GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Rosemary South Africa
Rosmarinus officinalis L.
Chemotype: South African officinalis / verbenone type
- PLANT PART
- branches
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- top-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
- 68 / 100
- Note layer
- top-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
- 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 phototoxic restriction was identified in the reviewed South African rosemary and rosemary verbenone IFRA sources.
Contraindications & cautions
- majorAvoid use during pregnancy.
- moderateAvoid use by persons suffering from epilepsy.
- moderateAvoid use by persons suffering from high blood pressure.
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 South Africa rosemary record is anchored to a directly readable South Africa rosemary verbenone batch COA and to the South African producer page that says Cape Mountain Oils produces a standard Officinalis rosemary identified as verbenone. The producer notes that the South African standard officinalis oil carries a higher camphorous element than Tuscan Blue cineole, so this file keeps the South African standard rosemary profile distinct from the separate cineole record.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| camphor | 16.18% | 10–22% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: camphre/camphor 16.18% with norm 10-22%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| alpha-pinene | 16.16% | 10–20% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: alpha-pinene 16.16% with norm 10-20%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| verbenone | 11.86% | 8–15% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: verbenone 11.86% with norm 8-15%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| bornyl acetate | 9.66% | 9–18% | monoterpene ester | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: acetate de bornyle/bornyl acetate 9.66% with norm 9-18%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| 1,8-cineole | 8.92% | 7–20% | monoterpene oxide | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: cineole 1,8 8.92% with norm 7-20%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| borneol | 5.49% | 3–8% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: borneol 5.49% with norm 3-8%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| camphene | 5.44% | 3–8% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: camphene 5.44% with norm 3-8%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| limonene | 3.72% | 1–6% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: limonene 3.72% with norm 1-6%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
| alpha-terpineol | 1.31% | 0.5–3% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceCertificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil South Africa PDF p.2: alpha-terpineol 1.31% with norm 0.5-3%, https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf |
Profile source: Certificate of Analysis & Gas Chromatography Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil; Rosemary - Ratel Farming; IFRA 50 Conformity Certificate Organic Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil; SOiL Organic Rosemary Essential Oil · https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/certs/Rosemary%20Verbenone%20CofA%20GC%20181120-1.pdf ; https://www.ratelfarming.co.za/index.php/essential-oils/rosemary ; https://www.nhrorganicoils.com/uploads/20220317150112e_Rosemary_Verbenone_IFRA_50.pdf ; https://essentiallynatural.co.za/products/soil-rosemary-organic-essential-oil
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 to support mental clarity and alertness
- used in massage blends for muscle comfort
- traditionally associated with hair and scalp care applications
- used in diffuser blends for an invigorating, herbaceous atmosphere
- shares the traditional stimulating reputation common to verbenone-type rosemary oils
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.
- This South African record is intentionally anchored to the public South Africa standard officinalis/verbenone material; a separate public South Africa non-verbenone rosemary GC sheet was not located in this pass.
- Odor intensity 68 is an archive normalization from South African and retail wording such as fresh, herbaceous, camphoraceous, clear, and invigorating rather than a native published 0-100 measurement.