Materia Aromatica
The Libraries
The name ‘lavender’ does not describe one oil. Nor does ‘frankincense’. Each covers several species, chemotypes and origins, with distinct compositions. A Library reads one genus across all of them.
01 · Why read by genus
A common name groups oils that differ in chemistry. Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia share a name but not a profile: spike lavender carries 1,8-cineole and camphor alongside linalool. Boswellia sacra and Boswellia serrata are both sold as frankincense. Thyme runs from thymol to linalool chemotypes. Origin, altitude and extraction method shift each profile further. Every Library sets these oils side by side, with botanical name, origin, cultivation and main constituents stated for each entry. The selection rests on the plant, not the label.
10 oils
The Lavender Library
Five species, ten oils. Lavender read by species, origin and method.
5 oils
The Rose Library
Rosa damascena and Rosa alba, read by origin and by method.
6 oils
The Frankincense Library
Boswellia is not one oil. Frankincense read by species and origin.
7 oils
Chamomile · A Field of Cousins
Five genera share one name. The chamomiles, laid out as a family.
6 oils
The Eucalyptus Library
One genus, four chemistries. Eucalyptus read by chemotype and origin.
7 oils
The Helichrysum Library
Four species, four countries. Immortelle from France to Madagascar.
3 oils
The Sandalwood Library
Three woods, three oils. Sandalwood read by species and origin.
4 oils
The Geranium Library
Distinct oils under one name. Geranium read by species and type.
8 oils
The Thyme Library
One herb, many oils. Thyme read by chemotype.
6 oils
The Rosemary Library
Rosemary is three oils, not one. Read by chemotype and origin.