Balkans · One of the Rarest Oils
Melissa
A Lot of Plant, Very Little Oil
Melissa, or lemon balm, is one of the most demanding plants to distil. It takes a very large quantity of plant material to produce a very small amount of oil, which makes genuine Melissa one of the rarest and most expensive oils in the trade.
That scarcity has also made it one of the most commonly adulterated oils on the market, often stretched or substituted with cheaper lemon scented oils. Verifying authenticity is essential, and something we treat with particular care.
Origin
Balkans
Extraction
Steam distillation
Recognized for
An exceptionally low distillation yield, making purity verification essential
Typical use
Calming formulations in cosmetics and aromatherapy