Basil essential oil: chemotype, scent and safe use

In brief: Basil essential oil (Ocimum basilicum) smells green, sweet and lightly aniseed-like. Choose the linalool chemotype, which has less estragole than "exotic" basil. In a diffuser 2–3 drops, on the skin at most 1–2%. Better avoided for children under 6 and during pregnancy.

Basil in a bottle smells different from what you expect from a leaf on a pizza. It is sweeter, spicier and has a note of aniseed and clove. In aromatherapy it is an oil "for the head": for the study, for afternoon tiredness and for fresh herbal blends with citrus.

With no other common oil does the chemotype matter so much, however. Basil oils from different regions have entirely different main components, and one of the types contains a lot of estragole, a substance that should be handled with caution. That is why we begin with how to tell what you have in the bottle.

Linalool vs. estragole chemotype: what is in the bottle

According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), estragole is a natural substance whose intake should be as low as possible, because at high doses it damages DNA in animals. That is why the Tisserand Institute recommends estragole basil on the skin at a concentration of at most 0.1%, whereas for the linalool chemotype it gives no restriction, because it contains less estragole and more linalool and eugenol. The proportion of estragole in "European" basils does vary with origin and batch, however, so at home, even with the linalool type, we keep the dilution at 1%, at most 2%.

Our BIO basil oil is, according to the producer, the linalool chemotype, distilled from basil leaves in India. On other sellers' product pages always look for the word "linalol" or "linalool"; if the chemotype is missing, do not use the oil on the skin.

Scent and oils it goes well with

Basil is distinctive; in combinations it makes up rather a third of the blend. It gets on best with citrus, which emphasises its green freshness, and with lavender, which softens it.

• Bergamot – a classic pair for the diffuser; on the skin not before sun exposure, as it is phototoxic.
• Lemon or mandarin – a fresh "kitchen" scent.
• Lavender – for evening and massage blends.
• Peppermint or rosemary – a working blend, for adults only.

Use: diffuser, massage, bath

A calculation of drops by room size can be found in the article how many drops of essential oil for a diffuser and oil burner.

Three blends with basil

1. Afternoon at the computer (diffuser): 2 drops of basil, 2 drops of lemon, 1 drop of rosemary. More ideas for the office can be found in the article aromatherapy in the workplace.
2. Mediterranean kitchen (oil burner): 2 drops of basil, 2 drops of mandarin, 1 drop of lavender.
3. Neck massage after work (30 ml jojoba, 1.3%): 3 drops of basil, 4 drops of lavender, 1 drop of peppermint. For the neck and shoulders, not the face.

Traditional use and research

In European and Indian folk tradition, basil was used for tiredness, nervousness and digestive complaints, mainly as a tea and a spice. In aromatherapy it is traditionally counted among oils "for a clear head". Laboratory studies describe antimicrobial activity of basil oil in culture, which, however, says nothing about the effect at home on the skin or in the air. Clinical evidence for specific therapeutic effects is lacking, so take basil as a scent, not as a medicine. Our oil is intended for aromatherapy and external use, not for internal use or for food.

Safety

• Chemotype: on the skin only ct. linalool. Use oil with no stated chemotype only in a diffuser.
• Sensitive skin: eugenol is a known allergen, so do not dilute basil above 2%, and before first use do a patch test in the crook of the elbow (24 hours).
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: because of its estragole content (albeit low), leave it out during this period.
• Children: do not use it under 6 years. Milder oils are intended for smaller children, as we write in the article essential oils and children. For older children only in a diffuser, 1 drop.
• Cats: cats break down many components of essential oils poorly. Do not switch on a diffuser in a room from which the cat cannot leave. More in the article essential oils and pets.
• Storage: dark bottle, cool, tightly closed. Use up within roughly 2 years of opening.

How to recognise a good basil oil

1. The Latin name Ocimum basilicum and the chemotype (linalool) directly on the label or product page.
2. Country of origin and method of extraction (steam distillation of leaves or herb).
3. Pale yellow colour, sweet and green scent; a hard aniseed scent points to the estragole type.
4. Dark glass, dropper, batch and expiry date.

You can also grow basil as a kitchen herb yourself; the kinds are described in the article basil: from classic to Thai.

Frequently asked questions

What is basil essential oil good for?

Mainly for the diffuser and oil burner, for a fresh herbal scent while working, and for massage blends for the neck and shoulders. Traditionally it is associated with a feeling of a clear head. Therapeutic effects have not been proven.

Is basil oil safe?

The linalool chemotype is safe with reasonable use, provided you dilute it to 1–2% and do not use it with small children or during pregnancy. The estragole type belongs on the skin at a concentration of at most 0.1%; at home, better not to use it at all.

Can I use basil oil in food?

Our oil is intended for aromatherapy and external use. For food use fresh or dried basil; the essential oil is many times more concentrated and is not recommended internally.

What does basil go best with in a diffuser?

With citrus (lemon, bergamot, mandarin) and with lavender. For a working blend add a drop of rosemary or mint, but only where there are no small children.

Recommended products

• BIO Basil, essential oil 10 ml – linalool chemotype from India, a type that is also suitable for massage blends.
• BIO Bergamot, essential oil 10 ml – basil's most classic partner for the diffuser.
• BIO Mandarin, essential oil 10 ml – a sweet citrus that softens basil.
• BIO Lavender, essential oil 10 ml – for evening and massage blends.
• BIO Jojoba 10 ml – a carrier oil for dilution to 1–2%.
• Ceramic oil burner 9 × 7.5 cm – a small oil burner for the kitchen or study.

Sources

• Tisserand Institute: Carcinogenic essential oils? – tisserandinstitute.org
• EMA/HMPC: Use of herbal medicinal products containing estragole – ema.europa.eu
• Characterization of Essential Oil Composition in Different Basil Species and Pot Cultures by a GC-MS Method, Molecules 2017 – PMC6152153
• Tisserand R., Young R.: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition, Churchill Livingstone 2014.

Updated: 27 September 2026