GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Marjoram
Origanum majorana L.
Chemotype: terpinen-4-ol / sabinene-hydrate type
- PLANT PART
- fresh or dried flowering aerial parts
- 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.
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
- 50 / 100
- Note layer
- mid
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
- No restriction cited
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- med
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic restriction was identified for sweet marjoram essential oil in the reviewed public sources.
Read the complete safety guideExplore 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 record uses the directly readable GC/FID and GC/MS profile for Albanian Origanum majorana oil published in Natural Product Communications and pairs it with the live AromaWeb marjoram profile for publicly readable identity, plant-part, note, aroma-strength, and safety context. The literature also notes sweeter marjoram oils vary by origin and can shift toward thymol/carvacrol chemotypes, so this file is intentionally scoped to the terpinen-4-ol-rich sweet marjoram type.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terpinen-4-ol | 21.33% | 21.33–21.33% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (Table 1 / lines showing Terpinen-4-ol 21.33%) |
| trans-Sabinene hydrate | 15.53% | 15.53–15.53% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (Table 1 / lines showing trans-Sabinene hydrate 15.53%) |
| gamma-Terpinene | 14% | 14–14% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (abstract and Table 1, gamma-terpinene 14.00%) |
| alpha-Terpinene | 8.9% | 8.9–8.9% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (abstract and Table 1, alpha-terpinene 8.9%) |
| cis-Sabinene hydrate | 3.8% | 3.8–3.8% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (Table 1 / lines showing cis-Sabinene hydrate 3.80%) |
| alpha-Terpineol | 3.26% | 3.26–3.26% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (Table 1 / lines showing alpha-Terpineol 3.26%) |
| Terpinolene | 3.2% | 3.2–3.2% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (Table 1 / lines showing Terpinolene 3.20%) |
| Linalyl acetate | 2.23% | 2.23–2.23% | ester | View sourceChemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 (Table 1 / lines showing Linalyl acetate 2.23%) |
Profile source: Chemical Composition, Olfactory Evaluation and Antioxidant Effects of the Essential oil of Origanum Majorana L. from Albania; Marjoram Essential Oil profile; IFRA 49 Conformity Certificate Organic Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil · https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0800300704 ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/marjoram-essential-oil.php ; https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/20221202153010e_Marjoram_Sweet_IFRA_49.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 calming, warming, and comforting effects
- reported to support restful sleep and ease occasional tension
- used in massage blends for muscle comfort after activity
- traditionally associated with easing occasional stress and promoting relaxation
- used in perfumery for a warm, herbaceous, slightly camphoraceous note
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 50 is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's qualitative 'Medium' strength-of-initial-aroma band rather than a published 0-100 instrument scale.
- No public source reviewed in this pass provided verified volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values.