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Since 1970, when I first started teaching my Aromatherapy Studies Courses and Seminars, I was
much intrigued by the blue color and navy-blue color of some essential oils. Since that time I have
studied and collected them and only recently (1990) became aware of an oil called Ormenis sold as
Chamomile or Blue Chamomile. I had purchased it from various companies and sometimes it was blue
and sometimes yellow. This was very interesting and I knew that there was definitely confusion amongst
sellers and buyers of essential oils. I now wonder if even some of the producers know what they are
picking and distilling. Recently (a person) wrote a detailed article describing some of the oils of the
Compositae family labeled or sold as Chamomile. She discussed the Chamomile oils, other blue oils,
their healing properties as well as specific applications, safety and perfumery usage. I found the article to
be very exhaustive and complete. The article refers to many popular texts but lacks true taxonomic
reference. She also says "that depending on which book or article you read Blue Chamomile can mean
two or more different plants entirely. Therefore, when I see something labeled or described simply Blue
Chamomile, I am not amused"5. I agree with this statement completely. After reading it, it became
apparent that there was much confusion regarding the genus Ormenis (Parsons called it Ormensis) and I
undertook to investigate this problem. There are also several very prominent essential oil companies
selling Tanacetum annuum (Blue Tansy) as Blue Chamomile.
You can see from the following information that there are no hard and fast rules to giving
common names to plants. Classifying and naming plant essential oils can also be a mess. Although many
of the blue oils have similar uses because of the azulene content, there are cases where it is important
to know EXACTLY which oil you have or need. As with anything, the best way to clarify confusion is to
do some research and experimentation. Especially, do talk to the various essential oil distributors and
retailers and get complete information about the oils you are purchasing, the Latin binomial, part of the
plant used, country of origin and color to expect. Buy a small quantity of the same oil from 2 different
sources and compare color and scent. >Remember that each year of growth, each harvest, each
separate distillation will result in an oil with slightly different amounts of chemical components. The
terroir or environment and individual ecology of a plant is important in the resultant essential oil. A
year or two of great drought may result in a lower yield of essential oil but with improved or "stronger"
components.<
The fragrance of any particular essential oil varies from year to year and is totally dependent on
the vagaries of "Mother Nature". Also purchase a good book from an author who is not invested in an
essential oil company. Several excellent aromatherapy books exist, The Aromatherapy Book Applications
& Inhalations by this author is a good start.
ORMENIS/CHAMMELUM
Naming My first stop in untangling the Ormenis mystery was to go to the California Academy
of Science here in San Francisco, visit the Botany department and examine their herbarium specimens of
Chamomile and Ormenis. This Herbarium is one of the most prestigious in the world and happens to
be just five short blocks from my home. We looked up the reference for Ormenis in various
books5,8,9,11, in particular Cambridge University's book, The Plant Book, by D.J. Mabberly. Imagine my
surprise at the following entry: Ormenis (Cass.) Cass. = Chammelum9. Next we checked Flora
Europa and found that Ormenis mixta was originally known as Anthemis mixta and is correctly called
Chammelum mixtum8. It is described as "C. mixtum (L.) All., loc. cit. (1785), a somewhat pubescent
annual 10-60 cm, often much-branched, with divaricate branchesin cultivated fields, roadsides and
maritime sands. Mediterranean region and S.W. Europe, extending northwards to W.C. France."8 The
essential oil was not described. The herbarium sample shows a plant to be a close look-alike to the
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annual Matricaria recutita and almost identical to Chammelum nobile. This seemed to answer for me the
question regarding the various confusing nomenclatures of Ormenis that I have seen in popular
aromatherapy books (including my own book6, see page 78). It was apparent that aromatherapy books
are using out-of-date nomenclature for plants and that their authors have never looked at the plants or
the oils.
To go further with this, please note that O. multicolis is a misspelling of O. multicaulis which is a
synonym of O. mixta, which is a synonym of O. mixtum. And O. mixtum is correctly identified as
Chammelum mixtum.
Color In taxonomy, plants are described but fragrance and color of the essential oil is rarely
noted. I referred to Arctander's book for fragrance and color of this particular plant. "This plant grows
wild and is available in substantial quantities. Chamomile Oil, Moroccan is related to "German
Chamomile" botanically but not at all resembling this plant is Ormenis Multicaulis, a good-looking plant,
90-125 cm high with very hairy leaves and tubular yellow flowers,The plant is probably a native of
northwest Africa, and evolved from a very common Ormenis species which grows all over the
Mediterranean countries. The oil of Ormenis Multicaulis [Chammelum mixtum] is a pale yellow to
brownish yellow, mobile liquid."1 Arctander goes on to say that the lighter colored oils are obtained at
the beginning of flowering and that towards the end of flowering the oil becomes darker and with a
lower yield. "The odor of the pale oils, is fresh-herbaceous, slightly camphoraceous, but soon changes
into a sweet, cistus-like and rich-balsamic undertone which is very tenacious and pleasant ."1
[Note: This oil is not blue.] It blends well with Artemisia, Cypress, Labdanum, Lavandin, Lavender,
Frankincense and others. "Chemically and olfactorily, the oil is distinctly different from the "German" or
the "Roman" chamomile oils, and cannot be considered as a replacement for them."1 [author's emphasis]
Uses What about the uses of Chammelum mixtum? Franchomme calls it "O. mixta and O.
multicola Braun-Blanquet and Maire of mixed Ormenis flowers and other species of Ormenis called
Moroccan Camomile"2 and lists the active principles and properties and indications, as follows. "Active
principles include a-pinene, terpene alcohols, 33% santolina alcohol, yomogi alcohol, camphor ketone
and 1,8-cineol oxide terpene."2 It presents the highest in alcohol content of these three oils. "The
properties are anti-infectious, bactericide against coli-bacteria, parasiticide against worms and amoeba, a
general tonic, neurotonic and aphrodisiac."2 It is indicated for problems of the liver and stomach,
parasitosis, amoebic cysts, eczema, dermatitis, prostatitis, other sexual problems and disease, nervous
depression and atherosclerosis. "No known contra-indications in physiological doses."2
Once again, please note that this is not a blue oil, it is a dark gold color. And Guenther does not
list an Ormenis species at all.3
Product Comparison At the time of writing the original article (1994 pricing) I had two bottles
of essential oil, named as follows: Chamomile (Ormenis multicaulis) by AC 15 ml for $21.95 and
Chamomile Moroccan (Ormenis mixta) by SPA 7 ml for $21.70. In spite of the difference in name and
the extreme price difference, these oils were identical as to the spicy, sweet fruity scent and identical in
their color, a golden-yellow mobile liquid.
Chamomile CO2 is one other product that we should mention. It is a thick, CO2 extracted,
solid, unctuous matter from Chamomile flowers (M. recutita) that contains all the natural parts of the
flower plus the essential oil. It smells just like the fresh flowers and could play an important part in your
cosmetics and body-care products, whether they are homemade or for the professional market. I have
made a hand lotion with this, using enough of the Chamomile CO2 to scent the lotion with a delicious
apple scent and then added the essential oil to color it pale blue. Altogether a very aesthetically pleasing
and beautiful product. The Chamomile CO2 is available from Prima Fleur Botanicals. 1994 Cost: $42
per ounce.
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Color Oil of Tansy has a strong, aromatic odor and very bitter taste and is "a liquid of peculiar,
aromatic odor and yellowish color which turns brown under the influence of air and light."3 It is also
occasionally very pale, watery blue.
Uses There is no aromatherapy use for this oil which contains a toxic amount of "ketone
content, calculated as thujone of 50-67.3%"3 Used medicinally to rid the body of worms and other
parasites, under medical supervision.
Product comparison Since the Tansy oil is quite toxic, no product comparisons were made, as
there is no legitimate aromatherapy firm handling this product. Although I did see an old price of
$20/15ml.
ARTEMISIA ARBORESCENS was luscious deep-blue, indigo-colored oil with the characteristic scent of
thujone but no thujone. Oregon oil has camphor but no thujone while the Moroccan oil has thujone and
no camphor. There are different uses for each of these oils. This sample had been analyzed as having a
20% - 40% azulene content.
ARTEMISIA DOUGLASIANA (A heterophylla) is a clear royal blue, with a sweet sage-like odor, called Blue
Sage. With this color of azulene and knowing the Native American uses of the plant I would think that
this California and Pacific Northwest species will ultimately find wonderful uses in the body-care industry
especially for serious skin conditions and external applications for rheumatism or headache. There is
also a variety of this plant with green oil.
TANACETUM VULGARE cv Goldsticks. This essential oil is a very pale sky blue with a hint of thujone
odor. I do not feel that it has any external applications in the body-care industry or use in
aromatherapy.
ARTEMISIA LUDOVICIANA var. latiloba (White Mugwort) is a watery blue in color, very perky and fruity-
scented with sage and eucalyptus overtones. According to the Native Americans the herb was used as
an herbal tea to expel a dead fetus among many uses and externally to remove tumors.
Two other oils with pale blue color were Daucus carota, which is commonly called Queen Ann's
Lace (wild Carrot) and Chinese Celery. The oil of Aralia californica of leaves and flowers and
Conioselinum pacificum with their pale colors, almost green in hue do not fall within this short article.
CONCLUSION
It is obvious that people who sell aromatherapy essential oils are not careful about the naming of
their product or the correct spelling of the binomial. Where are the spell checkers and editors? The
confusion seems to lie in lack of integrity with the persons who pick, distill and package the original
product and sell mislabeled product to distributors who pass on their errors to retailers. By examining
all of these oils one can see which were the old and improperly stored oils and even last years
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distillation by the color: brownish-yellow for Ormenis and greenish-black for azulene-containing oils.
Sometimes it is a disadvantage for the essential oils to be sold in brown bottles because the consumer
cannot judge the age and quality of the oil by the color. My suggestion is that knowledgeable consumers
carry around a bit of blotter paper and take a small sample of these expensive oils, examining them
carefully for color and scent before purchase. Also the consumer must take some responsibility and
learn the Latin binomial and make sure essential oils are labeled completely before they buy them.
It appears that some of these samples of essential oils were sold as either Artemisia arborescens or
Blue Moroccan when in fact they were actually Tanacetum annuum, which has much different uses and in
general is not a viable substitution. Consumers must educate themselves and learn to understand and
use the correct Latin binomial and demand that this name is on the oils they purchase. Take a reliable
course and/or buy a reliable (not industry influenced) book.
When it comes to the expensive essential oils, it pays to call around for pricing. Only order oils
from those companies that will tell you common name, Latin name, condition of oil you want and the
color, particularly with the blue-colored oils. These blue-colored oils will show age and oxidation
with a change in color from blue to greenish black to green or from pale yellow to
yellow-brown. If blackish or brown put it down.
Analyze the chart and read the text again for the key differences in these oils.
DEFINITIONS:
1. Herbarium: a collection of dried plant specimens systematically arranged for botanical reference
2. Herbarium: the place where a collection of dried plants is kept
3. Pubescent: covered with soft, fuzzy hair
4. Divaricate: branches spread widely apart
5. Taxonomy: study of general principals of scientific classification
6. Decumbent: a plant stem or shoot reclining on the ground but with ascending apex or extremity
7. Pinnatisect: cleft, having similar parts arranged on opposite sides of an axis, as a feather, to or almost
to the midrib
8. Cauline: growing on the upper portion of a stem
9. Ligulate: furnished with a flattened, strap-shaped corolla in the ray flowers.
10. For other definitions kindly consult your botany text or "How to Identify Plants" by H.D. Harrington
Swallow Press Chicago ,Ill 1957
SOME FORMULAS:
Sunburn/Damaged Skin6
1% Artemisia arborescens
99% Aloe vera gel in solution
Apply as needed.
Pneumologie2
Voie rectale ( vise antispasmodique, anticatarrhale et antihistaminique)
H.E. Hyssopus off. var. decumbens 125 mg
H.E. Ammi visnaga 50 mg
H.E. Tanacetum annuum 25 mg
Exc. q.s.p. 1 suppo. de 3 g - NXVIII
Poso./dure: 1 suppo. le soir ou durant la crise/15 jours.
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Ophtalmologie2
Zona ophtalmique+++
Voie locale ( vise antalgique, et antivirale)
H.A. Myrtus communis cineol. 60 ml
H.A. Chamaemelum nobile 60 ml
Eau distile q.s.p. 250 ml
Poso./dure: 4 bains oculaires/j.,avec illres (5 mn)/7 14 jours suivant l'volution.
NOTE:
The
botanical
descriptions
in
this
article
are
not
complete.
If
you
are
interested
in
a
complete
description,
please
refer
to
a
taxonomy
text.
It
would
also
help
if
all
persons
who
consider
themselves
experts
in
aromatherapy
have
a
basic
understanding
of
botany
and
taxonomy.
Also
read
the
book
Aromatic Chemistry & Botany & Business & Ethics for Aromatherapy Practitioners by this author.
6. Rose, Jeanne. The Aromatherapy Book: Applications & Inhalations. (Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books,
3rd edition, 1994.) Available from www.JeanneRose.net/books.html
7. Rose, Jeanne. 375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols. (San Francisco, CA: Jeanne Rose Aromatherapy, 3rd
edition, 1994.) Available from www.JeanneRose.net/books.html
8. Tutin, Heywood, Burges, Moore, Valentine, Walters and Webb, Editors. Flora Europaea, Vol. 4.
(Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1976.)
9. Mabberley, D.J. The Plant Book. (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, corrected reprint,
1989.)
10. Lewis, Walter H. "Notes on Economic Plants." Economic Botany. 46(4) pp. 426-430. (1992.)
11. Bailey, L.H., staff of. Hortus Third. (Cornell, New York: Hortosium, Cornell University, 1977.)
AC = Auracacia
SPA = Shirley Price Aromatherapy
LD = Leydet
PFB = Prima Fleur Botanicals
S=
OSA =
P=
Chart Follows...
Blue Oil cont'd
Article/The Blue Oils, All Rights Reserved Jeanne Rose 1994 some updating 2008