Lantana camara l. aka Camara vulgaris, Lantana scabrida, Lantana antillana, Lantana aculeate, Lantana camara var aculeata Steam Distilled from the leaves, from India.

Aroma: Lantana essential oil has a strong, sharp, green scent reminiscent of sage dalmatian with hints of dill and woody background.

Description: This endemic species is resistant to drought and fire and is found in abundance in the central highland and the central-eastern hills of Madagascar at 800 m altitudes. Lantana is a shrub-like plant that may grow up to 45 centimetres high that sometimes goes by the name Wild Sage or Yellow Sage. It has opposing, serrated leaves and flowers borne in flat-topped clusters. The flower colour (which varies in different areas) may be white, yellow, orange, pink, or red. It has a dark blue or black berry-like fruit. The plants have proven to be extremely hardy; resistant to pests and disease and have been steadily spreading around the world due to their ability to adapt. They are also very popular in butterfly gardens and have been used in hedges around crops to keep grazing animals away.

Colour: Pale yellow to yellow liquid.

Common Uses: Lantana has been very popular in folk remedies for many years and has been used to treat a wide variety of conditions. It is believed to be antiviral, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic and insecticidal. It has been used for itchy skin, wounds, cuts, eczema, measles, chickenpox, scabies and leprosy. Other applications have included bronchitis, asthma, rheumatism, swellings, malaria, high blood pressure, and even tumours.

Chemical constituents: Germacrene-D, davanone, γ-elemene, β-caryophyllene, β-elemene, α-copaene, α-cadinene, geranyl acetate, terpinyl acetate, bornyl acetate, 1,8-cineole and D-limonene

Consistency: Thin

Note: Top

Strength of Aroma: Strong

Cautions: Lantana Essential Oil may cause dermatitis in some individuals. Use well diluted. Avoid use during pregnancy.

Photo thanks to Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons