Coriandrum sativum Steam Distilled from the seeds in Egypt where it is indigenous

Aroma: Sweet, spicy, woody, slightly fruity, herbaceous warm smell. Some aromatherapists believe that the aroma improves with age.

History: Coriander Essential Oil is indigenous to Egypt and has been in use there for over 3000 years. Both ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed coriander had aphrodisiac properties. Its name was said to be dated back to the Greek word “Koris” which means ‘bed bug” due to the fact that the plants smell strongly like these insects. In Ancient Egypt, pharaohs were buried with coriander seeds and it was one of the plants that hung in the famous Gardens of Babylon.

Common Uses: Coriander can stimulate appetite, ease indigestion, and relieve neuralgia. The therapeutic properties of Coriander Egyptian Essential Oil include analgesic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, carminative, deodorant, digestive, fungicidal, revitalizing and stimulant. It can aid in relieving mental fatigue, migraine pain, tension, and nervous weakness. This oil’s warming effect is also helpful for alleviating pain such as rheumatism, arthritis and muscle spasms.

Possible Uses: Aches, arthritis, colic, fatigue, gout, indigestion, nausea, rheumatism. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 60-67.]

Emotional use: joyful stability, calm creativity

Typically Egyptian coriander has +-53% aldehydes and high linalool content
Typical Contents: Linalool, α-pinene, γ-terpinene, camphene, limonene, phellandrenes, α-terpinene, cymene, myrcene

Constituents: Linalol, decyl aldehyde, borneol, geraniol, carvone, anethole. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 127.]

Colour: Pale Yellow

Consistency: Medium

Perfumery Note: Middle

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium

Safety Information: Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 215.]

Cautions: Avoid use during pregnancy.

Photo thanks to Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons