Essential Oil – Caraway

Botanical Information

Caraway (Carum carvi) belongs to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family. It is also known as Apium carvi, carum, or caraway fruits. Caraway is a biennial herb that grows up to 0.75 metres tall, with a much-branched stem, finely divided leaves, umbels of small white flowers, a thick tapering root, and small curved seeds marked by five distinct pale ridges.

Essential Oil – Cardamom

Botanical Information

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) belongs to the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) family and is commonly known as Mysore cardamom, cardamom, cardamomi, or cardamum. It is a tall, perennial herb that resembles a reed and can grow up to 4 metres in height. The plant has long, narrow, silky green leaves, delicate yellow flowers with purple markings, and reddish-brown seed capsules. These aromatic seeds are the source of the prized essential oil.

Essential Oil – Camphor

Botanical Information

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) belongs to the Lauraceae family. It is also known as Laurus camphora, true camphor, hon-sho, laurel camphor, gum camphor, Japanese camphor, and Formosa camphor. It is a tall, evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 metres in height. The tree has many branches bearing clusters of small white flowers followed by red berries. Mature trees over 50 years old produce a white crystalline substance known as crude camphor, which is obtained from the wood.

Essential Oil – Calamus (Acorus calamus var. angustatus)

Botanical Information

Calamus (Acorus calamus var. angustatus) belongs to the Araceae family. It is commonly known as sweet flag, sweet sedge, sweet root, sweet rush, sweet cane, sweet myrtle, myrtle grass, myrtle sedge, and cinnamon sedge. It is an aromatic, reed-like aquatic plant that grows up to 1 metre in height. The plant has long sword-shaped leaves, greenish-yellow flowers, and thick creeping rhizomes that grow in muddy areas along lakes, ponds, and streams.

Essential Oil – Calamintha

Botanical Information

Calamintha (Calamintha officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family and is an upright, bushy perennial herb that typically grows to about one metre in height. It has square stems, soft oval leaves with serrated edges that are greyish-green underneath, and small pale purple flowers. The entire plant emits a strong aromatic fragrance that is particularly attractive to cats. It is also known by several names, including Calamintha clinopodium, Melissa calamintha, calamint, common calamint, mill mountain, mountain balm, mountain mint, basil thyme, French marjoram (oil), wild basil (oil), and catnip (oil).

Essential Oil – Cajeput

Botanical Information

Cajeput (Melaleuca cajeputi) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is a tall evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 metres in height. It has thick, pointed leaves, white flowers, and a flexible trunk covered with whitish, papery bark that peels away easily. The name “cajeput” is derived from the Malay term “caju-puti,” meaning “white wood,” referring to the pale colour of its timber. It is also known by several other names, including Melaleuca minor, cajuput, white tea tree, white wood, swamp tea tree, punk tree, and paperbark tree.

Essential Oil – Cade

Botanical Information

Cade (Juniperus oxycedrus) belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is a large evergreen shrub that grows up to 4 metres in height. It is characterized by its long, dark green needle-like leaves and brownish-black berries about the size of hazelnuts. The plant is also known by several common names, including Juniper Tar, Prickly Cedar, Medlar Tree, and Prickly Juniper.

Essential Oil – Cabreuva

Botanical Information

Cabreuva (Myrocarpus fastigiatus) belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and is a graceful tropical tree that typically grows between 12 and 15 metres in height. It produces exceptionally hard, durable wood that is highly resistant to moisture and fungal growth. Like many South American trees, it exudes a fragrant balsam when the trunk is damaged. The tree is also known by the names Cabureicica and Baume de Pérou Brun.

Essential Oil – Spanish Broom

Botanical Information

Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and is an attractive ornamental shrub that grows up to 3 metres in height. It has upright woody branches, tough flexible stems, bright green leaves, and large, fragrant yellow flowers that resemble pea blossoms. Like other members of the legume family, it produces seeds enclosed in pods. The plant is also known by several synonyms, including Genista juncea, genista, weaver’s broom, broom absolute, and genet absolute.

Essential Oil – Boronia

Botanical Information

Boronia (Boronia megastigma), also known as Brown Boronia, belongs to the Rutaceae family. It is a bushy evergreen shrub that grows up to 2 metres in height and is admired for its abundance of highly fragrant, nodding flowers. The blooms are distinctive, with brown outer petals and bright yellow inner petals, making the plant a popular ornamental shrub in gardens. Botanically, Boronia is closely related to the citrus family.

Essential Oil – Borneol

Botanical Information

Borneol (Dryobalanops aromatica) belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family and is a towering tropical tree that often exceeds 25 metres in height, with a thick trunk reaching up to 2 metres in diameter. Borneol occurs naturally as a crystalline resin found beneath the bark in the crevices and fissures of mature trees, while younger trees produce only a clear yellow substance known as liquid camphor. The tree is also known by several names, including Dryobalanops camphora, Borneo camphor, East Indian camphor, Baros camphor, Sumatra camphor, and Malayan camphor.

Essential Oil – Boldo Leaf

Botanical Information

Boldo Leaf (Peumus boldus) belongs to the Monimiaceae family and is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to approximately 6 metres in height. It has slender branches, coarse sessile leaves, and produces small yellowish-green fruits. When dried, the leaves develop a deep reddish-brown colour. The entire plant is highly aromatic. It is also known by several botanical synonyms, including Boldu boldus, Boldoa fragrans, boldus, and boldu.

Essential Oil – White Birch

Botanical Information

White Birch (Betula alba) belongs to the Betulaceae family and is a graceful deciduous tree that typically grows between 15 and 20 metres in height. It is distinguished by its slender branches, silvery-white bark that naturally peels into scales, and light green oval leaves. The tree produces male catkins measuring 2–5 centimetres long and female catkins that can reach up to 15 centimetres. It is also known by several botanical names, including Betula alba var. pubescens, Betula odorata, Betula pendula, European White Birch, and Silver Birch.

Essential Oil – Sweet Birch

Botanical Information

Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) belongs to the Betulaceae family and is a graceful deciduous tree that can grow up to 25 metres in height. When young, it has a distinctive pyramidal shape, bright green leaves, and dark reddish-brown aromatic bark that naturally separates into plates or patches. The tree is also known by several other names, including Betula carpinifolia, cherry birch, southern birch, mahogany birch, and mountain mahogany.

Essential Oil – Bergamot

Botanical Information

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) belongs to the Rutaceae family and is a small evergreen tree that grows to approximately 4.5 metres in height. It has smooth, oval-shaped leaves and produces small, round fruits that ripen from green to yellow, resembling miniature oranges. The plant is also known by its botanical synonym Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia. It should not be confused with the herb bergamot or bee balm (Monarda didyma), which is an entirely different plant.

Essential Oil – Benzoin

Botanical Information

Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) belongs to the Styracaceae family and is a large tropical tree that can grow up to 20 metres in height. It has pale green, citrus-like leaves that are whitish underneath and produces hard, flattened fruits about the size of a nutmeg. Benzoin is a true balsamic resin, formed when the tree trunk is cut, causing the tree to exude a fragrant resin that hardens upon exposure to air and sunlight. The plant is also known as gum benzoin, gum benjamin, and styrax benzoin.

Essential Oil – West Indian Bay

Botanical Information

West Indian Bay (Pimenta racemosa) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is a wild-growing tropical evergreen tree that can reach up to 8 metres in height. It is distinguished by its large leathery leaves and aromatic fruits. The plant is also known by several other names, including Myrcia acris, Pimenta acris, myrcia, bay, bay rum tree, wild cinnamon, bayberry, and bay leaf oil.

Essential Oil – French Basil

Botanical Information

French Basil (Ocimum basilicum) belongs to the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family and is a tender annual herb with dark green, oval-shaped leaves that are greyish-green underneath. It has an upright, square stem that grows up to 60 centimetres tall and produces whorls of small greenish or pinkish-white flowers. The entire plant is highly aromatic and is widely recognized for its fresh, sweet herbal fragrance. It is also commonly known as Common Basil, True Sweet Basil, European Basil, and Joy-of-the-Mountain.

Essential Oil – Exotic Basil

Botanical Information

Exotic Basil (Ocimum basilicum) belongs to the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family and is closely related to French basil. Although botanically classified as the same species, Exotic Basil is generally a larger plant with a stronger, harsher aroma and a distinctly different chemical composition. It is also commonly known as Sweet Basil, Comoran Basil, and Reunion Basil, depending on its origin and essential oil source.