# Blue Yarrow essential oil > A deep-blue single oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, valued for its earthy aroma and naturally striking color. Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/blue-yarrow Type: Single oil ## At a glance - **Botanical name:** Achillea millefolium - **Plant part:** Flowering tops - **Extraction:** Steam-distilled - **Aroma:** Earthy, herbaceous, green - **Origin:** Temperate Europe - **Blends with:** Lavender, cedarwood, geranium ## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate) Based on 36 GC-MS samples from 14 peer-reviewed papers (2015–2026); Strong evidence base. 133 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range): | Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1,8-cineole | Oxygenated monoterpene | 7.65 | 4.2–13.36 | 22.4 | 12 | | borneol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 6.17 | 4.89–8.08 | 18.7 | 8 | | camphor | Oxygenated monoterpene | 4.35 | 3.21–8.68 | 18.55 | 11 | | β-pinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 4.42 | 2.08–10.04 | 12.84 | 10 | | β-caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 3.01 | 1.94–8.03 | 22.54 | 12 | | caryophyllene oxide | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 3.01 | 2.56–5.84 | 9.38 | 12 | | sabinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 3.19 | 0.92–5.52 | 14.28 | 8 | | α-terpineol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 3.12 | 2.22–4.91 | 7.23 | 8 | | α-pinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 2.21 | 1.76–2.84 | 10.46 | 11 | | germacrene d | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 3.12 | 1.04–10.79 | 26.15 | 7 | | nerolidol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 3.09 | 1.61–5 | 5.96 | 6 | | terpinen-4-ol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.98 | 1.75–2.42 | 3.25 | 8 | Chemotypes seen in the samples: 1,8-cineole (31% of samples), β-bisabolene (11% of samples), β-pinene (11% of samples), camphor (11% of samples), β-caryophyllene (8% of samples), β-phellandrene (8% of samples), borneol (6% of samples). ## Key constituents - **Chamazulene** — Naturally occurring compound responsible for the oil's deep-blue color - **Sabinene** — Contributes to the oil's fresh, herbaceous top note - **beta-Pinene** — Adds a woody, slightly resinous facet ## How to use it - **In the diffuser:** 2–3 drops alone, or with lavender for a soft, grounding evening atmosphere. - **On skin:** Dilute in a carrier oil — a traditional ingredient in moisturizing skincare blends. ## Safety - For topical use, dilute in a carrier oil and keep out of reach of children. - Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin. - Traditionally avoided during pregnancy. - Its blue chamazulene can stain fabrics; dilute before topical use. - Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children. ## What the research says - 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) (https://doi.org/10.24193/subbchem.2023.1.11) ## Evidence - Blue yarrow owes its colour to chamazulene formed in distillation; alongside it sit monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes that vary by chemotype. — Studia UBB Chemia (2023) (https://doi.org/10.24193/subbchem.2023.1.11) ## 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. ### 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. ### 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. ## Sources (GC-MS studies) - Rezaei-Adl F, Ghasemi Pirbalouti A, Rahimi T, Rajabzadeh F, Mozafari H. Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels. _Scientific reports_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12373951 - Pazouki L, Memari HR, Kännaste A, Bichele R, Niinemets Ü. 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_, 2015. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC4347605 - Bordea D, Nistor AL, Salanţă LC, Coldea TE, Rotar AM, Grigor OM, Vârban R, Gal E, Pop CR. 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)_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13209759 - Ben Abdallah S, Riahi C, Vacas S, Navarro-Llopis V, Urbaneja A, Pérez-Hedo M. The Dual Benefit of Plant Essential Oils against Tuta absoluta. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10005231 - Gómez de Cedrón M, Siles-Sanchez MLN, Martín-Hernandez D, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Ramírez de Molina A. Novel bioactive extract from yarrow obtained by the supercritical antisolvent-assisted technique inhibits lipid metabolism in colorectal cancer. _Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10991822 - Konarska A, Weryszko-Chmielewska E, Sulborska-Różycka A, Kiełtyka-Dadasiewicz A, Dmitruk M, Gorzel M. Herb and Flowers of Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium L.: Structure and Histochemistry of Secretory Tissues and Phytochemistry of Essential Oils. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10708006 - Toplan GG, Taşkın T, İşcan G, Göger F, Kürkçüoğlu M, Civaş A, Ecevit-Genç G, Mat A, Başer KHC. 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)_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8955464 - Villalva M, Silvan JM, Alarcón-Cavero T, Villanueva-Bermejo D, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Martinez-Rodriguez AJ. 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)_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9598488 - Atazhanova G, Badekova K, Levaya Y, Sabiyeva A, Kacergius T, Gabe V, Kadyrova I, Bakenova A, Makhmutova A, Sadyrbekov D, Ainabayev A, Smagulova E. Anti-Biofilm Activity of (+)-Endo-Borneol Against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>: Experimental Evaluation, Virulence Gene Expression Analysis, and Molecular Docking. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13516345 - Virchea LI, Totan M, Georgescu C, Frum A, Máthé E, Mironescu M, Pecsenye B, Nagy R, Danci OV, Mureșan ML, Palade NA, Gligor FG. Biological and Phytochemical Profile of Volatile Oils from Romanian Mountain Flora. _Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13517077 - Górska-Drabik E, Golan K, Sempruch C, Chrzanowski G, Dybowski MP, Poniewozik M. 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)_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12073657 - Angourani HR, Zarei A, Moghadam MM, Ramazani A, Mastinu A. 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)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9967057 - Peighambardoust SH, Yaghoubi M, Hosseinpour A, Alirezalu K, Soltanzadeh M, Dadpour M. 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)_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9658966 - Mohamed ME, Elsayed SA, Madkor HR, Eldien HMS, Mohafez OM. Yarrow oil ameliorates ulcerative colitis in mice model via regulating the NF-κB and PPAR-γ pathways. _Intestinal research_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8100379 _Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._