# German Chamomile essential oil

> A deep-blue, azulene-rich chamomile oil prized for calming diffuser blends and gentle, soothing skin-care use.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/german-chamomile

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Matricaria recutita
- **Plant part:** Flowers
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Sweet, herbaceous
- **Origin:** Egypt
- **Blends with:** Lavender, geranium

## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate)

Based on 26 GC-MS samples from 10 peer-reviewed papers (2012–2026); Strong evidence base. 55 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range):

| Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bisabolol oxide a | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 21.78 | 20.63–33.75 | 62.32 | 7 |
| bisabolol oxide b | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 8.18 | 3.06–15.41 | 22.27 | 7 |
| α-bisabolol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 9.7 | 1.77–21.97 | 40.98 | 5 |
| (e)-β-farnesene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 6.01 | 5.43–13.73 | 43.3 | 8 |
| chamazulene | Other terpenoid/aromatic | 4.65 | 2.69–7.19 | 18.7 | 6 |
| germacrene d | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.02 | 0.75–1.79 | 4.13 | 8 |
| bicyclogermacrene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.42 | 0.37–1.55 | 10.71 | 5 |
| spathulenol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 0.76 | 0.51–1.84 | 2.39 | 6 |
| (e)-β-ocimene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 0.61 | 0.39–3.14 | 10.12 | 4 |
| artemisia ketone | Oxygenated monoterpene | 0.32 | 0.14–0.81 | 1.81 | 4 |

Chemotypes seen in the samples: α-bisabolol (35% of samples), bisabolol oxide a (27% of samples), bisabolol oxide b (15% of samples).

## Key constituents

- **Chamazulene** — Gives German Chamomile its deep blue color; formed from matricin during steam distillation
- **Alpha-bisabolol** — A soothing sesquiterpene alcohol
- **Bisabolol oxides** — Related sesquiterpene derivatives contributing to the calming, sweet-herbaceous aroma

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** 2–3 drops for a calming scent, often layered with lavender for a wind-down routine.
- **On skin:** Dilute 1–3% in a carrier oil — a gentle choice for sensitive-skin blends; patch-test first.

## Safety

- Chamomile is in the Asteraceae family — anyone with a ragweed or daisy allergy should patch-test carefully before use.
- Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin.
- A gentle oil, but the deep blue colour can stain fabric and light surfaces — handle with care.
- Not phototoxic. Dilute for skin use; keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- German chamomile's chamazulene and α-bisabolol have been studied for anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory models. These are in-vitro/preclinical findings about the constituents, not clinical proof the oil treats skin conditions. — Ghasemi et al. (2016), Foods (https://doi.org/10.3390/foods5030056)

## Evidence

- German chamomile is defined by α-bisabolol and chamazulene; chamazulene forms during distillation and gives the oil its characteristic ink-blue colour. — Ghasemi et al. (2016), Foods (https://doi.org/10.3390/foods5030056)

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is German chamomile oil blue?

The blue colour comes from chamazulene, which isn't present in the fresh flower but forms from a precursor during steam distillation. The deeper the blue, generally the higher the chamazulene.

### How is it different from Roman chamomile?

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is blue and bisabolol/chamazulene-rich; Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is pale and ester-rich. Both are gentle but chemically and aromatically distinct.

### Does German chamomile stain?

Yes — its deep blue chamazulene can stain fabrics and light surfaces. Dilute it and handle carefully to avoid marks.

## Sources (GC-MS studies)

- Prakhyath KM, Sharma PM, Pragadheesh VS, Veeragurunathan V, Gopalakrishnan VAK, Ghosh A, Yogendra ND. Dynamics of Gracilaria edulis liquid extract on agromorphology, yield, and essential oil profile of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.). _BMC plant biology_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13251162
- Gorgini Shabankareh H, Asgharipour MR, Salehi Sardoei A, Kamaliun AR, Mohammadi H, Ghorbanpour M. Evaluation of the rainfed and irrigated conditions on biomass and essential oil yield of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) in response to melatonin foliar application. _BMC plant biology_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11783769
- Yadav N, Shakya P, Kumar A, Gautam RD, Chauhan R, Kumar D, Kumar A, Singh S, Singh S. Investigation on pollination approaches, reproductive biology and essential oil variation during floral development in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). _Scientific reports_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9464230
- Karaca N, Demirci B, Gavahian M, Demirci F. Enhanced Bioactivity of Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, and Chamomile Essential Oils by Fractionation, Combination, and Emulsification. _ACS omega_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10061596
- Shah FM, Guddeti DK, Paudel P, Chen J, Li XC, Khan IA, Ali A. Matricaria chamomilla Essential Oils: Repellency and Toxicity against Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10384828
- Irmisch S, Krause ST, Kunert G, Gershenzon J, Degenhardt J, Köllner TG. The organ-specific expression of terpene synthase genes contributes to the terpene hydrocarbon composition of chamomile essential oils. _BMC plant biology_, 2012. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC3423072
- Nagy M, Mansour E, Elbrense H. In silico screening for safe and potent essential oils against mosquito neural targets. _Frontiers in zoology_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13285536
- El-Assri EM, Hmamou A, El-Assri Y, Baghouz A, Elrherabi A, Bouhrim M, Alqahtani AS, Brahimi RE, Radouane N, El Barnossi A, Moussaoui AE, Chebaibi M, Lahkimi A, Eloutassi N, Bouia A. Phytochemical profiling in vitro and in silico evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal properties of Moroccan matricaria chamomilla essential oil. _Scientific reports_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12698723
- Sepp J, Koshovyi O, Jakštas V, Žvikas V, Botsula I, Kireyev I, Severina H, Kukhtenko O, Põhako-Palu K, Kogermann K, Heinämäki J, Raal A. Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Molecular Docking Study of Dry Extracts of <i>Matricaria discoidea</i> DC. with Analgesic and Soporific Activities. _Biomolecules_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10968509
- Nakurte I, Berga M, Pastare L, Kienkas L, Senkovs M, Boroduskis M, Ramata-Stunda A. Valorization of Bioactive Compounds from By-Products of Matricaria recutita White Ray Florets. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9861205

_Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._