What is myrtle essential oil made of?

It depends on the plant and the process, and published numbers vary widely. One Corsican producer's leaf oil had 41 compounds making up 97.3% of the total, led by alpha-pinene at 43.0%, 1,8-cineole at 28.8%, limonene at 8.7% and linalool at 3.8% (Hardy et al., Microorganisms, 2025). Across 52 Sardinian genotypes grown in one field, alpha-pinene ranged from 13.81% to 46.51% and 1,8-cineole from 1.37% to 27.12% (Usai et al., Plants, 2020). Our COA prints no composition at all, so none of those figures is a statement about our oil. See how to read a GC-MS report.

Does your oil have a stated origin or chemotype?

Not in anything we can document. The shop page describes the oil as steam-distilled from the leaves and twigs of Myrtus communis and calls it a green myrtle profile, but that is a description, not a laboratory finding, and the COA we publish names no country, chemotype or constituent. We therefore do not state an origin for the oil. Green and red myrtle are used for the myrtenyl acetate-rich and cineole-rich types in the trade, as quoted from Tisserand on one supplier page; our chemotype post explains the distinction, and a seller who cannot give you a chemotype in writing has not told you one.

What does the Certificate of Analysis show?

The COA on our site covers one batch (MRTAICUNUNC001A). It lists the botanical name Myrtus communis, Parts Used: Leaf, extraction method Steam Distilled, and "Complies" beside four physical checks: appearance, smell, relative density and refractive index, each against a stated standard range (for example 0.890 to 0.922 for density). It prints no measured values, no GC-MS table, no origin and no lab name. So it supports the species and the method on the label for that batch, and it does not support a claim about every batch or about composition. If you need a chemistry report, ask in writing and get the answer in writing.

Can I swallow it or put it in food?

No. Our shop copy says it is not for internal use, and the Tisserand Institute advises not to ingest essential oils unless advised to by a qualified practitioner, and never to take them undiluted or in water because of the risk of mouth and stomach irritation. If someone has swallowed it, call poison control or a physician rather than waiting for symptoms. What the poison and toxicology records show is in the ingestion post.

Does it help with sleep, breathing or mood?

We make no such claim, and our /our-process/ page says no therapeutic promises are made for myrtle. The published work on myrtle oil is mostly laboratory (in vitro) or animal work, plus a few small human studies, and none of it tested our oil. Our posts on sleep, breathing and mood set out what each area covers and omits, and the research map lists the studies. For any health concern, see a physician or pharmacist.

How long does it keep?

Our shop and bulk pages say "typically 2 to 3 years", with the bulk page adding that this is for unopened bottles kept tightly capped. That is our copy, not a measured shelf life for your bottle. The one myrtle storage study we know kept an Iranian oil in brown glass for six months at 25 C, 4 C and -20 C and found alpha-pinene and 1,8-cineole relatively stable, with some esters falling (Khosravani et al., BMC Plant Biology, 2025). Oxidized limonene and linalool are the skin concern. Our storage post goes through it.

How do I use it at home?

Our shop lists diffuser freshening, colognes and aftershave, diluted skincare blends and home fragrance layering as intended uses; those are use statements, not tested results. For diffusing, the Tisserand Institute suggests 30 to 60 minutes on and 30 to 60 minutes off with some air exchange. Anything on skin is a dilution question first. Our home-use guide covers diffusing, and our posts on roller blends and room sprays work out the IFRA caps for each format.

Myrtle Oil FAQ: Your Common Questions Answered

Q: Is this the same as lemon myrtle oil?

No. Our oil is Myrtus communis, a Mediterranean shrub in the Myrtaceae family; lemon myrtle is Backhousia citriodora, an Australian plant, and we do not sell it. In one published analysis of lemon myrtle leaf oil from a Malaysian plantation, geranial was 52.13% and neral 37.65%, together the citral that gives lemon myrtle its smell (Lim et al., Molecules, 2022). The myrtle oil analyses cited below are led by alpha-pinene or 1,8-cineole instead. Our comparison post sets the two side by side and says where to go if lemon myrtle is what you want.

Q: How much should I dilute it for skin?

Our shop's own guidance is 0.5% to 2% in a carrier oil, with a patch test first, which is roughly 3 to 12 drops per ounce. Other numbers sit below the top of that range. A supplier page quotes Tisserand and Young as giving 1.9% as myrtle's maximum dermal level (secondhand; we did not see the book). IFRA caps methyl eugenol, which myrtle oil can contain, at 0.0015% of a body lotion product, which for an oil with 0.2% methyl eugenol is a 0.75% oil share and for 1.40% is about 0.11% (IFRA Standards, 51st Amendment). We do not call 2% safe. The arithmetic is the same for every carrier: percent = drops / (20 x ml) x 100, with droppers varying.

Q: Can I use it while pregnant, or around children and pets?

We make no claim that it is suitable in any of those situations. Our disclaimer page says to consult a physician if you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition, and the shop says to keep the oil away from children and pets. The Tisserand Institute advises keeping oils where young children cannot reach them, with child-proof caps (Tisserand Institute), and the ASPCA says pets with breathing problems should avoid diffusers and homes with birds should avoid them altogether (ASPCA, 2022). See the pregnancy post, then ask a physician, midwife or veterinarian.

Customers tend to ask us the same handful of things about myrtle oil, usually in the same order: what is it, what does it smell like, how do I use it, and how long will it last? Here are the ones we hear most, answered plainly.

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About the oil

Is this the same as lemon myrtle oil?

No. Ours is Myrtus communis, the Mediterranean shrub, and we do not sell lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), an Australian tree. A lemon myrtle leaf oil analyzed in Malaysia was about 90% citral, the compound behind its sharp lemon scent (Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antibiofilm Activities of Backhousia citriodora Essential Oil). Myrtle oils are usually led by alpha-pinene or 1,8-cineole instead, so the two smell and behave quite differently. Our post on myrtle oil versus lemon myrtle oil puts them side by side.

Blending companions on a pale table: a small block of cedarwood, a few juniper berries, a sprig of lavender

What does it smell like?

Fresh, clear and gently floral, with a soft eucalyptus-like coolness and faintly honeyed facets. It sits in the top-to-middle part of a fragrance, which is why it pairs so easily with lemon, lavender, rosemary and neroli.

Is it blended with anything?

No. It is a single oil sold neat, with no additives or fillers, so any dilution maths is yours to do in your own carrier.

What is myrtle oil made of?

That depends on the plant, and nature is generous with variety here. One Corsican leaf oil was led by alpha-pinene at 43% and 1,8-cineole at about 29% (Quorum-Quenching Activity of Myrtus communis Corsican Essential Oil Against the Marine Bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri). Across 52 Sardinian plants grown in a single field, alpha-pinene ranged from about 14% to 47% (Chemotaxonomic Evaluation by Volatolomics Analysis of Fifty-Two Genotypes of Myrtus communis L.). That spread is why people talk about green and red myrtle, which we explain in our chemotype post. If you need a composition table for a formulation, ask us in writing through the contact page, and have a look at how to read a GC-MS report first.

Where should I start if I have never used it?

Open the bottle and smell it before you do anything else. Then pick one simple use, such as a few drops in a diffuser in a ventilated room, and stay with it for a week. Starting small lets you learn the aroma without too many variables, and you will quickly know whether you want a second bottle or a different plan.

Using it

How much should I dilute it for skin?

Our guidance is 0.5% to 2% in a carrier oil, which is roughly 3 to 12 drops per ounce, with a patch test on a small area first. We suggest starting at the low end. The fragrance industry's standards body, IFRA, caps methyl eugenol, a minor component of myrtle oil, at 0.0015% of a body lotion or body oil (Category 5A) (IFRA Standards, up to and including the 51st Amendment (January 2024)). Dividing that cap by the 0.5% to 5% methyl eugenol shares seen in the Sardinian plants gives a ceiling of roughly 0.03% to 0.3% oil in a finished body product. That is our arithmetic, and IFRA's standards are written for products made for sale, so treat it as a reference point. It is the reason we say a smaller amount is a sensible place to begin, and the reason we do not call 2% safe for everyone.

In a small, clean, bright analytical laboratory with smooth white walls

Can I use it while pregnant, or around children and pets?

Our guidance is to keep the oil away from children and pets, and our disclaimer asks anyone who is pregnant, nursing or managing a medical condition to speak with a physician first. The Tisserand Institute says the same about pregnancy and also advises keeping oils where young children cannot reach them (Safety Guidelines - Tisserand Institute). For pets, the ASPCA notes that short diffuser use in a space pets cannot enter is unlikely to be a problem, that pets with breathing problems may do better without a diffuser, and that homes with birds should skip diffusers altogether (The Essentials of Essential Oils Around Pets). Our pregnancy post goes into more detail.

Can I swallow it or cook with it?

No. It is an external cosmetic oil, not for internal use. For the full picture, see can you ingest myrtle essential oil.

Can it help with sleep, breathing or mood?

We sell myrtle oil as a fragrance and cosmetic ingredient, so we do not make health claims for it. If any of those matter to you, a physician or pharmacist is the right person to ask.

Keeping it

How long does it last?

We say typically 2 to 3 years when it is kept tightly capped in a cool, dark place. One six-month study that stored a myrtle oil in brown glass at 25 C, 4 C and -20 C found its two main components, alpha-pinene and 1,8-cineole, relatively stable, with some of the minor esters declining (Optimizing postharvest quality of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) essential oil extracts: effects of temperature and storage duration). Oxygen is the thing to watch, so write the opening date on the bottle and keep the cap snug. Our storage guide has the details.

A small glass dish of golden carrier oil, one small amber bottle tightly closed with a black screw cap and a sprig of common

Which size should I choose?

We sell ten sizes, from 0.5 oz up to 400 lb, all in the same oil. A small bottle suits trying a scent; larger sizes suit soapmakers and formulators. Sample bottles and larger quantities are available on request through our wholesale page.

Have a question we have not covered? Write to us through the contact page and we will answer it.