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In short: Hyssop essential oil smells fresh, herbal and spicy. Ordinary hyssop contains the ketones pinocamphone and isopinocamphone, which can cause seizures. Our oil is from the variety decumbens, which has few of them, but still: not in epilepsy, in pregnancy and in children. On the skin max. 1 %, in a diffuser 2 drops.
| Latin name | Hyssopus officinalis var. decumbens (hyssop, prostrate variety) |
|---|---|
| Part of the plant and extraction | leaves and flowers, steam distillation (our oil: Spain, BIO) |
| Main constituents | in var. decumbens in a published analysis linalool 50 %, 1,8-cineole 13 %, limonene 5 %; pinocamphones only in traces |
| Scent | fresh, herbal, slightly spicy and camphoraceous |
| Dilution on the skin | max. 1 %: 2 drops per 10 ml, 6 drops per 30 ml |
| Safety | with great caution: epilepsy, pregnancy, children |
Gardeners know hyssop as a blue-flowering subshrub that attracts bees and tolerates drought. As an essential oil, however, it has the reputation of one of the few oils for which aromatherapists speak of a real risk of seizures. It matters which variety of hyssop the oil comes from, and with hyssop that matters more than with most other oils.
If you are interested in growing it, read the article hyssop – a modern and decorative herb. Here we speak only about the oil: how ordinary hyssop differs from the variety decumbens, how to use the oil and when to leave it in the drawer.
Two Hyssop Oils, Two Different Safety Profiles
Classic hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) gives an oil with a high proportion of bicyclic ketones. In an Italian sample isopinocamphone made up 43.4 % and pinocamphone 4.4 %. It is precisely these ketones that are neurotoxic and in higher doses may in sensitive people trigger an epileptic seizure.
The prostrate variety Hyssopus officinalis var. decumbens from southern France and Spain has a completely different composition. In the same study the oil from decumbens contained linalool 49.6 %, 1,8-cineole 13.3 % and limonene 5.4 %, pinocamphones only in a very small amount.
| Hyssop (ordinary) | Hyssop var. decumbens | |
|---|---|---|
| Main constituents | isopinocamphone, pinocamphone | linalool, 1,8-cineole, limonene |
| Scent | sharper, camphoraceous, "pharmacy-like" | softer, fresh, herbal and floral |
| Main risk | seizures (neurotoxic ketones) | 1,8-cineole in children, sensitive skin |
| Home use | better not at all | with caution, in small doses |
According to the product page our BIO hyssop oil is from the variety decumbens with a "reduced ketone content". The page does not give an analysis of the specific batch, so we keep to stricter rules: epilepsy, pregnancy and small children are taboo with hyssop even in this variety.
Scent and What to Combine It With
Decumbens smells clean and green, a little like lavender mixed with eucalyptus and a spicy herb. It suits "clear head" blends and evening herbal compositions:
- with lavender and bergamot for evening relaxation (bergamot only in a diffuser),
- with lemon for the study,
- with Himalayan cedar or cypress for a woody, grounding scent,
- with eucalyptus in winter, adults only.
How to Use Hyssop
| Use | Dose for adults | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Diffuser | 1–2 drops of hyssop, 3–4 drops in total per 100 ml of water | 30–45 minutes, not in the bedroom overnight |
| Oil burner | 2 drops in a blend | study, living room |
| Massage | max. 1 %: 2 drops per 10 ml, 6 drops per 30 ml | not the face, not daily for long periods |
| Bath | do not use | without a batch analysis ketones cannot be ruled out |
How many drops to use by room size is summarised in the article how many drops for a diffuser and oil burner.
Three Blends with Hyssop
- Study (diffuser): 1 drop of hyssop, 2 drops of lemon, 1 drop of cedar.
- Evening herbs (oil burner): 1 drop of hyssop, 2 drops of lavender, 1 drop of bergamot.
- Shoulder massage (30 ml of jojoba, 1.5 % in total): 3 drops of hyssop, 4 drops of lavender, 2 drops of cypress.
Before You Use Hyssop: a Quick Check
- Do neither you nor anyone in the room have epilepsy or another seizure disorder?
- Are you not pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Are there no children under 6 in the room?
- Do you know which variety of hyssop you have (the label says "var. decumbens")?
- If for any question the answer is unsuitable, choose another oil, for example lavender or cedar.
Tradition and Research
Hyssop has long been grown in monastery gardens and is associated with the biblical "purge me with hyssop", although botanists doubt that it was the same plant. Traditionally the herb was used for cough and colds, usually as a tea or syrup, not as a concentrated oil.
In laboratory experiments the oil from decumbens relaxed contractions of isolated smooth muscles, but these are experiments on tissues, not treatment of people. Our oil is intended for aromatherapy and external use, not for internal use.
Safety: Where the Limit Lies
- Epilepsy and seizures: do not use hyssop at all, not even in a diffuser. With ordinary hyssop the risk of seizures is well described and without a batch analysis it cannot be ruled out even with decumbens.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not use.
- Children: not at all under 6. The oil contains 1,8-cineole, which must not be used near the faces of children. The general rules are in the article essential oils and children.
- Skin: never undiluted, 1 % at most, test in the crook of the elbow.
- Cats: in a diffuser only in a room the cat can leave, briefly and with ventilation. More in the article essential oils and pets.
- Storage: dark glass, cool, use within 2 years of opening.
How to Choose a Hyssop Oil
With hyssop the label is more important than anywhere else. Look for the exact Latin name including the variety: Hyssopus officinalis var. decumbens (sometimes "prostrate hyssop" or "hysope couchée"). If the bottle says only Hyssopus officinalis, assume the ketone type and think twice about home use. A good supplier will send an analysis of the batch with the proportion of pinocamphone and isopinocamphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hyssop oil dangerous?
Ordinary hyssop contains pinocamphones, which can cause seizures, and is among the riskiest oils. The variety decumbens is milder, but still do not use it in epilepsy, in pregnancy and in small children.
What is the difference between hyssop and hyssop decumbens?
Decumbens is a prostrate variety from the Mediterranean. Its oil contains mainly linalool and 1,8-cineole instead of neurotoxic ketones. It smells softer and should be stated explicitly on the label.
What is hyssop oil used for?
In a diffuser and oil burner for a fresh herbal scent and in diluted massage blends. Traditionally hyssop was associated with cough and colds, but the oil does not replace treatment.
Can hyssop go in a diffuser if we have a child at home?
If the child is younger than 6, no. For older children give preference to milder oils and run hyssop only briefly in a room where the child is not.
Recommended Products
- BIO Hyssop, essential oil 10 ml – Spanish hyssop var. decumbens with a low ketone content.
- BIO Lavender, essential oil 10 ml – a safer partner for evening blends and massage.
- BIO Lemon, essential oil 10 ml – for a work blend in a diffuser.
- BIO Himalayan cedar, essential oil 10 ml – a woody base that calms hyssop.
- BIO Cypress, essential oil 10 ml – for a shoulder massage blend.
- BIO Jojoba 10 ml – a carrier oil for dilution.
- Ceramic oil burner 9 × 7.5 cm – for a short scenting of the study.
Sources
- Mazzanti G. et al.: A pinocamphone poor oil of Hyssopus officinalis L. var. decumbens from France (Banon), Journal of Essential Oil Research 1998 – doi.org
- Ontogenetic and Environmental Variability of Hyssop Essential Oil Composition and Activity, Plants 2026 – PMC12899879
- The Genus Hyssopus: Traditional Use, Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Properties, Plants 2024 – PMC11207324
- Tisserand Institute: Kids and inhalation safety – tisserandinstitute.org
- Tisserand R., Young R.: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition, Churchill Livingstone 2014.
Updated: 27 September 2026
Author: Jana Vránová, editorial name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage information from specialist literature and official sources, which we list for every article.