Mugwort

Mugwort and wormwood are often confused. Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium share a genus and the ketone thujone, but they are distinct plants. Great Mugwort, Artemisia arborescens, is a third species again, with a blue, chamazulene-bearing oil.

01 · Origin

Artemisia vulgaris is a tall perennial of the daisy family, Asteraceae, found across Europe, Asia and North Africa on field margins and waste ground. The leaves are dark green above and silvery-white beneath. It has a long history in European herbal and folk tradition. This oil is distilled in Egypt from the flowering plant of wild stands.

02 · Chemistry

Alpha- and beta-thujone lead the profile, followed by camphor, camphene, 1,8-cineole and sabinene. Thujone-bearing oils are used sparingly and always at low dilution. Comparison with Artemisia Arborescens / Great Mugwort (No. 1096) and Mugwort, White (No. 1151) shows the spread of chemistry within the genus.

03 · In Practice

Bitter, herbaceous and camphoraceous, with a sharp green top and a dry, sage-like body. A middle note. Olfactory study, meditation practice and natural perfumery in very small proportion. Blends with clary sage, lavender, cedarwood, patchouli, rosemary and juniper.

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.