Latin name: Lavandula angustifolia cv. Hemus and Lavandula angustifolia cv. Sevtopolis

Botanical family: Lamiaceae / Labiate

Method of extraction: distilled at our organically certified distillery

Plant part used to extract the oil: flowering tops

Cultivation method: organic farming

Area of origin: our organic Greek lavender is grown at nea Tenedos village located in the Northern Greece. The village Nea Tenedos counts 368 inhabitants engaged in agriculture and stockbreeding. It is a very beautiful and quiet semi-mountainous village at a close distance from the sea.  

Historical notes:

As a herb, lavender has been in a documented use for over 2,500 years. It is believed that after being first domesticated by Arabs it spread to Greece and then, around 600 BC, to Europe. It is thought that it may have come from Greek Hyeres Islands into France and later to Spain, Italy and England.

Around 50 - 70 AD, Greek military physician Pedanius Dioscorides penned what appears to be the first written record of the medicinal uses of lavender. He collected medicinal plants from around the Mediterranean and described them and their medicinal uses in a 5-volume work entitled ‘De Materia Medica’. Lavender, he noted, when taken internally relieved indigestion, headaches and sore throats and externally, could be used to clean wounds and burns or treat skin ailments.

Pliny the Elder (23 – 79AD), a Greek writer and encyclopaedist, noted the benefits of herbal preparations with lavender including helping those with menstrual problems, upset stomachs, kidney disorders, jaundice and treating insect bites.

Biochemical group: monoterpenols/esters

Main chemical constituents: linalool and linalyl acetate

Colour: clear

Consistency: thin

Aroma strength: middle

Perfumery note: top/middle

Aroma: a perfect balance between linalool and linalyl acetate and a very low levels of 1,8-cineole and camphor result in a truly unique aroma - delightfully sweet, floral, fresh and sparkling, with a fruity hint and no harsh camphoraceous or eucalyptus-like undertones. Simply beautiful! :)

Traditional Aromatherapy Uses:

• Traditionally in aromatherapy treatments lavender is associated with the following therapeutic properties: analgesic, antianxiety, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, calming, carminative, cicatrisant, CNS depressant, decongestant, deodorant, hypotensive, immunostimmulant, nervine, sedative, vulnerary

• Qualified aromatherapists may use lavender essential oil for common complaints such as:
• skin conditions: burns, sunburn, bites, stings and grazes as well as boils, eczema, acne and in general skin care for all skin types
• nervous tension and stress related conditions like insomnia, depression, migraine to name a few
• respiratory issues - cough, colds, flu, catarrh and in some cases of asthma and bronchitis
• various types of aches and pains, from headaches to rheumatic, muscular and menstrual
• circulatory problems - high blood pressure and palpitations
• others

• Inhalation / Vapourisation:

- We really enjoy this gorgeous lavender as an evening 'wind me down' aroma, on its own, close to and at bed time. Try to vapourise a couple of drops in your bedroom. It also blends well with our mandarin oil.

- Vapourise for anxiety and stress or to repel insects, too!

• Skin applications:

                Please note, some Aromatherapists say that Lavender can be used undiluted. But you never     know, so we suggest you dilute it first.

- Sunburn - we have noticed it calms down the redness and soothes when added to an Aloe Vera gel or a light unscented body lotion

- For a soothing face cream - add together with our Helichrysum and/or Sea fennel (Criste Marine) essential oil to an unscented face cream

- It can also prove useful against eczema - try adding to an unscented body lotion or cream and test on a small area first

-For tension and hypertension (high blood pressure) - dilute in a fixed oil (carrier oil) and put in a small roll-on bottle. Spread onto your wrists, behind your ears or temples

- For menstrual pain, to improve digestion or relieve muscular pain - dilute in a fixed oil (carrier oil) and massage the lower abdomen or specific muscle areas.

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information

Safety considerations:
Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Lavender Essential Oil. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, 'Essential Oil Safety' (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 325-328.]

 Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information at our website.

Research and studies:

• Local anaesthetic activity of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10630108

• Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation

           https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1817516

• A randomized, controlled cross-over trial of dermally-applied lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oil as a treatment of agitated behaviour in dementia

            https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24219098

Greek Organic Oregano Essential Oil 15ml

Other common names: European oregano, common marjoram, wild marjoram, others

Botanical name: Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum

Botanical family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Method of extraction: Steam distillation

Plant part used to extract the oil: dried aerial parts of flowering plant

Cultivation method: organic

Historical notes:

The word oregano comes from Greek ‘ore – oros’ meaning ‘mountain’ and ‘gano’ or ‘ganos’ which means ‘shinning surface’ or ‘joy’. So oregano is the shinning surface or ‘joy of the mountains’.

According to Greek mythology, the spicy, vibrant scent of oregano was created by Aphrodite - the goddess of beauty - as a symbol of happiness.

Biochemical group: phenol

Main chemical compounds: carvacrol (83.6%), thymol, p-cymene, others

Colour: clear

Consistency: thin

Aroma strength: very strong

Perfumery note: middle

Aroma: strong, sharp, herbaceous, medicinal, camphoraceaous, spicy, with phenolic dry out.

Traditional aromatherapy uses:

• Traditionally in aromatherapy treatments oregano essential oil is associated with the following therapeutic properties: analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, carminative, emmenagogue, energizing, expectorant, fungicidal, immune support, rubefacient, warming

• Qualified aromatherapists may use oregano essential oil for common complaints such as:

• respiratory conditions: acute respiratory infections

As oregano essential oil is a skin and mucous membrane irritant it should only be used at a very low dilution. Please see safety notes below.

• For respiratory infections: inhale on its own (1 drop from a tissue) or blended depending on the severity and type of the condition; we like it blended with some Lemon essential oil e.g. 1 drop of oregano and 5 drops of lemon diffused in a sick room or inhaled from a personal inhaler.

 Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information at our website.

Safety considerations: 

Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young warn that oregano essential oil is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding and that it may be embryotoxic.

They indicate a moderate risk for mucous membrane irritation and skin irritation.

Furthermore, they warn that the oil may inhibit blood clotting and pose a drug interaction hazard.

Tisserand and Young recommend a maximum dermal use level of 1.1%. They advise not to use topically on children age 2 or younger or for those with hypersensitive/diseased/damaged skin.

Reading Tis

serand and Young's full oils safety profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 376.]

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

Research and studies:

• Antibacterial effect of oregano essential oil alone and in combination with antibiotics against extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli

https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/53/2/190/495620

• Effects of oregano, carvacrol and thymol on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms

https//www.microbiologyresearch.org/docserver/fulltext/jmm/56/4/519.pdf?expires=1536840741&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=40D84DFA971F90A979077D7866D22FF3

• In vitro activity of origanum vulgare essential oil against candida species

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768597/

Greek Organic Criste Marine Essential Oil 5ml

Common name: Sea fennel

Other common names: Samphire, rock samphire, rock fennel, sea asparagus, crest marine

Botanical name: Crithmum maritimum

Botanical family: Apiaceae

Method of extraction: Steam distillation

Plant part used to extract the oil: Flowering tops

Cultivation method: organic cultivation

Area of origin: Greece - Chalkidiki

Sea fennel is native to Mediterranean and western coasts of Europe including Greece, the Canary Islands, on the southern and western coasts of Britain and Ireland, North Africa and the Black Sea

Historical notes:

Sea fennel might not be unique to Greece but it is firmly rooted in its history. It flourishes on rocky, salt-sprayed cliffs above the high tide line and has been collected for its culinary and medicinal value since antiquity. Greek physician, Hippocrates of Kos (c. 460 – c. 370 BC), known as the "Father of Medicine", recommended sea fennel for its diuretic and detoxifying abilities. Pedanius Dioscorides (Greek military physician, c 40 - 90 AD), the father of pharmacology, and Pliny the Elder (23 – 79AD), renowned Greek botanist, both wrote about its beneficial properties too.

Not surprisingly, sea fennel can also be found in Greek mythology. It is said that Prometheus brought fire to earth hidden in the stems of the sea fennel. Some versions of the lore also say that the very same plant was used by the ‘good country wife’ Hecate to prepare a meal for Theseus before his fight against the Bull of Marathon, Minotaur. Theseus was successful, he did slay the bull and we might be excused for thinking that it was due to the nourishment of this meal. Sea fennel is indeed highly regarded today for its nutritional values. 

Even the scientific name – crithmum - is derived from Greek ‘krithe’ for ‘barley’ because the ribbed seeds are thought to resemble that grain.

Biochemical group: Monoterpene

Main chemical compounds: γ-terpinene, sabinene, β-phellandrene, limonene, paracymene, cis-β-ocimene, thymol methyl ether, apiole, Terpinen-4-ol, α-pinene, others

Colour: clear

Consistency: thin

Aroma strength: medium

Perfumery note: middle

Aroma: initially earthy aroma soon gives way to fresher, greener notes with a hint of lemony grassiness, cooler and lighter as the dry out progresses

Traditional aromatherapy uses:

• Traditionally in aromatherapy treatments sea fennel is associated with the following therapeutic properties: antibacterial, antioxidant, expectorant, carminative, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, lymphotonic

• Qualified aromatherapists may use sea fennel essential oil for common complaints such as:

• skin conditions: skin renewal and as anti-aging, antioxidant agent in creams and facial massage, hyperpigmentation (brown spots), to improve skin tone. Essential oil and other types of sea fennel extracts are at the moment very popular in anti-ageing and anti-cellulite cosmetic preparations
• lymphatic system: Sea fennel is used in French aromatherapy as an energizing oil, specifically for supporting healthy fluid circulation and reducing cellulite and water retention
• digestive issues: flatulence, stimulation of bile production
• endocrine system: believed to potentially be useful as a regulator of the thyroid activity
• others

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

• For a face cream - add together with our Helichrysum and/or Organic lavender essential oil to an unscented face cream
• For a cellulite massage oil – we dilute our Sea fennel with some Lemon essential oil I a fixed oil (carrier oil) and massage the affected areas (please remember that Lemon essential oil is phototoxic!)
• To support digestion or ease flatulence – dilute together with a drop of peppermint oil in a fixed oil (carrier oil) and massage the lower abdomen or specific muscle areas.

Safety considerations:

There is very little information currently available regarding the safety of this oil and it has not been included in ‘Essential Oils Safety’ by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, 2e, 2013. Bearing in mind that some chemical compounds present in this oil can oxidise easily and some can be irritating to the sensitive skin we recommend the following:

• Avoid in pregnancy or breast feeding.
• Not to be used on children under 7.
• Do not use on people who have a past history of seizures (convulsions)
• Dilute well before use.
• Old/oxidised oil should not be used.

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

Research and studies:

• Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae) growing wild in Turkey

          https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1099-1026(200005/06)15:3%3C186::AID-FFJ889%3E3.0.CO;2-I

• Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Foeniculum vulgare and Crithmum maritimum essential oils.

          https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11199122

• Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.): phytochemical profile, antioxidative, cholinesterase inhibitory and vasodilatory activity

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5052179/

• Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of essential oils from caper (Capparis spinosa) and sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) by different methods

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1745-4514.2009.00330.x

Greek Organic Helichrysum Essential Oil 5ml

Other common names: French synonym Immortelle (meaning everlasting), everlasting, curry plant, St John's herb

Botanical name: Helichrysum italicum

Botanical family: Asteraceae (Compositae)

Method of extraction: Steam distillation

Plant part used to extract the oil: flowering tops

Cultivation method: organic

Area of origin:

We are very proud to be the first to cultivate Helichrysum in Greece!

Our hylichrysum is grown organically in the mountains nearVavdos, a beautiful village with the highest altitude in Chalkidiki (923m above the sea level), in Northern Greece. Our oil, distilled at out organically certified distillery, comes from the field where the plants enjoy more than 11 hours of direct sunshine per day in summer! Helichrysum loves sun and we are being rewarded for selecting this perfect location with truly beautiful essential oil.

Historical notes:

Legends say that Helichrysum is the Son of the Sun in the earth and this is the reason why plant loves so much Sun. The name comes from Greek Helisso- “ελίσσω” that means to turn around and –chryso, “χρυσό” that means gold. Belongs to the plant family Asteraceae, sp.Helichrysum italicum.

Our Greek Helichrysum Essential Oil is distilled with organic distillation from plants grown on organic farms of Vavdos, Chalkidiki, located at the northern part of Greece. The village has 1000m height and is next to the sea.

We are proud to be first in cultivating Immortelle in Greece and getting the first quantities of one of the best essential oils in aromatherapy.

Our essential oil comes from the field where plants get sun more than 11hours per day during summer. You can only imagine what a great impact sun has on the oil!

Don’t miss the chance to try it!

Biochemical group: Monoterpene

Main chemical compounds: α-pinene, gamma-curcumene, beta-selinene, beta-caryophyllene, italidione I, neryl acetate, alpha-selinene, italicene,  alpha-curcumene, italidione II, limonene, alpha-copaene, italidiones III, others (Our essential oil contains ~10% italidiones)

Colour: clear

Consistency: thin

Aroma strength: middle-strong

Perfumery note: middle

Aroma: slightly astringent, earthy, fresh, herbaceous, warm, medicinal

Traditional aromatherapy uses:

• Traditionally in aromatherapy treatments helichrysum essential oil is associated with the following therapeutic properties: analgesic, anti-allergenic, anti-anxiety, anti-heamatoma, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, calming, cholagogue, cicatrisant, expectorant, hepatic, mucolytic,nervine, strengthening, CNS tonic, wound healing

• Qualified aromatherapists may use helichrysum essential oil for common complaints such as:

• skin conditions: bruises, scars, wound healing, skin repair, eczema, dermatitis
• respiratory conditions: chronic respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinus infections, whooping cough
• skeletomuscular problems: muscular aches and pains, arthritis, rheumatism, tendonitis, bursitis
• digestive system:to stimulate/support the liver and gall bladder
• nervous system: soothing, grounding, calming/sedative
• emotionaluses: depression, anxiety, when emotionally exhausted and debilitated
• others: headaches, especially these related to liver overload

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

• For an aftershave face/neck cream - add together with our Black Pine and/or Organic lavender essential oil to an unscented light cream or lotion
• For a face cream - add together with our Sea Fennel and/or Organic lavender essential oil to an unscented face cream
• For respiratory infections: inhaleon its own or blended depending on the condition, we like it blended with some Lavandin and Lemon essential oils.
• For bruises: we keep a small bottle of Helichrysum diluted in jojoba oil in our First Aid kit and use it on bruises old and new (10 drops of Helichrysum in a teaspoonful of jojoba oil)
• For a sinus infection or a headache – simply apply a drop of Helichrysum essential oil to a tissue and inhale; try with a drop of our Peppermint essential oil

Safety considerations:

Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Helichrysum Essential Oil. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition.United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 309.]

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

Research and studies:

• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Helichrysum italicum.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11902802

 Chemical composition, plant genetic differences, and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym.

          https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12568568

• Composition of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don fil. subsp. italicum essential oils from Corsica (France)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1099-1026(200101/02)16:1%3C30::AID-FFJ941%3E3.0.CO;2-F

Greek Organic Melissa Essential Oil 5ml

Other common names: lemon balm, bee balm

Botanical name: Melissa officinalis

Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Method of extraction: Steam distillation

Plant part used to extract the oil: Aerial parts

Cultivation method: Organic

Area of origin: Greece

Historical notes:

The name ‘Melissa’ was known even before what we know as the ‘ancient Greece’. There are many versions of the story about the mythological character Melissa. Apparently she was a nymph, a daughter of a Cretan king Melissos who cared for an infant Zeus. The story has it that she discovered the sweet tasting honey and fed it to Zeus together with goat’s milk.

Melissa ended up being transformed into a beautiful bee and from her bees were believed to have received their name.

Melissa is a common female name derived from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), "bee," which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey."

Biochemical group: Aldehyde

Main chemical compounds: citronellal, geranial, neral, methyl cirtonellate,            germacrene D, trans-β-ocimene, citronellol, others

Colour: clear

Consistency: thin

Aroma strength: medium/strong

Perfumery note: top/middle

Aroma: fresh, herbaceous, lemony

Traditional aromatherapy uses:

• Traditionally in aromatherapy treatments melissa is associated with the following therapeutic properties: analgesic, anti-anxiety, anti-bacterial, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, bactericidal, immuno-stimulant, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, tonic

• Qualified aromatherapists may use melissa essential oil for common complaints such as:

• skin conditions: herpes simplex (cold sores)
• musculoskeletal system: aches and pains, tension and inflammation
• digestive issues: digestive cramps, indigestion
• emotional issues: stress, insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, calming, soothing, enhancing cognition/focus
• insect repellent
• others

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

• For cold sores - add melissa essential oil to an unscented face cream and carefully apply directly to the cold sore
• For respiratory allergies such as hay fever – vaporise a drop together with some Organic lavender. This combination is also great for stress and anxiety
• For digestive cramps – dilute together with a drop of Peppermint or some Mandarin or sweet orange essential oil in a fixed oil (carrier oil) and gently massage the lower abdomen in a clockwise direction.

Safety considerations:

Melissa essential oil can interact with drugs/medication (such as diabetes drugs and others) and there is a risk of teratogenicity (A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or foetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation/birth defect).

Melissa essential oils should not be used on the skin of infants and children under 2 years of age or on those with hypersensitive/diseased/damaged skin.

Recommend maximum dermal use level for Melissa essential oils is 0.9%. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 350-351.]

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

Research and studies:

• Apoptosis-inducing effects of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil in glioblastoma multiforme cells.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24745610

• In Vivo Potential Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Melissa officinalis L. Essential Oil.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24381585 

• Pharmacological profile of essential oils derived from Lavandula angustifolia and Melissa officinalis with anti-agitation properties: focus on ligand-gated channels.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18957173

 Melissa officinalis oil affects infectivity of enveloped herpesviruses.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18693101

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