LEMON MYRTLE ESSENTIAL OIL - Australia
Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil
Lemony · Green · Intense
Backhousia citriodora
Grown on Dainggatti, Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung Countries, Australia, Lemon Myrtle is one of Australia’s most distinctive aromatic native plants.
Its leaves hold an intensely lemony, fresh and green fragrance with a brightness that can seem almost crystalline. Unlike Lemon Essential Oil, which is pressed from citrus peel, Lemon Myrtle’s citrus character comes from the aromatic leaves of an Australian tree.
Rich in naturally occurring citral, the oil is powerful and highly diffusive. Only a small amount is needed to bring brilliant lemon freshness to a botanical composition.
Beneath that intensity is something distinctly Australian: green aromatic leaf, warm bushland and a subtle herbal quality that separates Lemon Myrtle from conventional citrus.
A botanical expression of Australian leaves, brilliant citrus and aromatic bushland.
The aroma
Intensely Lemony · Green · Fresh · Herbaceous
Botanical Notes
Lemon Myrtle — Backhousia citriodora
Lemon Myrtle belongs to the Myrtaceae family, alongside Eucalyptus, Tea Tree and Kunzea.
Its lemon fragrance comes not from fruit, but from its aromatic leaves, which contain high levels of the naturally occurring fragrance constituents collectively known as citral.:
Lemon — citrus fruit · aromatic peel · bright, zesty and juicy
Lemon Myrtle — Australian native tree · aromatic leaf · intensely lemony, green and herbaceous
The latter is more powerful, more persistent and unmistakably botanical.
Botanical Profile
Botanical name: Backhousia citriodora
Plant family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia — Dainggatti, Gumbaynggirr & Bundjalung Countries
Plant part: Leaves
Extraction: Steam distillation*
Aroma family: Citrus-like · Green · Herbal
Perfume note: Top to Middle
Perfumery role: Powerful lifting note
Aroma: Intensely lemony and fresh with green, leafy and softly herbaceous undertones
Blends Beautifully With
Australian Botanicals: Tea Tree · Kunzea · Eucalyptus · Australian Sandalwood
Citrus: Lemon · Lime · Orange
Herbs: Basil · Lavender · Peppermint · Rosemary
Spice: Black Pepper · Ginger · Clove Bud · Cinnamon Bark
Florals: Geranium
Woods & Forest: Sandalwood · Pine · Black Spruce
Lemon Myrtle is exceptionally powerful, so in botanical perfumery I would treat it almost like a concentrated accent rather than an ordinary citrus top note.
It can bring incredible brightness to woods and herbs, but too much will quickly dominate more delicate materials.
The Ritual
Add a small amount to a diffuser for a vivid fragrance of lemony Australian leaves.
Because of its intensity, begin with one or two drops and build from there rather than using the quantities suggested in the old diffuser recipe.
For topical formulations, Lemon Myrtle should always be appropriately diluted.
In botanical perfumery, use sparingly to introduce brilliant citrus-green lift.
Try Lemon Myrtle + Kunzea + Australian Sandalwood for a distinctly Australian aromatic composition.
Or Lemon Myrtle + Ginger + Vetiver for something more unexpected — brilliant citrus leaf moving through spice into earthy roots.
For a softer composition, Lemon Myrtle + Lavender + Sandalwood would be beautiful.
Ingredients
100% Pure Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil — Backhousia citriodora
From aromatic Australian Lemon Myrtle leaves.
Grown on Dainggatti, Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung Countries.
Safety
For external use only. Do not ingest or apply undiluted to the skin.
Lemon Myrtle essential oil is naturally very high in citral, which can cause skin irritation and sensitisation if used at inappropriate concentrations.
Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Keep out of reach of children. Store tightly closed in a cool, dark place.