Hyssop essential oil, 1 L

Hyssop Essential Oil, 1 L from Germany

Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis, is an aromatic subshrub of the mint family with narrow leaves and blue flower spikes. Its oil is obtained by steam distillation of the flowering tops. The product card gives the INCI name Hyssopus officinalis L. essentia Oil, Germany as the country of production and a 1 l container. The card colour description is a transparent light yellow or yellow liquid.

The card lists its main purpose as a perfume and fixative in cosmetics and perfumery, with a particular mention of oriental compositions.

Why dosing needs care

Common hyssop oil is dominated by the ketones pinocamphone and isopinocamphone. At higher exposure these ketones are neurotoxic, which is why hyssop is used in small amounts and kept out of products for children, pregnant women and people prone to seizures. A milder linalool type of hyssop also exists, but the chemotype of this lot is not stated, so request the certificate of analysis before you set any level.

Scent profile

Fresh, sharply herbal and slightly camphoraceous, with a sweet, warm spice in the dry down. In a blend it is assertive, so begin trials at very low concentrations.

Uses that fit the card

Fixative in oriental perfumery

Hyssop lifts and holds amber, incense and spice accords, bridging fresh top notes and resinous bases.

Rinse-off herbal products

Shampoos and shower gels where skin contact is short and the oil acts as a scent component.

Massage and room fragrance blends

The card also lists massage oils and room aromatisation; in body oils the level stays well below that of everyday oils such as lavender.

Working parameters

Hyssop dissolves in oil and alcohol, as the card states, and not in water. In emulsions add it to the cooling phase below 40 °C. For clear gels premix it with a solubiliser before adding it to the base. An antioxidant in the oil phase helps keep the herbal top note fresh.

Pairings and related materials

Lavender, clary sage, rosemary, lemon, frankincense and labdanum combine well with hyssop. Many of these are listed in wholesale essential oils, while carrier oils for massage blends are in wholesale liquid oils.

Example: herbal massage oil, 500 ml

Combine 300 ml of sunflower oil, 120 ml of grapeseed oil and 74 ml of sweet almond oil. Add 2.5 ml of tocopherol, 2.5 ml of lavender essential oil and 1 ml of hyssop essential oil.

Pour the carrier oils into a clean glass beaker, stir in the tocopherol and then the essential oils. Fill into amber bottles with pumps and label the product for adult use only. Hyssop accounts for 0.2 % of the blend.

Storage

Keep the 1 l container tightly closed, in a cool, dark room. Decanting part of the oil into smaller bottles after opening reduces air contact with the rest.

FAQ

Which country produces this hyssop oil?

Germany is given as the country of production, and the container holds 1 l.

What does the card name as the main purpose of hyssop oil?

A perfume and fixative in cosmetics and perfumery, especially in oriental compositions.

Why is hyssop oil dosed so carefully?

Its ketones pinocamphone and isopinocamphone are neurotoxic at higher exposure, so levels stay low.