Blue Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
A deep-blue single oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, valued for its earthy aroma and naturally striking color.
How to use it
2–3 drops alone, or with lavender for a soft, grounding evening atmosphere.
Dilute in a carrier oil — a traditional ingredient in moisturizing skincare blends.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- Traditionally avoided during pregnancy.
- Its blue chamazulene can stain fabrics; dilute before topical use.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: Studia UBB Chemia (2023)
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 36 GC-MS samples across 14 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2015–2026). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
These figures represent Achillea millefolium across the literature. Blue Yarrow is a specific origin or cultivar of that species, so its exact proportions can sit anywhere within these published ranges.
- Oxygenated monoterpene 45.6%
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 18.9%
- Oxygenated sesquiterpene 17.2%
- Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 10.8%
- Unclassified 5.3%
- Other terpenoid/aromatic 2.1%
- Aliphatic / other 0.1%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,8-cineole ↗ C10H18O | 7.7% | 4.2–13.4% | 22.4% | |
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| borneol ↗ C10H18O | 6.2% | 4.9–8.1% | 18.7% | |
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| β-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 4.4% | 2.1–10.0% | 12.8% | |
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| camphor ↗ C10H16O | 4.3% | 3.2–8.7% | 18.6% | |
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| sabinene ↗ C10H16 | 3.2% | 0.9–5.5% | 14.3% | |
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| α-terpineol ↗ C10H18O | 3.1% | 2.2–4.9% | 7.2% | |
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| germacrene d ↗ C15H24 | 3.1% | 1.0–10.8% | 26.1% | |
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| nerolidol ↗ C15H26O | 3.1% | 1.6–5.0% | 6.0% | |
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| β-caryophyllene ↗ C15H24 | 3.0% | 1.9–8.0% | 22.5% | |
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| caryophyllene oxide ↗ C15H24O | 3.0% | 2.6–5.8% | 9.4% | |
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| α-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 2.2% | 1.8–2.8% | 10.5% | |
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| terpinen-4-ol ↗ C10H18O | 2.0% | 1.8–2.4% | 3.3% | |
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+ 121 more compounds reported across the dataset.
14 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Rezaei-Adl F, Ghasemi Pirbalouti A, Rahimi T, Rajabzadeh F, Mozafari H. (2025). Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels. Scientific reports.
- Pazouki L, Memari HR, Kännaste A, Bichele R, Niinemets Ü. (2015). Germacrene A synthase in yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is an enzyme with mixed substrate specificity: gene cloning, functional characterization and expression analysis. Frontiers in plant science.
- Bordea D, Nistor AL, Salanţă LC, Coldea TE, Rotar AM, Grigor OM, Vârban R, Gal E, Pop CR. (2026). Chemical Composition and Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity of <i>Hypericum perforatum</i> and <i>Achillea millefolium</i> Essential Oils Against Wound-Associated Microorganisms. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Ben Abdallah S, Riahi C, Vacas S, Navarro-Llopis V, Urbaneja A, Pérez-Hedo M. (2023). The Dual Benefit of Plant Essential Oils against Tuta absoluta. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Gómez de Cedrón M, Siles-Sanchez MLN, Martín-Hernandez D, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Ramírez de Molina A. (2024). Novel bioactive extract from yarrow obtained by the supercritical antisolvent-assisted technique inhibits lipid metabolism in colorectal cancer. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology.
- Konarska A, Weryszko-Chmielewska E, Sulborska-Różycka A, Kiełtyka-Dadasiewicz A, Dmitruk M, Gorzel M. (2023). Herb and Flowers of Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium L.: Structure and Histochemistry of Secretory Tissues and Phytochemistry of Essential Oils. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Toplan GG, Taşkın T, İşcan G, Göger F, Kürkçüoğlu M, Civaş A, Ecevit-Genç G, Mat A, Başer KHC. (2022). Comparative Studies on Essential Oil and Phenolic Content with In Vitro Antioxidant, Anticholinesterase, Antimicrobial Activities of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and A. millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan. L. Growing in Eastern Turkey. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Villalva M, Silvan JM, Alarcón-Cavero T, Villanueva-Bermejo D, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Martinez-Rodriguez AJ. (2022). Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antibacterial Properties of an Achillea millefolium L. Extract and Its Fractions Obtained by Supercritical Anti-Solvent Fractionation against Helicobacter pylori. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Atazhanova G, Badekova K, Levaya Y, Sabiyeva A, Kacergius T, Gabe V, Kadyrova I, Bakenova A, Makhmutova A, Sadyrbekov D, Ainabayev A, Smagulova E. (2026). Anti-Biofilm Activity of (+)-Endo-Borneol Against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>: Experimental Evaluation, Virulence Gene Expression Analysis, and Molecular Docking. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Virchea LI, Totan M, Georgescu C, Frum A, Máthé E, Mironescu M, Pecsenye B, Nagy R, Danci OV, Mureșan ML, Palade NA, Gligor FG. (2026). Biological and Phytochemical Profile of Volatile Oils from Romanian Mountain Flora. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland).
- Górska-Drabik E, Golan K, Sempruch C, Chrzanowski G, Dybowski MP, Poniewozik M. (2025). Chemical Composition and Toxicity of <i>Achillea millefolium</i> L. Essential Oil Against <i>Acrobasis advenella</i> (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) Under Laboratory Conditions. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Angourani HR, Zarei A, Moghadam MM, Ramazani A, Mastinu A. (2023). Investigation on the Essential Oils of the Achillea Species: From Chemical Analysis to the In Silico Uptake against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. Life (Basel, Switzerland).
- Peighambardoust SH, Yaghoubi M, Hosseinpour A, Alirezalu K, Soltanzadeh M, Dadpour M. (2022). Development and Application of Dual-Sensors Label in Combination with Active Chitosan-Based Coating Incorporating Yarrow Essential Oil for Freshness Monitoring and Shelf-Life Extension of Chicken Fillet. Foods (Basel, Switzerland).
- Mohamed ME, Elsayed SA, Madkor HR, Eldien HMS, Mohafez OM. (2021). Yarrow oil ameliorates ulcerative colitis in mice model via regulating the NF-κB and PPAR-γ pathways. Intestinal research.
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- Chamazulene — the deep-blue sesquiterpene formed in distillation, studied for anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing activity in vitro Studia UBB Chemia (2023)
Its Latin genus name references Achilles, who legend says used the plant to treat his soldiers' wounds.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Yarrow oil's chamazulene and other constituents have been studied for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity in the laboratory. These are in-vitro findings; yarrow's long herbal reputation is traditional and preliminary.
Studia UBB Chemia (2023)
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Blue Yarrow's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Blue yarrow owes its colour to chamazulene formed in distillation; alongside it sit monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes that vary by chemotype.
Studia UBB Chemia (2023)
Frequently asked questions
Why is some yarrow oil blue?
Chamazulene-containing chemotypes of Achillea millefolium produce a blue oil, the chamazulene forming during steam distillation. Not all yarrow is deeply blue — it depends on the chemotype and how it's distilled. Studia UBB Chemia (2023)
What is yarrow oil traditionally used for?
Yarrow has a long herbal history for skin and 'toning' uses, and its chamazulene is studied for soothing activity. These uses are traditional and preliminary rather than clinically proven. Studia UBB Chemia (2023)
Is blue yarrow phototoxic?
No — yarrow isn't phototoxic, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. It's traditionally avoided in pregnancy, and its blue colour can stain.
Gallery
The Plant
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a hardy, feathery-leaved wildflower found across temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, and it carries one of the longer folk-medicine histories of any Western herb — its Latin genus name references Achilles, who legend says used the plant to treat his soldiers’ wounds. Dried yarrow has shown up in traditional herbal preparations for centuries across many cultures.
Extraction & Aroma
Blue Yarrow oil is steam-distilled from the plant’s flowering tops, and like a handful of other “blue” oils — blue tansy and blue cypress among them — it owes its striking deep-blue hue to naturally occurring chamazulene, formed as a byproduct of the distillation process itself rather than present in the fresh plant. The aroma is earthy and herbaceous, with a calming, slightly green character underpinned by sabinene and beta-pinene.
Traditional & Everyday Uses
In the diffuser: 2–3 drops alone, or blended with lavender for a soft, grounding evening atmosphere that leans calming rather than bright.
On skin: dilute in a carrier oil before use; blue yarrow is a traditional ingredient in skincare blends valued for its moisturizing qualities, and it’s sometimes worked into massage oils for tired muscles.
Pairing
Beyond lavender, blue yarrow pairs well with other earthy or woodsy oils like cedarwood, or with a lighter floral like geranium for a more balanced, rounded blend.
Sourcing Note
The intensity of the blue color varies by harvest and distillation, so it’s a rough visual cue of quality but not a guarantee — a paler batch isn’t necessarily a lower-quality one, just a different harvest.