Project Description
Product Description
Basil essential oil is extracted from a plant called basil grass. Basil essential oil is one of the representatives of spicy essential oils. Basil essential oil has warm and spicy qualities.
Basil essential oil can be obtained by extracting basil flowers, leaves or the whole plant. The extraction method of basil essential oil is usually distillation. The color of basil essential oil is pale yellow to yellow-green. Basil essential oil smells very fresh, with a sweet and spicy grassy scent. For emotions, basil oil can nourish the soul, increase people’s inner strength, and inspire us to face difficulties and setbacks. This is the beautiful side of basil oil’s role.
- Latin Name: Ocimum basilicum L.
- Botanical Family: Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae, mint family)
- Plant Part Used: Flowering aerial parts (leaves, flowers, and stems)
- Extraction Method: Steam Distillation (primary method) ; Alternative methods include Hydro-distillation and Supercritical Fluid Extraction depending on customer specifications .
Major Chemotypes
Basil essential oil exhibits significant chemical variability depending on cultivar, geographic origin, and extraction method. Multiple chemotypes have been identified in commercial basil oils, each with distinct compositional profiles and industrial applications.
- Linalool Chemotype (European/French Type): This chemotype is characterized by linalool as the major constituent, typically ranging from 40 to 48 percent. Secondary components include methyl chavicol (estragole) at approximately 12 to 14 percent, and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) at approximately 6 to 7 percent. This is the most widely used chemotype in the European and North American markets due to its milder regulatory profile and versatile fragrance characteristics.
- Methyl Chavicol Chemotype (Estragole-rich, Reunion Type): This chemotype is dominated by methyl chavicol (estragole), which can reach up to 66 percent of the total composition, with linalool present at only about 6 percent. This type is more common in tropical regions and is primarily used in applications where a stronger, more anise-like note is desired.
- Methyl Cinnamate Chemotype (Tropical Type): The characteristic components of this chemotype are methyl cinnamate, typically around 25 percent, and linalool at approximately 19 percent. This type offers a distinct balsamic, fruity-sweet profile and is particularly valued in certain flavor and fragrance applications.
- Linalool/Methyl Cinnamate Mixed Type: This chemotype presents a balanced profile of the two major components, with proportions varying by batch and origin. It offers a hybrid of the floral-woody notes from linalool and the balsamic-sweet notes from methyl cinnamate, providing formulators with a more complex natural profile.
- Important Regulatory Note: Basil essential oil contains methyl chavicol (estragole) and methyl eugenol, which are under regulatory scrutiny in some markets due to their potential toxicological profiles. Chemotypes with high linalool content or high methyl cinnamate content are generally preferred for industrial applications where regulatory compliance and consumer safety are critical. Buyers are advised to specify their preferred chemotype and request corresponding GC-MS verification for each batch.
Key Applications & Industry Uses
1. Cosmetics & Personal Care Ingredients
Skin Care Formulations: Basil essential oil is incorporated into serums, face oils, and anti-aging products. Its documented properties make it suitable for formulations targeting skin texture improvement, sebum balance, and a refreshed appearance.
- Hair Care Products: The oil is used in hair care formulations to enhance the luster of dull-looking hair.
- Fragrance Component: It imparts sweet, spicy, and herbaceous notes in perfumery and personal care products, serving as a natural aromatic modifier.
- Regulatory Compliance: Our products comply with IFRA standards and the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
2. Flavor & Food Industry
- Natural Flavoring Agent: Basil essential oil is widely used as a flavoring agent in culinary applications, sauces, dressings, processed foods, and beverages, providing a characteristic sweet, spicy, and herbal note.
- Natural Food Preservation: Research demonstrates its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds. For example, studies have shown that at concentrations of 50 ppm, basil oil can significantly reduce bacterial counts in food products during storage, supporting its use as a natural preservative for shelf-life extension.
- Meat Preservation: It is used in sausage and meat product formulations for flavor retention and to help manage microbial contamination.
3. Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Excipients
- Functional Excipient: With documented antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant bioactivities, basil essential oil is used as a functional ingredient in topical and oral nutraceutical formulations.
- Oral Care Formulations: The oil is included in mouthwash and toothpaste products, leveraging its antibacterial properties against oral microorganisms, such as Streptococcus mutans, for supporting oral hygiene.
4. Aromatherapy & Sensory Products
- Sensory Modulation: In aromatherapy and wellness applications, the oil is used in diffuser blends, massage oils, and bath products for its characteristic fresh, sweet, and spicy aroma profile, which is associated with creating an invigorating and clarifying sensory environment.
- Important Chemotype Note: Basil essential oil exhibits significant chemical variability. Our products are available in multiple chemotypes (e.g., Linalool-rich, Methyl Chavicol-rich, Methyl Cinnamate-rich) to suit different regulatory and application requirements. Buyers are advised to specify their preferred chemotype, and we provide corresponding GC-MS verification for each batch.
Packing & Shipping
Why Choose Us & How to Order?
Located in China, if you purchase from us,we offer many additional convenient services, all of which cannot be easilly provided by other ingeredient products suppliers. Welcome to contact us to get FREE SAMPLE！
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