Steam-distilled from the leaves of Laurus nobilis — the bay of the kitchen cupboard, and the laurel of the victor's wreath. Spicy, sweet and deep green, with a warm eugenol note underneath and a cineole freshness on top. It is one of the more complex and interesting smells on this shelf.
Please patch test this one, even if you never patch test
Bay laurel is a well-documented contact sensitiser and it appears on dermatology patch-test panels. The cause is thought to be the sesquiterpene lactones it contains, principally costunolide — the same class of compound behind allergic reactions to chrysanthemum, arnica and feverfew. Reactions can appear after a period of trouble-free use, which is exactly what sensitisation means.
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Dilute to one per cent or below in a carrier oil — about 6 drops in 30 ml. Never neat.
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Patch test at your intended dilution and wait 24 hours, and repeat it if you have not used the oil for a while.
- Do not use it on broken, irritated or sensitive skin.
- If you know you react to plants in the daisy family — chamomile, arnica, feverfew, chrysanthemum — be especially careful.
Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and not for children. Bay laurel also contains small quantities of methyleugenol, a compound restricted in cosmetics under the EU Cosmetics Regulation because of genotoxicity concerns — another reason to use this oil in drops, occasionally, and at low dilution rather than daily on large areas.
What an essential oil may and may not claim
Bay laurel is often sold on the promise that it "uplifts the senses, lending a feeling of confidence and courage", that "in moments of stress or low spirits" it "encourages brighter, more positive emotions", that it "lends support to a healthy respiratory system, helping to ease congestion", and that it can "awaken a sluggish appetite". You will not find any of that here.
Claims about emotional state, the respiratory system, congestion and appetite are all health claims, and none is authorised in the EU for any essential oil. The wording about low spirits edges towards a mental health condition, which we treat with particular care.
What it is genuinely good for
Its scent, which is unusually rich for a leaf oil — spicy without being hot, green without being sharp. It is a beautiful bridge note in a blend, sitting comfortably between herbs, spices, woods and citrus, and it is superb with bergamot, cypress, cedarwood, clove, black pepper and lavender.
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Diffusion: one or two drops, ventilated room, short session. Not around children, pregnant women or pets — cats especially.
- Keep it off unsealed wood and painted surfaces.
Safety — the essentials
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Never swallow essential oils without the direct supervision of a qualified health professional. A bay leaf in a stew and a bottle of distilled bay oil are separated by a factor of hundreds — never reason from one to the other.
- Keep out of reach of children, in the original bottle with the child-resistant cap.
- In eyes: flush with plain vegetable oil rather than water.
- Accident or swallowing: in Portugal call CIAV on 800 250 250 — free, 24 hours. In an emergency, 112.
Storage: cool, dark, tightly closed, upright.
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
