Holy Basil

Ocimum sanctum L.

Chemotype: eugenol-rich holy basil type

warmspicy

PLANT PART: over ground parts
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: top

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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.

I’m interested in

Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

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

warmspicy

Aroma intensity: 80 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: top

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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: 1%
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 furocoumarin-based phototoxicity ceiling was identified in the cited holy basil sources.

Contraindications & cautions

moderateHoly basil oil may inhibit blood clotting.

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

6 constituents

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

About this composition

Holy basil oil is chemotypically variable. This record uses a directly read 2023 GC-FID/GC-MS profile for an eugenol-rich tulsi oil, while a separate vendor reference confirms steam distillation of over ground parts and identifies eugenol and caryophyllene as the main components. The oil-level dermal ceiling is taken from AromaWeb's cited summary of Tisserand and Young for holy basil oil with high eugenol content, and the odor intensity is normalized to the archive scale from AromaWeb's qualitative 'Strong' initial aroma strength.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
Eugenol	54.62%	54.62–54.62%	phenylpropanoid	View source Laboratoire PhytoChemia GC-FID/GC-MS: Organic Essential Oil Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lot HBNA0423 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCFID_Essential_Oil_Tulsi_Organic_LOT_HBNA0423.pdf (p. 3; Eugenol 54.62%)
beta-Caryophyllene	31.4%	31.4–31.4%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Laboratoire PhytoChemia GC-FID/GC-MS: Organic Essential Oil Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lot HBNA0423 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCFID_Essential_Oil_Tulsi_Organic_LOT_HBNA0423.pdf (p. 4; beta-Caryophyllene 31.40%)
alpha-Humulene	4.93%	4.93–4.93%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Laboratoire PhytoChemia GC-FID/GC-MS: Organic Essential Oil Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lot HBNA0423 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCFID_Essential_Oil_Tulsi_Organic_LOT_HBNA0423.pdf (p. 4; alpha-Humulene 4.93%)
Geraniol	1.01%	1.01–1.01%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Laboratoire PhytoChemia GC-FID/GC-MS: Organic Essential Oil Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lot HBNA0423 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCFID_Essential_Oil_Tulsi_Organic_LOT_HBNA0423.pdf (p. 3; Geraniol 1.01%)
1,8-Cineole	0.67%	0.67–0.67%	oxide monoterpene	View source Laboratoire PhytoChemia GC-FID/GC-MS: Organic Essential Oil Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lot HBNA0423 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCFID_Essential_Oil_Tulsi_Organic_LOT_HBNA0423.pdf (p. 3; 1,8-Cineole 0.67%)
Methylchavicol	0.18%	0.18–0.18%	phenylpropanoid	View source Laboratoire PhytoChemia GC-FID/GC-MS: Organic Essential Oil Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lot HBNA0423 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCFID_Essential_Oil_Tulsi_Organic_LOT_HBNA0423.pdf (p. 9; Methylchavicol 0.18%)

Profile source: Mane Kancor Holy Basil Oil product page; AromaWeb Holy Basil Essential Oil profile · https://manekancor.com/essential-oils/holy-basil-oil/ (holy basil oil is obtained by steam distillation of the over ground parts of Ocimum sanctum; main components are eugenol and caryophyllene); https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/holy-basil-tulsi-essential-oil.php (Perfumery Note: Top; Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong; dermal maximum 1% based on holy basil oil with up to 50.4% eugenol content)

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 Ayurvedic-inspired aromatherapy for grounding and stress-easing purposes
reported use in diffuser blends associated with promoting mental clarity and calm
used in perfumery for a warm, spicy-clove facet distinct from sweet basil
traditionally associated with supporting respiratory comfort when diffused
reported use in meditation and yoga-oriented aromatic blends

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 · 2 data gaps

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

Volatility rate and tenacity were not verified from a public source in this pass.
The selected constituent profile reflects a specific 2023 GC-FID/GC-MS batch; holy basil remains chemotypically variable across accessions.