Hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis

Chemotype: isopinocamphone / pinocamphone type

freshherbaceouscamphoraceoussweetspicy

PLANT PART: flowering tops, leaves and flowers
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: top

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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.

freshherbaceouscamphoraceoussweetspicy

Aroma intensity: 80 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: top

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: 0.3%
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-related phototoxic restriction was identified for steam-distilled hyssop oil.

Contraindications & cautions

majorAvoid the pinocamphone chemotype during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
majorAvoid the pinocamphone chemotype with children age two and younger.

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

19 constituents

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

About this composition

This record reflects the pinocamphone-rich common hyssop profile rather than the safer decumbens chemotype. Quantitative composition is anchored to a directly readable GC/GC-MS paper on Hyssopus officinalis cultivated in Serbia and supplemented by current supplier profile data for general extraction and odor context. Additional constituents (beta-myrcene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, methyleugenol, cis-alpha-bergamotene, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, germacrene D, elemol, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide) were added from the same study's Table 1 to raise compositional closure toward the paper's reported 93.8% (18-constituent) total. Two minor Table 1 constituents, germacrene-D-11-ol (5.7%) and delta-selinene (0.4%), could not be added because no verifiable CAS number was located for them in this pass.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
isopinocamphone	44.7%	44.7–44.7%	monoterpene ketone	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia Table 1, cis-pinocamphone (isopinocamphone) 44.7%, https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf
pinocamphone	14.1%	14.1–14.1%	monoterpene ketone	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia Table 1, trans-pinocamphone 14.1%, https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf
sabinene	5.2%	5.2–5.2%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia Table 1, sabinene 5.2%, https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf
myrtenol	2.8%	2.8–2.8%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia Table 1, myrtenol 2.8%, https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf
beta-phellandrene	2.4%	2.4–2.4%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia Table 1, beta-phellandrene 2.4%, https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf
beta-Myrcene	0.8%	0.8–0.8%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: beta-myrcene 0.8%)
Linalool	1.1%	1.1–1.1%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: linalool 1.1%)
Terpinen-4-ol	1%	1–1%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: terpin-4-ol 1.0%)
Methyleugenol	0.4%	0.4–0.4%	phenylpropanoid	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: methyleugenol 0.4%)
cis-alpha-Bergamotene	1.4%	1.4–1.4%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: cis-alpha-bergamotene 1.4%)
beta-Caryophyllene	1.3%	1.3–1.3%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: beta-caryophyllene 1.3%)
alpha-Humulene	0.9%	0.9–0.9%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: alpha-caryophyllene (alpha-humulene) 0.9%)
Germacrene D	1.6%	1.6–1.6%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: germacrene D 1.6%)
Elemol	5.6%	5.6–5.6%	sesquiterpene alcohol	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: elemol 5.6%)
Spathulenol	2.8%	2.8–2.8%	oxygenated sesquiterpene alcohol	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: spathulenol 2.8%)
Caryophyllene oxide	1.6%	1.6–1.6%	oxygenated sesquiterpene	View source Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf (Table 1: caryophyllene oxide 1.6%)
beta-Pinene	6%	—	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source H.officinalis isopinocamphone-CT: W-Himalaya EO (ScienceDirect S2210803313000882) cis-pinocamphone 49.7-57.7,pinocarvone 5.5-24.9,b-pinene 5.7-9.3,1,8-cineole 2.9-8.0%; Turkish Anatolia CT b-pinene 7.23,pinocarvone 6.49%; b-pinene 21.9/cineole 14.25% confirmed Moulodi 2019 JKUMS 22(4):e85256 (fetched)
Pinocarvone	2.5%	—	monoterpene ketone	View source H.officinalis isopinocamphone-CT: W-Himalaya EO (ScienceDirect S2210803313000882) cis-pinocamphone 49.7-57.7,pinocarvone 5.5-24.9,b-pinene 5.7-9.3,1,8-cineole 2.9-8.0%; Turkish Anatolia CT b-pinene 7.23,pinocarvone 6.49%; b-pinene 21.9/cineole 14.25% confirmed Moulodi 2019 JKUMS 22(4):e85256 (fetched)
1,8-Cineole	2%	—	monoterpene oxide	View source H.officinalis isopinocamphone-CT: W-Himalaya EO (ScienceDirect S2210803313000882) cis-pinocamphone 49.7-57.7,pinocarvone 5.5-24.9,b-pinene 5.7-9.3,1,8-cineole 2.9-8.0%; Turkish Anatolia CT b-pinene 7.23,pinocarvone 6.49%; b-pinene 21.9/cineole 14.25% confirmed Moulodi 2019 JKUMS 22(4):e85256 (fetched)

Profile source: Essential Oil Composition of Hyssopus officinalis L. Cultivated in Serbia; Hyssop Essential Oil profile sources · https://naturalingredient.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/phat2000-07.pdf ; https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/oils/essential-oils/hyssop-organic-essential-oil ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/hyssop-essential-oil.php ; https://wyndmerenaturals.com/products/hyssop

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, in small well-diluted amounts, for supporting clear breathing
historically referenced in herbal and biblical tradition for cleansing and purification rituals
used in massage blends for occasional muscular discomfort under professional guidance
used in perfumery for its sharp, herbaceous, slightly camphoraceous facet
traditionally associated with mental clarity and alertness
regarded in aromatherapy literature as a ketone-rich oil requiring cautious, low-dilution use

Explore related intentionsFocus & Concentration ↗

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.

Odor intensity 80 is a normalization of public categorical strength descriptors that label common hyssop aroma as strong rather than publishing a native 0-100 measurement.
germacrene-D-11-ol (5.7%) and delta-selinene (0.4%) from the source Table 1 were not added as constituent rows because no verifiable CAS registry number could be located for either compound in this pass.