Artemisia Annua / Sweet Wormwood

Sweet wormwood is often assumed to share the thujone-rich chemistry of common wormwood, Artemisia absinthium. Artemisia annua belongs to the same genus but follows a different chemical route. Its oil is led by artemisia ketone and 1,8-cineole.

01 · Origin

An annual herb of the Asteraceae, native to temperate Asia, with finely divided, fern-like leaves and small yellow flower heads. It grows tall within a single season. This oil is distilled in India from the leaves of conventionally grown plants. Great Mugwort, Artemisia arborescens (No. 1096), and White Mugwort, Artemisia herba-alba (No. 1151), show the range within the genus.

02 · Chemistry

1,8-cineole and artemisia ketone lead. Artemisia ketone is an irregular monoterpene named after the genus, and it gives the oil its sweet, fruity, slightly bitter note. Cineole adds a fresh, camphoraceous lift. Ketone-bearing oils are used at low concentration.

03 · In Practice

Sweet, herbaceous and fresh, with a fruity top and a bitter green drydown. A middle note of good diffusive strength. Diffusion, room sprays, massage blends at low dilution and natural perfumery, where it adds a wild herbal note. Blends with lavender, clary sage, bergamot, cedarwood, juniper, chamomile and pine.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.