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.

Essential Oil – Peru Balsam

Botanical Information

Peru Balsam (Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae) belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and is a large tropical tree that can grow up to 25 metres in height. It has a straight, smooth trunk, dense foliage, and highly fragrant flowers. Every part of the tree contains a resinous juice, including its fruit. Unlike many essential oils, Peru Balsam is considered a true balsam, obtained as a pathological exudate from the exposed wood after sections of bark are removed. It is also known by several other names, including Toluifera pereira, Myrosperum pereira, Myroxylon pereirae, Peruvian balsam, Indian balsam, and black balsam.

Essential Oil – Copaiba Balsam

Botanical Information

Copaiba Balsam (Copaifera officinalis) belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and is a wild-growing tropical tree that can reach up to 18 metres in height. It has dense foliage and numerous branches, producing a natural oleoresin within its trunk. Although commonly referred to as a balsam, it is technically an oleoresin rather than a true balsam. The plant is also known by several other names, including copahu balsam, copaiba, copaiva, Jesuit’s balsam, Maracaibo balsam, and para balsam.

Essential Oil – Canadian Balsam

Botanical Information

Canadian Balsam (Abies balsamea) belongs to the Pinaceae family and is a tall, graceful evergreen tree that can reach up to 20 metres in height. It has a narrow, tapering trunk and numerous branches that give the tree its characteristic cone-shaped appearance. Beneath the bark are special resin-filled vesicles that produce an oleoresin commonly referred to as Canada balsam. Although often called a balsam, it is technically an oleoresin because it consists of a mixture of resin and essential oil rather than true balsam acids. The tree is also known by several other names, including Abies balsamifera, Pinus balsamea, balsam fir, balsam tree, American silver fir, Balm of Gilead fir, and Canada turpentine.

Essential Oil – Asafoetida

Botanical Information

Asafoetida (Ferula asa-foetida) belongs to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family and is a large, branching perennial herb that can grow up to 3 metres in height. It has a thick, fleshy root system and produces clusters of pale yellow-green flowers. The plant is also known by several common names, including asafoetida, gum asafoetida, devil’s dung, food of the gods, and giant fennel.

Essential Oil – Arnica

Botanical Information

Arnica (Arnica montana) belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family and is a perennial alpine herb with a creeping underground stem that produces a rosette of pale green, oval-shaped leaves. Its upright flowering stem can reach up to 60 centimetres in height and bears a single bright yellow, daisy-like flower. The plant is well known for its medicinal value but is considered difficult to cultivate. It is also known by several other names, including Arnica fulgens, Arnica sororia, leopard’s bane, and wolf’s bane.

Essential Oil – Aniseed

Botanical Information

Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) belongs to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family and is an annual herb that grows to less than one metre in height. It is characterized by its delicate green leaves and clusters of small white flowers. The plant is also known by several scientific and common names, including Anisum officinalis, A. vulgare, anise, and sweet cumin.

Essential Oil – Star Anise

Botanical Information

Star Anise (Illicium verum) belongs to the Illiciaceae family and is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 12 metres in height. It has a tall, slender white trunk and produces distinctive star-shaped fruits made up of five to thirteen seed-bearing follicles attached to a central core. The plant is also known by several common names, including Chinese anise, illicium, and Chinese star anise.

Essential Oil – Ajowan

Botanical Information

Ajowan (Trachyspermum copticum) belongs to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family and is an annual herb recognized by its small greyish-brown seeds, which resemble parsley seeds in appearance. The plant is also known by several scientific synonyms, including T. ammi, Ammi copticum, Carum ajowan, C. copticum, and Ptychotis ajowan. Its common names include ajuan and omum.

Essential Oil – Allspice

Botanical Information

Allspice (Pimenta dioica) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 10 metres in height. The tree begins bearing fruit around its third year of growth. Each fruit contains two kidney-shaped green seeds that gradually turn glossy black when fully ripe. It is also known by several other names, including Pimenta officinalis, pimento, pimenta, and Jamaica pepper.

Essential Oil – Ambrette Seed

Botanical Information

Ambrette Seed (Abelmoschus moschatus) belongs to the Malvaceae family and is an evergreen shrub that grows to approximately 1.5 metres in height. It produces large yellow flowers with distinctive purple centres and pyramid-shaped seed capsules containing greyish-brown, kidney-shaped seeds. These seeds are well known for their characteristic musky fragrance. The plant is also referred to by several other names, including Hibiscus abelmoschus, musk seed, Egyptian alcee, target-leaved hibiscus, and muskmallow