Steam distilled from the leaves and flowering tops, Basil essential oil is clear, sweet, spicy and yellowish in colour. Basil is a stimulating and clearing oil, useful when concentration is needed or when feeling tired and sluggish. Try adding 1 drop of Basil and 3 drops of Lemon to the water in an oil burner to help create the right atmosphere for hours of exam revision or paperwork!
A blend of 1 drop each of Basil and Lavender in 10ml of Sweet Almond oil makes a good abdomen massage oil. Always massage the abdomen in a clockwise direction.
There are several different types of basil oil. Absolute Aromas has selected a True Sweet Basil Oil (Ocimum Basilicum) known as Linalol type. This is the safest and most pleasant of the Basil oils used in aromatherapy. Exotic Basil Oil is also known as Reunion, Estragole, Methyl Chavicol type or, confusingly, Sweet Basil Oil. The main constituent, 70-88%, of Exotic Basil is Estragole (Methyl Chavicol) which is moderately toxic and irritating to the skin and has raised concerns that it may be carcinogenic. The Linalol type, with approximately 8% Estragole, is preferable for aromatherapy.
