Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Linalool sweet basil

Sweet Basil essential oil with linalool has a delicious scent of fresh basil. Traditionally used to relieve digestive discomforts, Sweet Basil Linalool essential oil has soothing properties, etc. Rich in linalool, Sweet Basil essential oil with linalool is very mild and can be used in skin care to tone the skin. Purifying, Sweet Basil Linalool essential oil adds an aromatic note to your skincare products for blemished skin.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Appropriate

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Suitable

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves

Botanical name

Ocimum basilicum CT linalool

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Sweet Basil Linalool essential oil is traditionally used for: Aerophagia, bloating and flatulence, poor digestion, migraine and headaches, stress.

Health

Beauty

Wellness

Kitchen

Find out more, etc.

Properties

Sweet Basil Linalool essential oil is recognised for its health properties:

  • A digestive stimulant, Basil Linalool essential oil is known to promote good digestion.

  • Purifying, it is known to relieve intestinal and gastric disorders.

  • A general tonic for the body, it is known to strengthen the immune system in the long term.

  • Soothing, it is known to contribute to joint and muscle health.

Uses

It is traditionally used in the following situations:

  • Digestive problems, especially psychological: slow digestion, especially after a heavy meal, bloating, nausea, etc.

  • Gastric and intestinal disorders

  • Menstrual problems

  • Muscle or joint discomfort (local external use)

  • Headaches

  • Physical fatigue

  • Air purification

Synergies

  • Poor digestion: Cumin, Tarragon, Fennel, Peppermint essential oils

  • Action on the immune system: Black spruce, Ravintsara, Cistus, Fragonia essential oils

  • Joint pain : American Wintergreen, Lemon Eucalyptus essential oils

In practice

Digestive health (spasms) : Mix with your oil blend. Massage the mixture into the stomach.

Joint health: Mix with your oil blend. Apply your mixture locally, massaging lightly into the affected area.

Precautions

  • Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding, or on children under 3 years of age.

  • Be cautious with hypersensitive skin, as this essential oil contains eugenol: always dilute for topical use.

  • Avoid contact with eyes.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Some natural compounds in this essential oil may pose an allergy risk for sensitive individuals when incorporated into a cosmetic formula (according to the 7th Amendment of the European Directive on cosmetic products (2003/15/EC)): linalool and, to a lesser extent, eugenol, limonene, geraniol.

  • As a general rule, always perform a patch test on the crook of your elbow at least 48 hours before use.

Find out more

An annual plant in the Lamiaceae family, basil is native to India. It is considered a sacred herb, dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna, and can offer physical and spiritual protection to the person who wears it. Its name is said to come from the Greek basilikos, meaning "royal", as the subtlety of its aroma and fragrance was worthy of the greatest kings. In ancient times, basil was reputed to protect against the evil eye. The Egyptians made wreaths from it, perhaps already aware of the amazing virtues of this plant for the entire cephalic region.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Wok duck fillet with lemongrass and basil (N. Le Foll and B. Da Costa)

Kitchen

Serves 4 - Preparation time: 30 min - Cooking time: 15 min

  • 2 duck fillets

  • 1 Victoria pineapple or ½ pineapple

  • 300 g snow peas

  • 2 purple onions

  • 1 clove garlic

  • 1 knob fresh ginger

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • salt and freshly ground pepper

  • Lemongrass essential oil: 1 drop

  • Basil essential oil: 1 drop

Directions: Cut the duck fillets into 1cm-thick strips. Peel the pineapple and cut into pieces. Peel the snow peas, cook in boiling salted water for 2 minutes and drain. Peel and chop the garlic and onions. Peel and grate the ginger. Heat a wok or frying pan, pour in the olive oil and, when hot, fry the onions, garlic and ginger for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Add the duck strips and brown over a high heat for 2 minutes, then add the pineapple and the snow peas and finally the essential oils. Season with salt and pepper. Leave to cook for a further 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Taste to check the seasoning and serve immediately.

Grapefruit and coconut lotionshake (N. Le Foll and B. Da Costa)

Kitchen

  • ½ cucumber

  • 1 grapefruit

  • 150 ml coconut lotion

  • citronella essential oil: 1 drop

  • Basil essential oil: 1 drop

Directions: Blend the ½ cucumber, the grapefruit juice and the coconut lotion previously mixed with the essential oils, together with 2 or 3 ice cubes.

Amandins surprise (E. and V. Cupillard)

Kitchen

  • Basil linalool essential oil: 4 drops

  • Vegetable margarine: 160g

  • Light cane sugar: 200 g

  • Rice flour: 200 g

  • Baking powder: 1 tablespoon

  • 4 eggs

  • A handful of slivered almonds

Method: for 14 small cakes. Half an hour beforehand, take out the margarine so that you can work with it easily. In a bowl, mix it with the sugar. Add the basil essential oil, the eggs one by one, then the flour and baking powder. Mix well. Fill each paper case with two tablespoons of dough. Sprinkle a pinch of flaked almonds over the surface of the cakes. Place the half-filled paper moulds in the oven at gas mark 6-7 for around 15 minutes. Use: Portion cakes to take along for a snack or to place on summer dessert buffets alongside fresh fruit salads, compotes and marmalades, etc.

Pan-fried vegetables with sun-dried tomatoes, basil and fennel (A. Pataud)

Kitchen

Serves 6 - Preparation: 20 minutes - Cooking time: 10 minutes

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

  • 4 shallots, finely julienned

  • 1 yellow pepper, finely julienned

  • 1 red pepper, finely julienned

  • 1 courgette, julienned

  • 1 stalk celery, julienned

  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

  • 2 tbsp sundried tomatoes, finely chopped

  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

  • Olive oil

  • 1 drop of aniseed essential oil

  • 1 to 2 drops of Basil essential oil

  • 1 drop of fennel essential oil

Directions: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Cook the vegetables, except the tomatoes, until al dente (about 10 minutes). Add the essential oils, mixed with a little olive oil, and the dried tomatoes; mix well. Season with salt and pepper.

Dad's lobster (O. Davy)

Kitchen

Serves 2 - Preparation time: 30 minutes - Cooking time: 25 minutes

  • 1 lobster, 800 g

  • 1 leek

  • 1 stalk of celery

  • 1 small piece of Kombu seaweed

  • 30 g dried bonito flakes

  • a few pink peppercorns

  • 1 onion

  • 2 cloves of garlic

  • 1 teaspoon Mirin wine

  • 2 teaspoons Tamari

  • 30 g ginger

  • 1 shallot

  • 1 teaspoon dried seaweed

  • ¼ bunch parsley Sichuan pepper

Vegetables:

  • 3 vitelotte potatoes

  • 1 small romanesco cabbage

  • 1 small pumpkin

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • A few lamb's lettuce leaves

  • 1 bunch chervil

  • Fragrance oil:

  • 2 tablespoons pistachio oil

  • 1 drop Bergamot essential oil

  • 1 drop of Basil essential oil

  • 2 drops Lemon essential oil

Directions: Chop the leek, celery and onion. Chop the garlic. Place the vegetables in a pot along with the bonito flakes, pink berries and kombu seaweed. Sprinkle with the Mirin wine and 1 teaspoon of Tamari. Season with pepper. Boil the mixture in 1 litre of water for 15 minutes.

Prepare the sauce: in a bowl, mix together the chopped ginger, chopped shallot, 1 chopped clove of garlic, dried seaweed, parsley, remaining tamari and a pinch of Sichuan pepper. Dip the live lobster in your 1st preparation for 5 minutes. Take it out, cut it in half and generously drizzle the sauce over its entire length. To prepare the vegetables, start by cooking the unpeeled vitelottes in water for 25 minutes, then peel and slice lengthways. Steam the romanesco for 4 minutes and season with salt. Cut the pumpkin into melon slices and steam for 4 minutes. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

Basil and garlic oil (A. Pataud)

Kitchen

  • 6 cl Virgin Olive Oil

  • 2 drops Basil essential oil

  • 1 drop Garlic essential oil

Method and use: Mix the ingredients. Ideal for a spicy salad.

Thai-style mussel soup (N. Le Foll and B. Da Costa)

Kitchen

Serves 4 - Preparation: 20 min - Cooking time: 6 min

  • 1.5 kg of bouchot mussels

  • 1 large, just ripened mango (still quite firm)

  • 1 tomato

  • 1 red onion

  • 150 ml coconut lotion

  • 1 tablespoon of oil

  • Lemongrass essential oil: 1 drop

  • Basil essential oil: 1 drop

Directions: Wash, scrape and trim the mussels. Peel and dice the mango. Scald the tomato, cool it under running water, peel and deseed it. Peel and chop the onion. In a large saucepan, lightly brown the onion in the oil, add the mango, tomato pulp and lemongrass essential oil, stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add the drained mussels, cover and cook on high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the pan regularly until the mussels open. Add the coconut lotion and basil essential oil, stir and wait 2 minutes before serving.

Bibliography

1

'L'aromathérapie énergétique ; guérir avec l'âme des plantes'

L. Bosson

2

[Effectiveness of antimicrobial formulations for acne based on orange (Citrus sinensis) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L) essential oils].

Matiz G, Osorio MR, Camacho F, Atencia M, Herazo J.

3

Antimicrobial activity of basil (Ocimum basilicum) oil against Salmonella enteritidis in vitro and in food. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.

Rattanachaikunsopon P, Phumkhachorn P.

4

'Huiles essentielles, huiles végétales, Plantes aromatiques dans l'art de la cuisine' by JP. Ortega

5

"Aromatherapy - Treatment of illnesses using plant essences"

J. Valnet

6

"L'aromathérapie - Santé et bien-être par les huiles essentielles"

N. Grosjean

7

"Essential oils for breathing"

D. Festy

8

"Culinary essential oils"

A. Erligmann

9

'Cooking with essential oils and floral waters'

E. and V. Cupillard

10

"The aromatherapy bible"

N. Purchon

11

'Aromatherapy'

M. Werner and R. Von Braunschweig

12

Saveurs et bien-être. La cuisine aux huiles essentielles. Editions Filipacchi.

Le Foll N. and Da Costa B. (

13

Cuisinons avec les huiles essentielles. Des trésors de saveurs et de vitalité. Editions Anagramme.

Davy O. and Fayolle M.

14

La cuisine aux huiles essentielles. Des recettes saines et créatives. Editions Ambre.

Pataud A.

15

' Saveurs et bien-être - la cuisine aux huiles essentielles'

Nathalie Le Foll and Beatriz Da Costa

16

http://www.rtbf.be/tv/emission/detail_un-gars-un-chef/actualites/article_les-regles-de-la-cuisine-aux-huiles-essentielles?id=8144748&emissionId=5931

17

http://www.topsante.com/nutrition-et-recettes/equilibre-alimentaire/astuces-cuisine/comment-utiliser-les-huiles-essentielles-en-cuisine-9780

18

http://www.france2.fr/emissions/c-est-au-programme/chroniques-par-theme/conso-cuisinezaux-huiles-essentielles_240533

19

http://www.femininbio.com/cuisine-recettes/recettes-de-cuisine/mignardises-de-noel-palets-au-chocolat-gingembre-et-basilic-6977

20

http://blog.sens-original.com/files/verrines-courgette-basilic-et-citron.pdf

21

http://www.ptitchef.com/recettes/coulis-de-tomates-au-basilic-fid-1018867

22

http://www.plurielles.fr/recettes-cuisine/fiche-pratique/comment-utiliser-les-huiles-essentielles-en-cuisine-7361105-402.html

23

http://www.marmiton.org/magazine/tendances-gourmandes_cuisine-aux-huiles-essentielles_4.aspx