Myrtle EO

Latin name :

Myrtus communis linnaeus

Botanical profile :

Myrtle is a shrub belonging to the Myrtaceae family (such as clove, eucalyptus or pepper) and to the genus myrtus.

Geographic origin :

Native to Australia, myrtle is nowadays mainly cultivated around the Mediterranean coast. Morocco, France, Spain and Tunisia are the main producers.

Chemotypes :

Two chemotypes exist,
One with Eucalyptol (Green Myrtle HE) - Available in Tunisia, France (Corsica) and Lebanon
The other with Myrtenyl Acetate (Red Myrtle HE) - Available in Morocco and Yugoslavia

Beware, the name Lemon Myrtle does not botanically correspond to a species of the genus Myrtus, but rather to Backhousia citriodora. (Still in the Myrtaceae but nothing to do with Myrtus)

Extraction process :

This essential oil is obtained through hydrodistillation of the branches and twigs of the shrub. These are harvested between May and June of each year.
The extraction process results in a yield between 2 and 3% (about 1kg of EO for 800kg of plants) for a duration of about 1h30.
Myrtle essential oil needs to be rectified.
Hydrolat possible, used especially in aromatherapy.

Major Components :

For Eucalyptol chemotype :
Alpha-Pinene (45-50%)
Eucalyptol (20-25%)
D-Limonene (5-7%)
Linalol (2-5%)
Geranyl acetate (2,5-5%)
Myrtenyl acetate (<1%)

For Myrtenyl acetate chemotype :
Eucalyptol (20-40%)
Alpha-Pinene (18-25%)
Myrtenyl acetate (15-20%)
D-Limonene (8-10%)
Linalol (2-8%)
Geranyl acetate (2,5-5%)