Tropical basil essential oil: a fresh herbal note for your home

Crush a basil leaf between your fingers: that green, sunny scent is what you find, concentrated, in tropical basil essential oil. At home it brings a fresh, aromatic note that stands apart from floral or woody fragrances. It does, however, call for a light hand.

What is tropical basil?

Basil, Ocimum basilicum, is an aromatic plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae), alongside mint, thyme and lavender. Grown for centuries in Asia and around the Mediterranean, it has produced many varieties, each with its own scent. On the label, "ct." stands for chemotype – the precise aromatic profile of the distilled plant.

According to the product sheet, this is an essential oil "with a fresh, aromatic scent", described as relaxing and balancing. We file it under the phenol chemical family – a family to handle with restraint, explained in our sheet on essential oil families. There is also an organic version in a 10 ml bottle, whose sheet highlights its fresh, herbaceous aroma, "suited to diffusion".

How to use it

Diffusion first

• Put 3 to 5 drops in your diffuser, or a little more depending on the room size and the device's instructions.
• Keep each session to around twenty minutes, ideally with a window slightly open.
• For a relaxing atmosphere in the evening, pair it with a citrus oil or a woody note.

On the skin: highly diluted only

Our drugstore team reserves tropical basil for highly diluted use. If you would like to add it to a scented massage oil, ask us for the right amount first, do a patch test in the crook of your elbow and keep it away from your face. A single drop in a blend is often enough.

What about cooking?

Fresh basil naturally belongs in your dishes, but the essential oil is not a food ingredient. We do not recommend taking it internally in any form.

Precautions

Handle this aromatic family with care. Never apply it neat and never swallow it. Keep it away from the eyes and mucous membranes. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, or if you are on medication, ask for advice before any use, including diffusion. Store the bottle closed, out of the light and out of the reach of children.

Our products

• Tropical basil (Ocimum basilicum) – fresh, aromatic scent.
• Organic tropical basil essential oil, 10 ml – fresh herbal aroma, designed for diffusion.

Our advice

Tropical basil adds an original green touch to your room blends, provided you use it sparingly. Because every situation is different, the safest option is to talk it over with us: at Droguerie Perusset we will gladly help you choose the right version and amount.