Allspice Berry, Jamaica

Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.

Chemotype: eugenol-rich

sweetspicyclovephenolicwoodynutmegpowdery

PLANT PART: berries
EXTRACTION: hydrodistillation
AROMA NOTE: mid

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LEARN AS YOU COMPARE

What’s inside this oil?

Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

sweetspicyclovephenolicwoodynutmegpowdery

Aroma intensity: 50 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: mid
Approximate tenacity: 116–116 hours

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A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY

Using it thoughtfully

Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.

Cited dermal maximum · leave-on: 0.15%
Phototoxicity: Not flagged in this profile
Oxidation risk: Unknown

A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.

No source-backed furocoumarin-based phototoxic restriction was identified in the consulted source set for Jamaica allspice berry oil.

Contraindications & cautions

moderatePublic secondary safety guidance for allspice berry oil notes possible blood-clotting inhibition and advises caution.
moderatePublic secondary safety guidance describes moderate skin sensitization and mucous-membrane irritation risk for the berry oil.

Read the complete safety guide

Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches

A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT

Inside the oil

12 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

This record is anchored to the accessible Jamaica berry-oil study summary reporting two hydrodistilled samples (Padmakumari et al. 2011), which is strongly eugenol-dominant with methyl eugenol and beta-caryophyllene as the principal secondary constituents. Mass-balance closure was raised using the hydrodistillation (HD) column of the Stewart, Lowe & Watson (2016) Jamaican Pimenta dioica GC-MS study, which independently corroborates eugenol dominance and quantifies the next-largest named HD peaks (alpha-humulene, 1,8-cineole, alpha-selinene, germacrene D, terpinolene, delta-cadinene, beta-elemene, caryophyllene oxide, alpha-terpineol). Public perfumery references for pimento berry oil describe a medium-strength spicy odor with about 116 hours substantivity on strip; a public secondary safety source transcribing Tisserand & Young reports a 0.15% dermal maximum for the berry oil.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
Eugenol	74.03%	73.35–74.71%	phenylpropanoid	View source Composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil of pimento (Pimenta dioica (L) Merr.) from Jamaica https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49766365_Composition_and_antioxidant_activity_of_essential_oil_of_pimento_Pimenta_dioica_L_Merr_from_Jamaica (abstract lines 63-64: eugenol 74.71% and 73.35%)
Methyl eugenol	6.81%	4.08–9.54%	phenylpropanoid	View source Composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil of pimento (Pimenta dioica (L) Merr.) from Jamaica https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49766365_Composition_and_antioxidant_activity_of_essential_oil_of_pimento_Pimenta_dioica_L_Merr_from_Jamaica (abstract line 64: methyl eugenol 4.08% and 9.54%)
beta-Caryophyllene	4.1%	3.3–4.9%	sesquiterpene	View source Composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil of pimento (Pimenta dioica (L) Merr.) from Jamaica https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49766365_Composition_and_antioxidant_activity_of_essential_oil_of_pimento_Pimenta_dioica_L_Merr_from_Jamaica (abstract line 64: caryophyllene 4.90% and 3.30%)
alpha-Humulene	2.12%	1.74–2.12%	sesquiterpene	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 28: alpha-humulene HD 2.12%, SE 1.74%, SFE 1.83%)
1,8-Cineole	2.14%	1.04–2.48%	monoterpene oxide	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 8: 1,8-cineole HD 2.14%, SE 2.48%, SFE 1.04%)
alpha-Selinene	1.47%	1.01–1.47%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 33: alpha-selinene HD 1.47%, SE 1.01%, SFE 1.12%)
Germacrene D	1.24%	0.59–1.24%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 31: Germacrene D HD 1.24%, SE 0.74%, SFE 0.59%)
Terpinolene	1.24%	0.05–1.24%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 11: terpinolene HD 1.24%, SE 0.20%, SFE 0.05%)
delta-Cadinene	1.22%	0.96–1.22%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 36: delta-cadinene HD 1.22%, SE 0.96%, SFE 1.06%)
beta-Elemene	0.99%	0.14–0.99%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 24: beta-elemene HD 0.99%, SE 0.93%, SFE 0.14%)
Caryophyllene oxide	0.85%	0.85–2.35%	sesquiterpene oxide	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 38: caryophyllene oxide HD 0.85%, SE 2.35%, SFE 1.50%)
alpha-Terpineol	0.82%	0.62–0.82%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, compound 17: alpha-terpineol HD 0.82%, SE 0.69%, SFE 0.62%)

Profile source: Allspice, Berry Essential Oil - Victorie Inc.; Quantification and characterization of Pimenta dioica (Allspice) essential oil extracted via hydrodistillation, solvent and super critical fluid extraction methodologies · https://www.victorieinc.com/products/allspice-berry-essential-oil (Maximum dermal use level: Tisserand & Young 0.15%) ; https://www.essencejournal.com/pdf/2016/vol4issue3/PartA/4-3-8-938.pdf (Table 2, hydrodistillation column)

A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY

Traditional & reported uses

These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.

traditionally used in aromatherapy for a warming, comforting sensation in blends
reported use in massage oils for muscle and joint comfort, similar to other eugenol-rich spice oils
used in perfumery for a warm, clove-like spice facet in oriental and gourmand compositions
traditionally associated with supporting a sense of digestive ease when diffused or used in blends
reported use in winter/holiday-themed diffuser blends for a spicy, festive atmosphere

For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.

What we're still learning · 4 data gaps

Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.

The oil-level dermal maximum is presently supported by a public secondary source transcribing Tisserand & Young rather than a directly read primary page from the book.
Volatility rate and oxidation risk remain unsourced in the consulted public source set.
The top three constituent rows (eugenol, methyl eugenol, beta-caryophyllene) still cite Padmakumari et al. 2011 percentages; the corroborating Stewart et al. 2016 HD-column values for these same three compounds (eugenol 66.80% raw peak / ~73.5% of total oil, methyl eugenol not detected in that particular sample set, beta-caryophyllene 4.69%) were not merged in, so pct_min/max ranges mix two related but distinct studies.
Remaining ~1.6% of the Stewart et al. 2016 HD-column mass-balance area is spread across many trace-level named peaks below 0.6% not individually added.