Holy Basil Essential Oil
Ocimum sanctum / Ociumum tenuiflorum
Description
Holy Basil Essential Oil is sometimes known as Tulsi Essential Oil. Used extensively in India and within Ayurvedic practices, Holy Basil is grown and distilled for aromatic, medicinal and spiritual purposes.
Aromatically, Holy Basil Essential Oil resembles a cross between traditional Basil Oil and Clove Oil. Holy Basil contains a large percentage (up to 85%) of Eugenol, a chemical constituent that gives Clove Oil its characteristic aroma.
The warm, sweet aroma of Holy Basil Essential Oil lends well for creating energizing/stimulating diffuser and room mist blends. It is especially nice to work with when creating blends for men.
I see great potential for the use of Holy Basil Essential Oil in inhaler and diffuser blends intended to enhance focus while easing anxiety and stress.
Holy Basil Oil is an oil that I recommend using sparingly (1% dermal max per Tisserand/Young) or avoiding for topical use as it could possibly cause dermal irritation or sensitivity.
Holy Basil Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Muscular Spasms
- Respiratory Conditions
- Cramps
- Menstrual Issues
- Headache
- Mental and Physical Fatigue
Source: Valerie Ann Worwood, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 25th Anniversary Edition (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2016, 569.
Botanical Name
Ocimum sanctum / Ociumum tenuiflorum
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Pale Yellow
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Top
Strength of Initial Aroma
Strong
Aromatic Description
Holy Basil Essential Oil smells strong, warm and spicy.
Major Constituents
- Eugenol
- 1,8-Cineole
- Estragole
- B-Bisabolene
- (Z)-a-Bisabolene
See Essential Oil Safety for a more complete list of typical constituents.
Source: B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1988-1991 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1993), 200-201. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 204.
Holy Basil Essential Oil Safety Information
Tisserand and Young suggest a dermal maximum of 1% based on Holy Basil Oil with up to 50.4% Eugenol content. They indicate that Holy Basil Oil may inhibit blood clotting. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 204.]
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.
