It stimulates circulation, and when used safely in low dilution, may be helpful in massage blends and to encourage healing of sprains and strains.

For more information about Bay Oil, read the details shown below including the safety information.

Botanical Name

Pimenta racemosa

Common Method of Extraction

Steam Distilled

Plant Part Typically Used

Leaves

Color

Deep Golden Yellow

Consistency

Thin - Medium

Perfumery Note

Middle

Strength of Initial Aroma

Medium - Strong

Aromatic Description

Medicinal, fruity, spicy, herbaceous aroma.

Bay Essential Oil Uses

Dandruff, hair care, neuralgia, oily skin, poor circulation, sprains, strains. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]

Major Constituents

Eugenol
Myrcene
Chavicol
Linalool
Limonene
See Essential Oil Safety for more complete list of constituents.

[D. McHale, W.A. Laurie, M.A. Woof, Composition of West Indian Bay Oils. (Food Chem. 2, 1977), 19-25. A.O. Tucker, M.J. Maciarello, R.P. Adams, et al. Volatile Leaf Oils of Caribbean Myrtaceae. Three Varieties of Pimenta Racemosa (Miller) J. Moore of the Dominican Republic and the Commercial Bay Oil. (J. Essential Oil Res 3, 1991), 323-329. J. Abaul, P. Bourgeois, Chemical Composition of the Essential oils of Chemotypes of Pimenta racemosa var. racemosa (P. Miller) J.W. Moore (Bois d'Inde) of Guadaloupe (F.W.I.) (Flavour & Fragrance Journal 10, 1995), 319-321. L. Jirovetz, G. Buchbauer, I. Stoilova, et al. Spice Plants: Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Pimenta Lindl. Essential Oils. Part 2: Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J.W. Moore Leaf Oil from Jamaica. (Vienna: Ernaehrung, 31, 7/8, 2007), 293-300. Sources cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 209.]

Safety Information

Tisserand and Young indicate that Bay Oil may inhibit blood clotting. They recommend a dermal maximum of 0.9% as there is a slight risk of sensitization when using Bay Oil. 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), 209.]

Shelf Life

View Shelf Life Information

Important Information About the Profiles

The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, oil color can vary based on harvesting, distillation and other factors. Profiles for several absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.

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. 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. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Essential Oil Book Suggestions

Click on a book's title to view details and read a full review for the book. Visit AromaWeb's Books area to find details about many other essential oil and aromatherapy books.

Own Safety Profiles for 400 Essential Oils and 206 Constituents:
Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals
Level: Intermediate • Advanced
Authors: Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young

The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
Also known as "The Fragrant Pharmacy" in the UK.
Level: Beginning • Intermediate
Author: Valerie Ann Worwood

Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness, The
Level: Beginning • Intermediate
Author: Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele

The Heart of Aromatherapy
Level: Beginning
Author: Andrea Butje

The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Essential Oils
Level: Beginning • Intermediate • Advanced
Author: Julia Lawless

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