The Lamiacae family of plants groups together lots of great herbs we know and use frequently. It used to be called the Labiatae family (and sometimes still is), but I’m glad we’ve upgraded the name!
You may never have guessed it but these plants, that make wonderful aromatic oils, belong together:
Basil
Clary Sage
Hyssop
Lavender
Melissa (lemon balm)
Marjoram
Oregano
Peppermint
Patchouli
Sage
Spearmint
Thyme
So when you smell lavender, even though the flowering tops are used in the distillation process (as well as other parts of the plant), it really is a herb. Try smelling hints of marjoram in the oil and it can give you a very different opinion of it.
Thyme and oregano also have those marjoram notes too, even though they are very strong oils and less user-friendly than marjoram in massage and skincare.
Hyssop has a spicy scent, and once again very herbaceous. It smells similar to sage, lavender and marjoram.
Basil is quite distinct, but two or three seconds into a good long whiff, you will also detect hints of the other herbs.
Clary Sage is a very heady oil and quite different to Sage – but you can almost smell a little hyssop in there.
Patchouli is another oil that tends to stand out in this group as it has very individual notes. The earthiness however, connects a little bit to the sages, and even thyme.
Melissa is a premium oil and is the only lemon scented herb of the group. It is a lot more subtle than other lemon scented oils like lemongrass, may chang and lemon scented tea tree. I would definitely consider it to be quite special and very talented.
The mints are very different and spearmint often gets a bad wrap because of its use in toothpaste and gums. Some people find it hard to relate to as an essential oil but I love it in mists and use it in skincare too. It’s great to use when peppermint is too strong for an oil blend for the body, and when you want a herb that’s sweet and light.
This lovely Lamiacae family deserves our praise and thanks for serving us for thousands of years. And now we have the beautiful aromatic oils they provide, yay for us!
We live in a scented paradise!
Hey Suzanne,
I have sometimes wondered at the similarities displayed by these plants, especially in visual, now I want to smell all their oils.
When I get back we need to go sniffing please,
Portia xx
Yep I agree they are quite wonderful as a little gang! It would be good to have a comparison sniff of the fresh plants x
Hi Suzanne. We have a terrible problem here in South Africa with ticks, fleas and mites on our dogs. Do you have any suggestions for the best repelling essential oils for these little critters that is kind to dogs? Lemon Eucalyptus, Citronella?
Craig
Hi Craig! Yes you are on the right track I can only imagine how diligent you have to be with the four legged friends. I would actually choose citronella. Lemongrass will be just as good but only use the oils in small quantities. I would look for a pet product based on natural pyrethrum and then add some citronella. Look for any signs of irritation afterwards and discontinue the essential oils if any problems occur. Beat wishes and good luck