Clove bud essential oil (Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil) or oil of the clove as it is often referred to is highly antiseptic and piercing.
Clove bud essential oil is both uplifting and stimulating. It soothes and relaxes the digestive system when used to massage the abdomen. It is a natural analgaesic and antiseptic used primarily in dentistry for its main ingredient eugenol. It has a spicy and slightly fruity aroma. The various basils have such different scents because the herb has a number of different essential oils which come together in different proportions for various breeds.
The strong clove scent of sweet basil is derived from eugenol, the same chemical as actual cloves. The citrus scent of lemon basil and lime basil is because they have a higher portion of citral which causes this effect in several plants, including lemon mint, and limonene, which gives actual lemon peel its scent. African blue basil has a strong camphor smell because it has camphor and camphene in higher proportions. Licorice Basil contains anethole, the same chemical that makes anise smell like licorice, and in fact is sometimes called Anise Basil.
Our clove bud essential oil originates from Indonesia and is extracted by water distillation from the buds and leaves, and by steam distillation from the stalks or stems.
Clove bud essential oil is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is also referred to as eugenia aromatica, e. caryophyllus or syzygium aromaticum. Clove bud essential oil blends well with ylang ylang, lavender, clary sage and bergamot.
Safety: All clove oils can cause skin and mucous membrane irritation, clove bud and stem oil may cause dermatitis in some individuals. Use in moderation only in low dilution (less than 1 per cent). Allergens: Contains eugenol and isoeugenol.
