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Helichrysum (Immortelle) Bosnia
Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don
Chemotype: ar-curcumene / alpha-pinene / neryl acetate type
- PLANT PART
- flowers
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- mid
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.
- Aroma intensity
- 70 / 100
- Note layer
- mid
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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
- 35.36%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic furocoumarin restriction was identified for the steam-distilled flower oil in the reviewed public study and IFRA certificate.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateHelichrysum may have a mild blood-thinning effect and may interact with anticoagulant/blood-thinning medications, affecting their efficacy; use with caution or avoid in those on anticoagulant therapy or with liver conditions, and avoid post-surgery or with bleeding disorders.
- moderatePregnant or breastfeeding women should use it cautiously and consult a doctor before use.
- minorUndiluted helichrysum oil can irritate sensitive skin and cause photosensitivity or allergic skin reactions; not recommended for children under 3 years old.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
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THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This record uses a Bosnia-Herzegovina ecotype study as the quantitative anchor. That study compared Corsica-France and Citluk-Bosnia Herzegovina immortelle ecotypes grown in Turkiye and reported a Bosnia profile centered on ar-curcumene, alpha-pinene, and neryl acetate. A public IFRA certificate for Helichrysum italicum flower oil was used for a leave-on Category 5A maximum because no Bosnia-specific dermal monograph was publicly accessible in this pass. A second research pass (2026-07-09) located a genuine Bosnia and Herzegovina-origin GC-MS dataset -- Talic et al. 2021, Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502, 'Chemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina' -- reporting mean composition across 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina growing locations (61 identified components, 97.0-98.8% of oil). This is a directly on-topic source (same country of origin) distinct from the original Turkiye-grown Citluk-ecotype anchor study, and was used to add gamma-curcumene, limonene, linalool, italicene, nerol, the diketone 4,6,9-trimethyldec-8-ene-3,5-dione, beta-selinene, and trans-caryophyllene using the paper's reported mean percentages.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ar-curcumene | 25.57% | 25.57–25.57% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceThe Scent Compounds of Immortelle Ecotypes (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don.) grown in Turkiye and Its New Products (Absolute and Concrete) ScienceDirect abstract, Citluk-Bosnia Herzegovina ecotype: ar-curcumene 25.57%, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629923002843 |
| alpha-pinene | 13.66% | 13.66–13.66% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceThe Scent Compounds of Immortelle Ecotypes (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don.) grown in Turkiye and Its New Products (Absolute and Concrete) ScienceDirect abstract, Citluk-Bosnia Herzegovina ecotype: alpha-pinene 13.66%, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629923002843 |
| neryl acetate | 12.9% | 12.9–12.9% | monoterpene ester | View sourceThe Scent Compounds of Immortelle Ecotypes (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don.) grown in Turkiye and Its New Products (Absolute and Concrete) ScienceDirect abstract, Citluk-Bosnia Herzegovina ecotype: neryl acetate 12.90%, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629923002843 |
| gamma-Curcumene | 12.6% | 12.6–12.6% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: gamma-Curcumene 12.6% (range 8.4-18.6%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| Limonene | 3.8% | 3.8–3.8% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: Limonene 3.8% (range 1.3-6.2%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| Linalool | 3.8% | 3.8–3.8% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: Linalool 3.8% (range 2.3-5.7%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| Italicene | 2.3% | 2.3–2.3% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: Italicene 2.3% (range 1.4-3.4%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| Nerol | 1.6% | 1.6–1.6% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: Nerol 1.6% (range 0.1-3.4%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| 4,6,9-Trimethyldec-8-ene-3,5-dione | 7.9% | 7.9–7.9% | aliphatic diketone | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: 4,6,9-trimethyldec-8-en-3,5-dione 7.9% (range 5.1-14.5%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| beta-Selinene | 4.5% | 4.5–4.5% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: beta-Selinene 4.5%, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
| trans-Caryophyllene | 4.8% | 4.8–4.8% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemodiversity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum essential oils from Bosnia and Herzegovina Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502 (2021), Table 2, mean of 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina locations: trans-Caryophyllene 4.8% (range 3.1-8.5%), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349711002_CHEMODIVERSITY_OF_HELICHRYSUM_ITALICUM_ROTH_G_DON_SUBSP_ITALICUM_ESSENTIAL_OILS_FROM_BOSNIA_AND_HERZEGOVINA |
Profile source: The Scent Compounds of Immortelle Ecotypes (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don.) grown in Turkiye and Its New Products (Absolute and Concrete); Helichrysum Essential Oil IFRA COC · https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629923002843 ; https://avenalab.com/images/001SDS/Alergeni/Helichrysum_Essential_Oil_IFRA_COC.pdf
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 skin-care blends, especially for the appearance of scars and blemishes
- reported to support easing of occasional bruising and minor skin irritation in massage oils
- used in anti-aging facial blends for its reputed skin-regenerative folklore
- traditionally associated with easing occasional muscular tension when diluted in massage oil
- used in perfumery for its warm, honeyed, tea-like facet
- reported to support emotional grounding and calm in diffuser 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 · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The stored max_dermal_pct 35.36 uses the public IFRA Category 5A body-lotion limit for Helichrysum italicum flower oil, not a dedicated aromatherapy dermal monograph or Bosnia-specific safety profile.
- The Bosnia ecotype paper abstract exposed only three quantified Bosnia constituents in accessible public text during this pass. A full GC-MS table or PDF text extraction would be needed to expand the constituent list with more verified percentages.
- Second research pass (2026-07-09): found and merged Talic et al. 2021 (Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(03):2492-2502), a genuine 10-location Bosnia and Herzegovina GC-MS mean-composition study, adding 8 new named constituent rows (gamma-curcumene, limonene, linalool, italicene, nerol, 4,6,9-trimethyldec-8-ene-3,5-dione, beta-selinene, trans-caryophyllene). Combined closure with the original Citluk-ecotype anchor rows (ar-curcumene, alpha-pinene, neryl acetate) is now ~0.934. Note the two source studies used slightly different sample sets (one Turkiye-grown Citluk ecotype export, one direct 10-location Bosnia-Herzegovina field survey) which may double-count overlapping chemotype signal for ar-curcumene/alpha-pinene/neryl acetate rows already present; these were not re-summed to avoid double counting. A related companion paper (Talic et al. 2019, Croatica Chemica Acta 92(1):69-77, seasonal/tissue variation study) confirms the same compound set with alpha-pinene up to 19.5% in leaves and was cross-checked but not separately merged to avoid conflicting duplicate rows. CAS numbers for gamma-curcumene, italicene, and the trimethyldecenedione were not verified from an open registry in this pass and remain null.