GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Helichrysum
Helichrysum italicum / Helichrysum angustifolia
Chemotype: neryl acetate / gamma-curcumene / italidione type
- PLANT PART
- flowers
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- base
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.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 65 / 100
- Note layer
- base
If you like this scent, explore
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
- 0.5%
- 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.
The consulted immortelle/helichrysum safety source explicitly describes the essential oil as non-phototoxic.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateImmortelle/helichrysum essential oil may cause skin irritation in some individuals; the cited monograph sets a 0.5% maximum topical use level to avoid irritation.
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
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This generic helichrysum record is anchored to AromaWeb's public Tisserand-derived major-constituent ranges for Helichrysum italicum, then tightened with a recent public French organic GC-MS report and older Corsican/North American literature summaries. Across those sources the commercial oil remains a neryl-acetate-rich immortelle profile with gamma-curcumene, italidiones, alpha-pinene, and supporting sesquiterpenes varying by origin and harvest stage.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neryl acetate | 32.52% | 6–40% | monoterpene ester | View sourceHelichrysum Italicum Essential Oil profile (AromaWeb); Organic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report AromaWeb major-constituent range: neryl acetate 6-40%, https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/helichrysum-italicum-essential-oil.php ; Praan Naturals / EVS report line item neryl acetate 32.52%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| gamma-Curcumene | 7.34% | 6–15.98% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report; Volatile Leaf Oil of the Curry Plant Praan Naturals / EVS report line item gamma-Curcumene 7.34%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf ; Tucker et al. abstract summary gamma-curcumene 15.98±1.44%, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700781 |
| Italidione I | 4.5% | 3–10% | beta-diketone | View sourceHelichrysum Italicum Essential Oil profile (AromaWeb) AromaWeb cites Robert Tisserand ranges: italidiones 3-10% and seller lots approximately 4-6%, https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/helichrysum-italicum-essential-oil.php |
| alpha-Pinene | 3.41% | 3–30% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceHelichrysum Italicum Essential Oil profile (AromaWeb); Typical GC analysis summary for Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum AromaWeb major-constituent range alpha-pinene 3-30%, https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/helichrysum-italicum-essential-oil.php ; The Good Scents Company summary of Tucker et al. reports alpha-pinene 3.41%, https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/gca/gc1062881.html |
| ar-Curcumene | 6.8% | 5–6.8% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item ar-Curcumene 6.80%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| Nerol | 2.26% | 0.32–7% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report; Chemical Composition of Two Helichrysum Species Occurring in Spain Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Nerol 2.26%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf ; Tsoukatou et al. abstract summary for H. italicum ssp. serotinum reports nerol 7.0%, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240326785_Composition_of_Helichrysum_italicum_Roth_G_Don_fil_subsp_Italicum_essential_oils_from_Corsica_France |
| Neryl isovalerate | 6.32% | 6.32–6.32% | monoterpene ester | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Neryl isovalerate 6.32%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| Italidione II | 3.35% | 3.35–3.35% | beta-diketone | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Italidione II 3.35%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| delta-Cadinene | 3.07% | 3.07–3.07% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item delta-Cadinene 3.07%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| gamma-Eudesmol | 2.95% | 2.95–2.95% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item gamma-Eudesmol 2.95%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| Terpinen-4-ol | 2.03% | 2.03–2.03% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Terpinen-4-ol 2.03%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| Italidione I isomer | 1.87% | 1.87–1.87% | beta-diketone | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Italidione isomer 1.87%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| Neryl propionate | 1.49% | 1.49–1.49% | monoterpene ester | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Neryl propionate 1.49%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| alpha-Selinene | 0.84% | 0.84–0.84% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item alpha-Selinene 0.84%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
| Isocaryophyllene | 0.82% | 0.82–0.82% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceOrganic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report Praan Naturals / EVS report line item Isocaryophyllene 0.82%, https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf |
Profile source: Helichrysum Italicum Essential Oil profile (AromaWeb); Organic Helichrysum Italicum GC-MS report; Volatile Leaf Oil of the Curry Plant · https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/helichrysum-italicum-essential-oil.php ; https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Helichrysum_Italicum_France_Organic_LOT_B490097.pdf ; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700781
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 skin-care blends for the appearance of scars, blemishes, and bruising
- reported to support easing of occasional muscular and joint discomfort in massage oils
- used in facial-care blends for its reputed rejuvenating, skin-regenerative folklore
- traditionally associated with emotional grounding, calm, and easing occasional tension
- used in perfumery for its distinctive honeyed, fruity, tea-like note
- reported to support restful mood when used 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 · 4 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- No public source reviewed in this pass provided a native 0-100 odor-intensity score; 65 is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's qualitative 'Medium - Strong' aroma-strength band.
- No public source reviewed in this pass provided verified volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values.
- Public open CAS confirmation for gamma-curcumene, ar-curcumene, italidione I, italidione II, italidione I isomer, and neryl/geranyl esters was not verified in this pass, so those CAS fields remain null rather than guessed.
- Closure reached 0.7957 using only unambiguous named/percentage pairs from the Praan Naturals/EVS GC-MS peak table. Several remaining unlisted peaks in that report (RT 8.18, 34.09-41.07 sesquiterpenol/alkane region, small geranyl-ester peaks) could not be matched to compound names with confidence because the PDF's text-extraction order interleaves the RT/percent table and the compound-name list in a way that produced an inconsistent chemical-family cross-check when tested; adding them risked mis-assigning percentages to the wrong compound, so they were left out rather than guessed.