Wormwood EO

Latin name :

Artemisia absinthium

Botanical profile :

Woormwood is a plant of the Asteraceae family and the genus Artemisia. This type includes sagebrush, tarragon or davana.

Geographic origin :

Italy, France, Siberia, Roumania in majority, meanwhile it is possible to find it in the whole Eurasia

Chemotypes :

It is necessary to differentiate several varieties of absinthe.
Artemisia absinthium, otherwise known as Grande Wormwood.
Artemisia pontic, otherwise called Petite Wormwood.
Artemisia ludoviciana, otherwise known as White or Silver Wormwood.

Extraction process :

Wormwood is a plant that grows very easily up to 1 meter high. Its leaves change from gray to brown-green in summer. It is an indicator for its harvest. The plant shoot can be optimized by cutting the blooming plants: the plant produces more branches and therefore leaves during the next shoot. Furthermore, given its ephemeral nature, the propagation of a crop can be done by taking plant cuttings.
The absinthe harvest takes place from July to August. During these months, the leafy twigs are mowed and then dried in the shade (to prevent sunburn on the plants) or in the oven for a few hours.
The crushed leaves are steam distilled to collect an essential oil by decantation in a florentine vase.
The essential oil of wormwood contains a high rate of thujones with a toxic effect on the body. Thujones can be removed by reprocessing the oil with a fractional distillation.

Major Components :

Beta-Thuyone (30-45%)
Sabinyl Acetate (30-35%)
Sabinene (≈3%)
Sabinol (≈3%)
Alpha-Tuyone (≈3%)
Geranyl Propionate (≈2%)