Essential NoseMyrtle
Myrtle essential oil is steam-distilled from the fresh leaves and young twigs of Myrtus communis, a fragrant evergreen shrub of the Myrtaceae family native to the Mediterranean basin that carries deep symbolic significance in Greek, Roman, and Jewish tradition — sacred to Aphrodite and Aphrodite's priestesses and featured throughout classical literature as a symbol of love, purity, and immortality. The oil's composition is dominated by 1,8-cineole (30-50%), a-pinene (15-25%), and linalool (8-15%), with the 1,8-cineole fraction driving its characteristic clean, somewhat camphorous freshness and contributing to well-documented respiratory and antimicrobial activity. Research confirms that Myrtus communis essential oil demonstrates effective antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines, with efficacy against multidrug-resistant strains suggesting continued relevance in the face of growing antibiotic resistance.[1] A second study confirmed Myrtus communis among effective Mediterranean plant essential oils for inhibiting bovine mastitis pathogens, further supporting its broad antibacterial spectrum.[2]
Green Myrtle
Myrtus communis
- Also Known As
- Myrtle, Common Myrtle, True Myrtle
- Family
- Herbal
- Perfumery Note
- Middle
- Intensity
- Medium
- Extraction
- Steam Distillation
- Plant Parts
- Leaves, Twigs
- Origins
- Morocco, Tunisia, Corsica, Sardinia, Spain, France
- Effect
- Respiratory Support, Romance & Mood
- Aroma
- Fresh, Herbal, Camphorous, Sweet
- Applications
- Aromatherapy, Skincare, Medicinal, Perfumery, Massage
- Price
- $$$$Robust shrub grown at scale across North Africa and the Mediterranean; reliable leaf harvest and efficient steam distillation keep costs reasonable
Myrtle essential oil is steam-distilled from the fresh leaves and young twigs of Myrtus communis, a fragrant evergreen shrub of the Myrtaceae family native to the Mediterranean basin that carries deep symbolic significance in Greek, Roman, and Jewish tradition — sacred to Aphrodite and Aphrodite's priestesses and featured throughout classical literature as a symbol of love, purity, and immortality. The oil's composition is dominated by 1,8-cineole (30-50%), a-pinene (15-25%), and linalool (8-15%), with the 1,8-cineole fraction driving its characteristic clean, somewhat camphorous freshness and contributing to well-documented respiratory and antimicrobial activity. Research confirms that Myrtus communis essential oil demonstrates effective antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines, with efficacy against multidrug-resistant strains suggesting continued relevance in the face of growing antibiotic resistance.[1] A second study confirmed Myrtus communis among effective Mediterranean plant essential oils for inhibiting bovine mastitis pathogens, further supporting its broad antibacterial spectrum.[2]
Red Myrtle
Myrtus communis
- Also Known As
- Moroccan Myrtle, Myrtle CT Myrtenyl Acetate, Sweet Myrtle
- Family
- Herbal
- Perfumery Note
- Middle
- Intensity
- Mild
- Extraction
- Steam Distillation
- Plant Parts
- Leaves, Twigs
- Origins
- Morocco, Albania, Croatia
- Effect
- Sleep & Relaxation
- Aroma
- Sweet, Fruity, Soft, Herbal
- Applications
- Aromatherapy, Skincare, Perfumery
- Price
- $$$$Sourced from specific Moroccan and Balkan myrtenyl-acetate-chemotype populations that are far less widely cultivated than standard Mediterranean cineole-chemotype myrtle stock.
Red myrtle is the myrtenyl-acetate chemotype of Myrtus communis, distinguished from the widespread 1,8-cineole ('green') chemotype by a high proportion of myrtenyl acetate (21-36%) and comparatively little or no 1,8-cineole, a chemotypic split documented across the species range from Corsica, Sardinia, and Tunisia (cineole-dominant) to Morocco, Albania, and other Balkan populations (myrtenyl-acetate-dominant).[3] Because it lacks the pungent, camphoraceous 1,8-cineole fraction that defines green myrtle, red myrtle presents a noticeably softer, fruitier, sweeter aroma while still retaining meaningful antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, as shown in chemometric screening of Moroccan myrtenyl-acetate-rich populations.[4]
References
- [1]Chemical Characterization, Evaluation of Antimicrobial Potential, and Cytotoxic Activity of Thuja occidentalis L. and Myrtus communis L. Essential Oils for Topical Applications — Danila E, Marinas IC, Gaboreanu MD et al. Molecules, 2026
- [2]Mitigating Bovine Mastitis and Raw Milk Pathogen Risks: Inhibition of Staphylococcus xylosus by Mediterranean Plants' Essential Oil — De Fazio R, Di Giacinto G, Roncada P. Veterinary Sciences, 2025
- [3]Composition and Chemical Variability of Myrtus communis Leaf Oil From Northwestern Algeria - Bekhechi C, Malti CEW, Boussaid M et al. Natural Product Communications, 2019
- [4]Intrapopulation variability of Myrtus communis L. growing in Morocco: Chemometric investigation and antibacterial activity - Fadil M, Farah A, Ihssane B et al. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2017