Anise
Botanical Name:Pimpinella
anisum
Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled
Color: Clear
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Aromatic Description: Distinctive scent of licorice. Rich and
sweet.
Possible Uses: Bronchitis, colds, coughs, flatulence, flu, muscle
aches, rheumatism. [Julia Lawless,
The Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books,
1995), 60-66.] Constituents: a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, linalool, cis-anethole,
trans-anethole, safrole, anisaldehyde, acetoanisole. [B. Lawrence,
"Anise Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist, June/July 1983, 65, cited in
Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy
(Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 141.]
Safety Information: Caution for those with hypersensitive skin or
with skin problems. Avoid in endometriosis and oestrogen-dependent
cancers. [Robert Tisserand,
Essential Oil
Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 117.]
Is narcotic and slows circulation in large doses. [Julia Lawless,
The Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books,
1995), 196.]
Basil
Botanical Name:Ocimum
basilicum
Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled
Color: Clear
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Aromatic Description: Sweet, herbaceous, licorice-like, slightly
campherous.
Possible Uses: Bronchitis, colds, coughs, exhaustion, flatulence,
flu, gout, insect bites, insect repellent, muscle aches, rheumatism,
sinusitis. [Julia Lawless,
The Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books,
1995), 58-67.] Constituents: Linalol, Fenchol, Eugenol, Methyl chavicol, Beta-caryophyllene
[Shirley Price,
The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons,
1993), 54-5.]
Safety Information: Use sparingly with caution. High doses may be
carcinogenic due to its methyl chavicol content. Avoid in cases of
liver problems. [Robert Tisserand,
Essential Oil
Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 120.]
Avoid during pregnancy. [Julia Lawless,
The Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books,
1995), 186.]
Bergamot
Botanical Name:Citrus
bergamia
Common Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed (best) or Steam
Distilled
Color: Gold with a Green Tinge
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Aromatic Description: Fresh, orange/lemon/citrusy, slightly
floral.
Possible Uses: Acne, abscesses, anxiety, boils, cold sores,
cystitis, depression, halitosis, itching, loss of appetite, oily skin,
psoriasis, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of
Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.] Constituents:
a-pinene, B-pinene, myrcene, limonene, a-bergaptene, B-bisabolene,
linalool, linalyl acetate, nerol, neryl acetate, geraniol, geraniol
acetate, a-terpineol. [B. Lawrence, "Bergamot Oil," Perfumer &
Flavorist, October/November 1982, 43, cited in Salvatore Battaglia,
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect
Potion, 1997), 145.]
Safety Information: Phototoxic. [Robert Tisserand, Essential
Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 121.] Do
not use if the area of application will be exposed to sunlight for 24
hours due to its phototoxicity.