# Helichrysum essential oil > A prized, low-yield floral oil popular in skin-care circles for blends aimed at the look of skin after activity or aging. Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/helichrysum Type: Single oil ## At a glance - **Botanical name:** Helichrysum italicum - **Plant part:** Flowering tops - **Extraction:** Steam-distilled - **Aroma:** Warm, herbaceous, honeyed - **Origin:** Mediterranean (Corsica, Italy) - **Blends with:** Lavender, frankincense, geranium ## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate) Based on 25 GC-MS samples from 10 peer-reviewed papers (2019–2026); Strong evidence base. 90 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range): | Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | γ-curcumene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 14.57 | 14.07–15.47 | 20.22 | 5 | | neryl acetate | Oxygenated monoterpene | 12.04 | 9.03–16.98 | 21.2 | 6 | | α-pinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 7.23 | 3.65–11.43 | 15.13 | 9 | | β-selinene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 5.25 | 1.39–6.81 | 11.27 | 7 | | α-selinene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 4.61 | 2.26–6.69 | 7.27 | 6 | | β-caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 4.35 | 2.44–4.99 | 19.78 | 6 | | rosifoliol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 5.11 | 1.71–7.36 | 7.37 | 5 | | italicene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 3.98 | 3.53–6.4 | 8.42 | 6 | | limonene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 2.48 | 1.24–3.29 | 4.71 | 8 | | ar-curcumene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 4.7 | 1.64–8.28 | 10.41 | 4 | | linalool | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.37 | 1.02–2.31 | 11.57 | 9 | | α-copaene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.81 | 0.67–2.8 | 4.5 | 6 | Chemotypes seen in the samples: neryl acetate (44% of samples), γ-curcumene (28% of samples), α-pinene (12% of samples). ## Key constituents - **Neryl acetate** (20-40%) — A major ester giving helichrysum its fruity-floral honey note - **Italidiones (unique diketones)** — Rare diketone compounds largely unique to Helichrysum italicum, prized in skin-care formulations - **Alpha-Pinene** — A common terpene contributing to the oil's fresh top note ## How to use it - **On skin:** Dilute 2–4% in a carrier oil — a favorite in appearance-focused skin-care blends. - **In the diffuser:** 2–3 drops layered with lavender or frankincense for a calming evening blend. ## 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. - A gentle, well-tolerated oil; dilute before topical use as usual. - Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children. ## What the research says - Helichrysum's neryl acetate and related constituents have been studied for antioxidant and other activities in the laboratory. Its 'skin repair' reputation is popular and traditional, not established by strong clinical evidence. — PLOS ONE study (2022) (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268384) ## Evidence - Corsican helichrysum is defined by neryl acetate as its major constituent, alongside curcumenes and the distinctive italidione diketones. — PLOS ONE study (2022) (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268384) ## Frequently asked questions ### Why is helichrysum oil so expensive? Helichrysum italicum yields very little oil per plant and is labour-intensive to harvest, especially the prized Corsican type. Low yield plus high demand for skincare keeps prices among the highest of any essential oil. ### Is helichrysum good for skin? It's popular in skincare and generally gentle, but its 'skin repair' and bruise reputation is largely traditional. Enjoy it as a soothing addition to a diluted blend rather than a proven treatment. ### Is helichrysum phototoxic? No — it isn't phototoxic. Dilute it for skin use, but there's no sun-exposure restriction. ## Sources (GC-MS studies) - Glumac M, Jažo Z, Paštar V, Golemac A, Čikeš Čulić V, Bektić S, Radan M, Carev I. Chemical Profiling and Bioactivity Assessment of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. Essential Oil: Exploring Pure Compounds and Synergistic Combinations. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10384098 - Zeremski T, Šovljanski O, Vukić V, Lončar B, Rat M, Perković Vukčević N, Aćimović M, Pezo L. Combination of Chromatographic Analysis and Chemometric Methods with Bioactivity Evaluation of the Antibacterial Properties of Helichrysum italicum Essential Oil. _Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11201240 - Juliano C, Marchetti M, Campagna P, Usai M. Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oil from Helichrysum microphyllum Cambess. subsp. tyrrhenicum Bacch., Brullo & Giusso collected in South-West Sardinia. _Saudi journal of biological sciences_, 2019. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC6601027 - Węglarz Z, Kosakowska O, Pióro-Jabrucka E, Przybył JL, Gniewosz M, Kraśniewska K, Szyndel MS, Costa R, Bączek KB. Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. from Central Europe. _Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9227552 - Castagliuolo G, Sordillo A, Ramaminirina HJB, Di Girolamo D, Varcamonti M, Badalamenti N, Rakotonandrasana SR, Zanfardino A, Bruno M, Rasamison VE. Phytochemistry, Antimicrobial, and Antibiofilm Properties of Malagasy <i>Helichrysum manopappoides</i> Essential Oil. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12986664 - Malaspina P, Polito F, La Neve A, De Feo V, Cornara L, Trombetta D, Smeriglio A. Essential Oils from Pruning Residues of <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill. 'Essence Purple' and <i>Helichrysum italicum</i> (Roth) G.Don: Phytotoxic and Ecotoxicological Evaluation. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13119451 - Balázs VL, Filep R, Répás F, Kerekes E, Szabó P, Kocsis B, Böszörményi A, Krisch J, Horváth G. Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don) Essential Oil Showed Antibacterial and Biofilm Inhibitory Activity against Respiratory Tract Pathogens. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9457731 - Kunc N, Frlan A, Baričevič D, Kočevar Glavač N, Kokalj Ladan M. Essential Oil and Hydrosol Composition of Immortelle (Helichrysumitalicum). _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9570752 - Andjić M, Božin B, Draginić N, Kočović A, Jeremić JN, Tomović M, Milojević Šamanović A, Kladar N, Čapo I, Jakovljević V, Bradić JV. Formulation and Evaluation of Helichrysum italicum Essential Oil-Based Topical Formulations for Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats. _Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8400224 - Kramberger K, Barlič-Maganja D, Bandelj D, Baruca Arbeiter A, Peeters K, Miklavčič Višnjevec A, Jenko Pražnikar Z. HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS Determination of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity Comparison of the Hydroalcoholic and Water Extracts from Two Helichrysum italicum Species. _Metabolites_, 2020. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC7600872 _Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._