Helichrysum essential oil: a Mediterranean flower for skin care

In high summer, on the dry hillsides of Corsica or Tuscany, a warm smell of curry and hay sometimes hangs in the air. It comes from small silvery bushes covered in golden-yellow flowers: helichrysum, also known as immortelle or curry plant. Its essential oil has kept that character and holds a special place in home-made cosmetic routines.

What is helichrysum?

Helichrysum, Helichrysum italicum, is a small shrub of the Asteraceae family, like chamomile and marigold. It grows on poor, sunny soils around the Mediterranean. Its Greek name, Helichrysum, combines sun and gold, a nod to the colour of its flower heads. Its French name, "immortelle", comes from flowers that keep their shape and colour when dried, which is why they often appear in dried bouquets.

The essential oil is obtained by distilling the flowering tops. According to the product sheet, our helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) stands out for its warm, herbal scent. In our classification, it is listed among the sesquiterpenols; to understand what this family covers, read our guide to essential oil families.

How to use it

Our druggist recommends it for diluted application on the skin, as part of a cosmetic routine. It is a precious oil, used drop by drop.

Making a skin care oil

• Choose a base vegetable oil you like, such as sweet almond, jojoba or hazelnut oil.
• Add one or two drops of helichrysum essential oil to a tablespoon of vegetable oil and mix.
• Do a test in the crook of your elbow and wait 24 hours before the first application.
• Apply a few drops of the blend with a gentle massage on clean skin, avoiding the eye area.

A few ideas

• As an evening face routine, in a light oil such as jojoba.
• As a massage oil for hands or feet, to enjoy its warm scent.
• Prepare small amounts at a time and keep the blend in a tinted glass bottle.

Precautions

Good to know. Always diluted, never undiluted and never swallowed. Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes. Do not apply to broken skin. Ask for advice before use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for a child or if you are receiving medical treatment, especially medication that affects blood clotting. Keep the bottle closed, somewhere cool, away from light and out of the reach of children.

Our products

• Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) – warm, herbal scent; the documentation tab on the product page gathers the product information.

In conclusion

Helichrysum is an oil with character, both sunny and herbal, that fits nicely into a simple care ritual. Would you like to put together an oil for your skin type or choose the right base oil to go with it? The team at Droguerie Perusset in Yverdon-les-Bains will be glad to advise you.