# Melissa essential oil

> A rare, delicate lemon-balm oil valued for its calming aromatic profile — genuine Melissa is scarce and easily adulterated in the market.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/melissa

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Melissa officinalis
- **Plant part:** Leaves and flowering tops
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Bright, herbaceous, honeyed
- **Origin:** Mediterranean
- **Blends with:** Lavender, geranium, ylang ylang

## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate)

Based on 39 GC-MS samples from 16 peer-reviewed papers (2019–2026); Strong evidence base. 109 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range):

| Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| geranial | Oxygenated monoterpene | 31 | 23.69–41.4 | 49.76 | 9 |
| neral | Oxygenated monoterpene | 22.04 | 19.54–28.91 | 32.5 | 9 |
| β-caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 8.51 | 2.2–17.61 | 27.41 | 13 |
| citronellal | Oxygenated monoterpene | 4.71 | 2.92–6.4 | 22.17 | 10 |
| caryophyllene oxide | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 4.09 | 2.25–6.35 | 13.18 | 11 |
| geranyl acetate | Oxygenated monoterpene | 2.27 | 1.86–3.96 | 4.81 | 8 |
| limonene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 2.6 | 0.62–4.3 | 7.39 | 6 |
| α-humulene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.44 | 1.04–2.96 | 4.4 | 10 |
| linalool | Oxygenated monoterpene | 0.99 | 0.59–1.1 | 5.24 | 12 |
| geraniol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.35 | 0.38–2.25 | 4.87 | 8 |
| α-copaene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.31 | 0.97–2.44 | 3.21 | 8 |
| germacrene d | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 0.49 | 0.38–2.11 | 9.63 | 8 |

Chemotypes seen in the samples: geranial (51% of samples), citronellal (28% of samples), citral (10% of samples).

## Key constituents

- **Geranial** (20-30%) — One of the two citral isomers responsible for Melissa's bright, lemony top note
- **Neral** (15-25%) — The second citral isomer; together with geranial gives the lemon-balm scent its intensity
- **Citronellal** (5-15%) — Adds a green, slightly floral facet to the aroma

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** A drop or two is plenty given its intensity — a bright, calming aroma.
- **On skin:** Add in small amounts to facial serums, diluted well (1% or less) in a light carrier oil.

## Safety

- Dilute well (1% or less) before any topical use and patch-test first, as with any potent essential oil.
- Maximum dermal use: Dilute low in a carrier oil (citral is a sensitiser).
- High in citral, a known skin sensitiser — dilute low and patch-test.
- Genuine melissa is expensive and often adulterated or blended with lemongrass/citronella; buy from a trusted source.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- Melissa has a long tradition as a calming herb, and its oil is citral- and citronellal-rich. Its relaxation and mood uses are traditional and preliminary rather than clinically established for the essential oil. — Industrial Crops and Products study (2014) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.10.020)

## Evidence

- Melissa oil is dominated by citral (geranial + neral) with citronellal — the source of its soft, honeyed-lemon aroma and its citral-related skin caution. — Industrial Crops and Products study (2014) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.10.020)

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is true melissa oil so expensive?

Melissa (lemon balm) yields a tiny amount of oil per plant, so genuine melissa is one of the priciest oils. Cheap 'melissa' is very often lemongrass or citronella sold under the name — buy from a trusted source.

### Is melissa gentle on skin?

It needs care — melissa is high in citral, a known sensitiser. Dilute it low and patch-test before regular use.

### Is melissa phototoxic?

No — melissa isn't phototoxic. The main precaution is its citral content, which calls for low dilution.

## Sources (GC-MS studies)

- Kowalski R, Gagoś M, Kowalska G, Pankiewicz U, Sujka M, Mazurek A, Nawrocka A. Effects of Ultrasound Technique on the Composition of Different Essential Oils. _Journal of analytical methods in chemistry_, 2019. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC6512022
- Farahani F, Shahhoseini R, Hatami M. Phytochemical, physiological and morphological response of industrial-medicinal plant Melissa officinalis L. to drought stress, nanosilicon and superabsorbent polymer application. _BMC plant biology_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12309076
- Najafian S, Zeynali R, Hosseinifarahi M. Putrescine-enhanced essential oil and phytochemicals in Melissa officinalis L. : a sustainable approach. _Scientific reports_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12246448
- Safaei F, Alirezalu A, Noruzi P, Alirezalu K. Phytochemical and morpho-physiological response of Melissa officinalis L. to different NH4+ to NO3̄ ratios under hydroponic cultivation. _BMC plant biology_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11481551
- Özliman S. Volatile compounds of volatile oils and hydrosols: intra-specific comparison in seven Lamiaceae species. _BMC plant biology_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13274111
- Bharati R, Gupta A, Novy P, Severová L, Šrédl K, Žiarovská J, Fernández-Cusimamani E. Synthetic polyploid induction influences morphological, physiological, and photosynthetic characteristics in Melissa officinalis L. _Frontiers in plant science_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10752996
- Kolouei A, Barati M, Abbas-Mohammadi M. Investigating the binding potential of the Melissa officinalis oil against Alzheimer's targets by molecular docking and in vitro evaluations. _Scientific reports_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12779642
- Ganjali M, Rahimi M, Ramezan D, Mohkami Z, Ranjbary AG, Yamchi A. Effects of enhanced Melissa officinalis essential oil via carrageenan on mitigating aflatoxin b1-induced cytotoxicity in HT-29 and HEK-293 cells. _BMC complementary medicine and therapies_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12918233
- Lanave G, Catella C, Catalano A, Lucente MS, Pellegrini F, Fracchiolla G, Diakoudi G, Palmisani J, Trombetta CM, Martella V, Camero M. Assessing the virucidal activity of essential oils against feline calicivirus, a non-enveloped virus used as surrogate of norovirus. _Heliyon_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11070907
- Nagata T, Satou T, Hayashi S, Satyal P, Watanabe M, Riggs B, Saida Y. Citral in lemon myrtle, lemongrass, litsea, and melissa essential oils suppress the growth and invasion of breast cancer cells. _BMC complementary medicine and therapies_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11149199
- Lanave G, Pellegrini F, Triggiano F, De Giglio O, Lucente MS, Diakoudi G, Catella C, Gentile A, Tardugno R, Fracchiolla G, Martella V, Camero M. In Vitro Virucidal Activity of Different Essential Oils against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Used as Surrogate of Human Hepatitis C Virus. _Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11201044
- Pei T, Zhao Y, Huang X, Zhao Y, Pan L, Wang L, Gao H, Xu ML, Gao Y. Chemical Composition of Five Lamiaceae Essential Oils and Their Insecticidal and Phytotoxic Activity. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11358941
- Ranđelović M, Dimitrijević M, Otašević S, Stanojević L, Išljamović M, Ignjatović A, Arsić-Arsenijević V, Stojanović-Radić Z. Antifungal Activity and Type of Interaction of Melissa officinalis Essential Oil with Antimycotics against Biofilms of Multidrug-Resistant Candida Isolates from Vulvovaginal Mucosa. _Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10672467
- Abdellatif F, Akram M, Akram M, Begaa S, Messaoudi M, Benarfa A, Egbuna C, Ouakouak H, Hassani A, Sawicka B, Elbossaty WFM, Simal-Gandara J. Minerals, Essential Oils, and Biological Properties of Melissa officinalis L. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8229312
- Rădulescu M, Jianu C, Lukinich-Gruia AT, Mioc M, Mioc A, Șoica C, Stana LG. Chemical Composition, In Vitro and In Silico Antioxidant Potential of Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis Essential Oil. _Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8301138
- Chindo BA, Howes MR, Abuhamdah S, Yakubu MI, Ayuba GI, Battison A, Chazot PL. New Insights Into the Anticonvulsant Effects of Essential Oil From Melissa officinalis L. (Lemon Balm). _Frontiers in pharmacology_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8551917

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