List of 130 Essential Oil Profiles (Monographs) Categorized by Plant Family

What is a Plant Family?

The essential oil bearing plants used to product essential oils and absolutes each belong to a plant family, as do all known species of plants.

Explained as simply as possible, taxonomy is an area of science that involves classifying all living organisms into an organized heirarchy.¹

The plant kingdom is formally known as Plantae, and it is broken down into subkingdoms. These subkingdoms are then further broken down to help organize plants by their similar characteristics:²

• Superdivision
• Division
• Subdivision
• Class
• Subclass
• Order
• Family
• Genus

When studying all plants, including essential oil bearing plants, it can be especially helpful to pay attention the Plant Family and the Genus that a the essential oil bearing plant is a member of.

What is a Genus and Species?

When you study the botanical name of an essential oil bearing plant, you will notice that it contains at least 2 words. The first word is the Genus, and the second word is the species. Whenever possible, botanical names should be italicized with the Genus being capitalized and the species appearing in all lowercase letters. When handwriting a botanical name, it is customary to underline the botanical name.

List of Plant Families and their Corresponding Essential Oil Bearing Plants^3,4

On this page, you will find headings for 36 plant families. For each, you will see links to the AromaWeb profiles for the essential oils that are produced from plants that are classified within that plant family.

Each link shown below will lead you to a detailed profile (monograph) for the essential oil.

Agavaceae

• Tuberose Absolute (Polianthes tuberosa)

Anacardiaceae

• Pepper, Pink (Schinus molle)

Annonaceae

• Cananga (Cananga odorata / Cananga odorata var macrophylla)
• Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata var genuina)

Apiaceae

• Angelica Root Essential Oil (Angelica archangelica)
• Anise Essential Oil (Pimpinella anisum)
• Blue Tansy Essential Oil (Tanacetum annuum)
• Caraway Seed Essential Oil (Carum carvi)
• Carrot Seed Essential Oil (Daucus carota)
• Chamomile, German Essential Oil (Matricaria recutita or Matricaria chamomilla)
• Chamomile, Roman Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis/ Chamaemelum nobile)
• Coriander Essential Oil (Coriandrum sativum)
• Cumin Essential Oil (Cuminum cyminum)
• Davana Essential Oil (Artemisia pallens)
• Dill Seed Essential Oil (Anethum graveolens)
• Fennel, Sweet Essential Oil (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Parsley Seed Essential Oil (Petroselinum crispum / Petroselinum sativum)
• Helichrysum Gymnocephalum Essential Oil (Helichrysum gymnocephalum)
• Helichrysum Italicum Essential Oil (Helichrysum italicum / Helichrysum angustifolia)
• Tagetes Essential Oil (Tagetes minuta)
• Yarrow Essential Oil (Achillea millefolium)

Asteraceae

• Goldenrod Essential Oil (Solidago canadensis)

Burseraceae

• Elemi Essential Oil (Canarium luzonicum / Canarium vulgare Burseraceae)
• Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia carteri Burseraceae)
• Myrrh Essential Oil (Commiphora myrrha Burseraceae)
• Opoponax Essential Oil (Commiphora guidottii / Commiphora erythraea Burseraceae)
• Palo Santo Essential Oil (Bursera graveolens Burseraceae)

Canellaceae

• Saro Essential Oil (Cinnamosma fragrans)

Cannabaceae

• Hemp Essential Oil (Cannabis sativa)
• Hops Essential Oil (Humulus lupulus)

Cistaceae

• Cistus (Cistus ladaniferus)

Cupressaceae

• Blue Cypress Essential Oil (Callitris intratropica)
• Cade Essential Oil (Juniperus oxycedrus)
• Cedarwood, Virginian Essential Oil (Juniperus virginiana)
• Cypress Essential Oil (Cupressus sempervirens)
• Hinoki Essential Oil (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
• Juniper Berry Essential Oil (Juniperus communis)
• Taiwan Hinoki Essential Oil (Chamaecyparis formosensis)

Dipterocarpaceae

• Gurjum Balsam Essential Oil (Dipterocarpus jourdainii / Dipterocarpus turbinatus)

Ericaceae

• Ledum Essential Oil (Ledum groenlandicum / Rhododendron groenlandicum) (Also Known as Labrador Tea and Greenland Moss Essential Oil)
• Rhododendron Essential Oil (Rhododendron anthopogon)
• Wintergreen Essential Oil (Gaultheria fragrantissima / Gaultheria procumbens)

Fabaceae

• Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil (Copaifera officinalis)
• Peru Balsam Essential Oil (Myroxylon balsamum / Myroxylon pereirae)

Geraniaceae

• Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium graveolens / Pelargonium asperum)
• Geranium, Rose Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum)

Illiciaceae

• Star Anise Essential Oil (Illicium verum)

Lamiaceae

• Basil Essential Oil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Bergamot Mint Essential Oil (Mentha citrata / Mentha aquatica L. var. citrata)
• Catnip Essential Oil (Nepeta cataria)
• Clary Sage Essential Oil (Salvia sclarea)
• Cornmint Essential Oil (Mentha arvensis)
• Holy Basil Essential Oil (Ocimum sanctum / Ociumum tenuiflorum)
• Hyssop Essential Oil (Hyssopus officinalis var. decumbens)
• Lavandin Essential Oil (Lavandula abrialis / Lavandin Abrialis, Lavandula intermedia / Lavandula hybrida / Lavandin Grosso, Lavandin Super)
• Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia / Lavandula officinalis)
• Lavender, Spike Essential Oil (Lavandula latifolia)
• Marjoram Essential Oil (Origanum majorana)
• Melissa Essential Oil (Melissa officinalis)
• Oregano Essential Oil (Origanum vulgare)
• Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
• Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha piperita)
• Rosemary Essential Oil (Salvia rosmarinus / Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Sage, Dalmation Essential Oil (Salvia officinalis)
• Sage, Spanish Essential Oil (Salvia lavandulaefolia or Salvia lavandulafolia)
• Sage, White Essential Oil (Salvia apiana)
• Spearmint Essential Oil (Mentha spicata / Mentha cardiaca)
• Thyme Essential Oil (Thymus vulgaris/ Thymus zygis)

Lauraceae

• Camphor, White Essential Oil (Cinnamomum camphora)
• Cassia Essential Oil (Cinnamomum cassia Cinnamomum aromaticum)
• Cinnamon Essential Oil (Cinnamomum verum / Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
• Ho Wood Essential Oil (Cinnamomum camphora var linalool)
• Laurel Leaf Essential Oil (Laurus nobilis)
• May Chang Essential Oil (Litsea cubeba)
• Ocotea Essential Oil (Ocotea quixos) (Also Known as Ishpingo Essential Oil)
• Ravanesara Essential Oil (Ravensara aromatica)
• Ravintsara Essential Oil (Cinnamomum camphora)
• Rosewood Essential Oil (Aniba rosaeodora)

Malvaceae

• Ambrette Seed Absolute (Abelmoschus moschatus / Hibiscus abelmoschus)

Myristicaceae

• Nutmeg Essential Oil (Myristica fragrans)

Myrtaceae

• Allspice Essential Oil (Pimenta dioica / Pimenta officinalis)
• Bay Essential Oil (Pimenta racemosa var racemosa)
• Cajeput Essential Oil (Melaleuca leucadendron / Melaleuca cajuputi)
• Clove Bud Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum / Eugenia caryophyllata)
• Eucalyptus, Globulus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus Globulus)
• Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil (Eucalyptus Radiata)
• Eucalyptus, Lemon Essential Oil (Eucalyptus citriodora / Corymbia citriodora)
• Fragonia Essential Oil (Taxandria fragrans / Agonis fragrans)
• Kanuka Essential Oil (Kunzea ericoides / Leptospermum ericoides)
• Kunzea Essential Oil (Kunzea ambigua)
• Manuka Essential Oil (Leptospermum scoparium)
• Myrtle Essential Oil (Myrtus communis)
• Myrtle, Lemon Essential Oil (Backhousia citriodora)
• Niaouli Essential Oil (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
• Rosalina Essential Oil (Melaleuca ericifolia)
• Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
• Tea Tree, Lemon Essential Oil (Leptospermum petersonii)

Oleaceae

• Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum)

Orchidaceae

• Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia)

Parmeliaceae

• Oakmoss Absolute (Evernia prunastri)

Pinaceae

• Cedarwood, Atlas Essential Oil (Cedrus atlantica)
• Fir, Balsam Essential Oil (Abies sibirica)
• Fir, Dougas Essential Oil (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
• Fir, Siberian Essential Oil (Abies sibirica)
• Fir, Silver Essential Oil (Abies alba)
• Pine, Pinyon Essential Oil (Pinus edulis)
• Pine, Scotch Essential Oil (Pinus sylvestris)
• Spruce, Black Essential Oil (Picea mariana)
• Spruce, Hemlock Essential Oil (Tsuga canadensis / Pinus canadensis)

Piperaceae

• Cubeb Essential Oil (Piper cubeba)
• Pepper, Black Essential Oil (Piper nigrum)

Poaceae

• Citronella Essential Oil (Cymbopogon nardus / Cymbopogon winterianus)
• Lemongrass Essential Oil (Cymbopogon citratus / Cymbopogon flexuosus)
• Palmarosa Essential Oil (Cymbopogon martinii)
• Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)

Rosaceae

• Rose Otto Essential Oil and Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)

Rubiaceae

• Coffee Absolute (Coffea arabica)

Rutaceae

• Amyris Essential Oil (Amyris balsamifera)
• Bergamot Essential Oil (Citrus bergamia)
• Boronia Essential Oil (Boronia megastigma)
• Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus paradisi)
• Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon)
• Lime Essential Oil (Citrus aurantifolia)
• Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
• Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
• Orange, Bitter Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
• Orange, Blood Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis)
• Orange, Sweet Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis)
• Petitgrain Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
• Tangerine Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
• Xanthoxylum Essential Oil (Zanthoxylum armatum / Zanthoxylum alatum / Xanthoxylum alatum)
• Yuzu Essential Oil (Citrus junos)

Santalaceae

• Sandalwood Essential Oil (Santalum album)

Solanaceae

• Tobacco Absolute (Nicotania tabacum)

Styracaceae

• Benzoin Absolute (Styrax benzoin)

Tiliaceae

• Linden Blossom Absolute (Tilia vulgaris / Tilia cordata)

Valerianaceae

• Spikenard Essential Oil (Nardostachys jatamansi)
• Valerian Essential Oil (Valeriana officinalis)

Verbenaceae

• Lemon Verbena Essential Oil (Aloysia citriodora / Lippia citriodora)

Violaceae

• Violet Leaf Absolute (Viola odorata)

Zingiberaceae

• Cardamom Essential Oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
• Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber officinale)
• Plai Essential Oil (Zingiber cassumunar or Zingiber montanum)

References

• ¹Taxonomy: Definition in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Accessed: September 27, 2020
• ²PLANTS Database: USDA PLANTS. Website: https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/. Accessed: September 24-26, 2020
• ³Ibid.
• ⁴Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014).

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

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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.