Melissa (Melissa officinalis) Essential Oil from dōTERRA®

About melissa oil from dōTERRA^®:

Also known as lemon balm, melissa has a delightful, light, lemon-like scent. This fresh, sweet, citrus-like fragrance, which was known to attract bees, led to its name. Melissa comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (melissa), meaning “honey bee”, which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), meaning “honey”.

Melissa essential oil is steam distilled from the fresh flowering tops, leaves and stems of the Melissa officinalis plant, yielding an oil with a distinctive citrus, herbaceous aroma, rich in the chemical compounds of geranial, germacrene, neral, caryophyllene. It was an important ingredient in Carmelite water, distilled in France since 1611, by members of the Carmelite Order.

Because the Melissa officinalis plant has an oil yield of less than 1/10 of 1%, melissa is one of the most rare and expensive oils. It takes three tons of Melissa officinalis to produce one pound of oil. Quality melissa oil, when you can get it, sells for $9,000 to $15,000 per kilo; which means that it is one of the most commonly adulterated of the essential oils.

Melissa has a wide range of health benefits and uses. It supports and helps to boost a healthy immune system; it helps to calm tension and nerves; diffusing melissa at night helps to initiate a restful sleep, and promotes emotional and cognitive health. It is also good at addressing occasional stomach discomfort. It is also used as a flavor in teas and ice cream, as well as with some fish dishes.

Primary benefits of melissa oil

• Supports, and helps boost, a healthy immune system
• Helps calm tension and nerves
• Addresses occasional stomach discomfort
• Helps initiate a restful sleep
• Promotes emotional and cognitive health

Uses for melissa oil

• Add 1–2 drops to herbal tea, to address occasional stomach discomfort.
• Diffuse at night, or rub on forehead, shoulders or chest, to help calm tension and nerves, and promote emotional and cognitive well-being.
• Place 1–2 drops under the tongue, to support and help boost a healthy immune system.

How to use:

Melissa oil is intended for aromatic, topical or internal use. It is gentle enough to be used neat.

• Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
• Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl oz of liquid.
• Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. While gentle enough to be used neat, dilution with dōTERRA‘s fractionated coconut oil will help to minimize any possible skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below.

Cautions: Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears and sensitive areas.

Chemical Profile

Chemo-type: Geranial

Primary constituents:

→ Aldehydes (up to 65%):

geranial (<35%),
neral (<28%),
citronellal (<3%),
α-cyclocitral.

→ Sesquiterpenes (<35%):

β-caryophyllene (<19%),
α-copaene (<5%),
germacrene-D (<4%),
β-bourbonene,
δ- & γcadinenes,
humulene,
β-elemene.

→ Oxides (<11%):

caryophyllene oxide (<7%),
1,8 cineol (<4%),

→ Alcolhols (<7%)

linalol,
octen-3ol,
nerol,
geraniol,
citronellol,
isopulegol,
caryophyllenol,
farnesol.

→ Esters (<7%):

mythyl citonellate (<5%),
citonellyl,
geranyl,
neryl & linalyl acetates.

→ Ketones (<7%):

methyl heptanone (<5%),
farnesylacetone,
octanone.

→ Monoterpenes (<3%):

cis- & trans-ocimenes,
l-limonene.

→ Sequiterpene Alcohols:

elemol,
α-cadinol.

→ Furanocoumarins:

aesculetin.