Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Roman Chamomile is a soft, apple-sweet single oil traditionally used to support relaxation and gentle skincare, including for children.
How to use it
3–5 drops supports a calm atmosphere, a common choice for bedtime routines.
A frequent ingredient in facial- and baby-care blends, diluted 1–3% in a carrier oil.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- One of the gentler oils, but still dilute for skin and use conservatively — especially with children, and only with professional guidance for the very young.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: Omidbaigi et al. (1998), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 1 GC-MS samples across 1 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2018). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
- Unclassified 65.8%
- Aliphatic / small aromatic 15.6%
- Oxygenated monoterpene 14.1%
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 4.5%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pinocarvone ↗ C10H14O | 3.9% | 3.9–3.9% | 3.9% | |
Loading evidence… | ||||
| α-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 2.4% | 2.4–2.4% | 2.4% | |
Loading evidence… | ||||
| myrtenal ↗ C10H14O | 1.2% | 1.2–1.2% | 1.2% | |
Loading evidence… | ||||
| myrcene ↗ C10H16 | 0.6% | 0.6–0.6% | 0.6% | |
Loading evidence… | ||||
| β-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 0.3% | 0.3–0.3% | 0.3% | |
Loading evidence… | ||||
1 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Sándor Z, Mottaghipisheh J, Veres K, Hohmann J, Bencsik T, Horváth A, Kelemen D, Papp R, Barthó L, Csupor D. (2018). Evidence Supports Tradition: The in Vitro Effects of Roman Chamomile on Smooth Muscles. Frontiers in pharmacology.
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- Isobutyl angelate — the dominant ester behind Roman chamomile's soft, apple-sweet aroma and gentle character Omidbaigi et al. (1998), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Built almost entirely from fruity-sweet esters, giving it a distinctive apple-like sweetness.
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.
-
Roman chamomile has a long traditional reputation as a calming, soothing oil. Its ester-rich chemistry is well characterised, but its relaxation uses remain traditional and preliminary rather than clinically established.
Omidbaigi et al. (1998), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Roman Chamomile's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
-
Roman chamomile is dominated by angelate esters (isobutyl and isoamyl angelate), an unusual profile that gives it a soft, sweet-herbaceous, apple-like aroma.
Omidbaigi et al. (1998), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Frequently asked questions
Is Roman chamomile the same as German chamomile?
No — they're different plants with different chemistry. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is ester-rich and pale; German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is deep blue from chamazulene. Both are gentle, but they smell and behave differently. Omidbaigi et al. (1998), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Why does Roman chamomile smell fruity?
Its high content of angelate esters gives it a soft, sweet, apple-like aroma — quite different from the herbal smell people expect from chamomile tea. Omidbaigi et al. (1998), Journal of Essential Oil Research
Is Roman chamomile phototoxic?
No — it isn't phototoxic. It's one of the gentler oils, though it should still be diluted for skin use.
Gallery
The Plant
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, sometimes classified as Anthemis nobilis) is a low, creeping perennial with small daisy-like flowers, traditionally grown across western Europe and cultivated commercially in France, England, and Hungary among other places. It’s a different plant from German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), which grows taller and produces an oil with a deeper blue color from its azulene content — Roman chamomile’s oil, by contrast, is pale and its aroma noticeably sweeter and fruitier.
Extraction & Aroma
The oil is steam-distilled from the flowering tops, and the chemistry is unusual among essential oils: rather than being dominated by a single terpene, Roman chamomile is built almost entirely from fruity-sweet esters, which is what gives it that distinctive apple-like sweetness rather than the sharper, more herbaceous character common to many florals.
Traditional & Everyday Uses
Chamomile in general has one of the longest documented histories of any aromatic plant, used across Europe for centuries in teas, washes, and folk remedies long before essential oil distillation existed. The essential oil carries that same gentle, calming reputation forward. Today, 3–5 drops in a diffuser supports a calm, relaxed atmosphere and is a common choice for bedtime routines for both adults and children, and it’s a frequent ingredient in facial-care and baby-care formulations thanks to its mild profile.
What Pairs Well
Roman chamomile blends naturally with lavender for a fuller calming aroma, and with citrus oils like sweet orange for a brighter, less one-note floral profile.
Safety Note
Dilute to 1–3% in a carrier oil for topical use. Roman chamomile is one of the gentler single oils, which is why it shows up so often in lotions and baby-care blends, but it belongs to the same plant family as ragweed, so anyone with ragweed or related pollen allergies should patch-test carefully before wider use.
Sourcing Note
As with most floral oils, aroma quality depends heavily on harvest timing and distillation care, so batch-to-batch variation is more noticeable here than with hardier oils like citrus or conifers.
Found in these blends
Roman Chamomile is one of the oils inside 9 Young Living blends.