Palo Santo

Bursera graveolens

woodysweetbalsamicslightly fruity

PLANT PART: wood
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: mid

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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.

woodysweetbalsamicslightly fruity

Aroma intensity: 50 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

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: 3.4%
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 furocoumarin-based phototoxicity restriction was identified in the reviewed public sources for wood-distilled palo santo oil.

Contraindications & cautions

moderateSupplier and aromatherapy safety guidance advises against use during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precautionary restriction.
moderateNot recommended for people with epilepsy, per supplier safety guidance.
moderateNot recommended for use on young children or the elderly, per supplier safety guidance; dilute well and patch test before regular use.

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

This record is anchored to a directly readable EVS GC-MS report for Palo Santo wood oil. The batch is strongly limonene-dominant with alpha-terpineol and beta-bisabolene as the next major markers, while carvone, junenol, and menthofuran appear as secondary support constituents. AromaWeb's profile confirms this record pertains to the wood-distilled oil also known as Holy Wood rather than the distinct fruit oil.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
Limonene	48.62%	48.62–48.62%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf (Page 1 summary; Limonene 48.62%; Page 2 table, line 99 with compound name line 136)
alpha-Terpineol	11.17%	11.17–11.17%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf (Page 1 summary; alpha-Terpineol 11.17%; Page 2 table, line 121 with compound name line 158)
beta-Bisabolene	6.87%	6.87–6.87%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf (Page 1 summary; beta-Bisabolene 6.87%; Page 3 table, line 205 with compound name line 245)
Carvone	2.42%	2.42–2.42%	monoterpene ketone	View source Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf (Page 3 table, line 178 with compound name line 215; Carvone 2.42%)
Junenol	1.55%	1.55–1.55%	sesquiterpene alcohol	View source Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf (Page 4 table, line 264 with compound name line 275; Junenol 1.55%)
Menthofuran	1.38%	1.38–1.38%	monoterpene ether	View source Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545 https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf (Page 2 table, line 112 with compound name line 149; Menthofuran 1.38%)

Profile source: Essential Validation Services GC-MS - Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Lot PS-PIU-2020-011545; AromaWeb Palo Santo Essential Oil profile; From Nature With Love Essential Oil Profiles · https://www.praannaturals.com/downloads/gcms/GCMS_Essential_Oil_Palo_Santo_LOT_PS-PIU-2020-011545.pdf ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/palo-santo-essential-oil.php ; https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/library/essentialoilprofiles.asp

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 grounding, meditative calm
reported to support relaxation and a sense of spiritual clarity in ritual use
used in perfumery for its sweet, citrusy-woody, resinous base note
traditionally associated with easing occasional stress and mental clutter
used in smudging and diffuser blends for a warm, uplifting woody aroma

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.

Odor intensity 50 is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's categorical 'Medium' aroma-strength band rather than a directly published 0-100 measurement.
AromaWeb flags hepatotoxicity and oxidation precaution for palo santo oil, but the reviewed public sources did not publish a directly readable constituent-level dermal cap for limonene or menthofuran specific to this record.
No public source reviewed in this pass published verified volatility-rate or tenacity-hour figures for this palo santo oil.