Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
An herbaceous, energizing single oil steam-distilled from the same plant used in cooking, with a sharp, invigorating aroma.
How to use it
3–5 drops alone for a focus-oriented atmosphere, or blend with peppermint and lemon.
A frequent scalp-massage oil, diluted 1–2% in a carrier oil.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute to ~1–2% in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- Contains camphor: avoid during pregnancy and with epilepsy or a seizure disorder, and don't use on or near infants and young children.
- Dilute before topical use — undiluted rosemary can irritate skin.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: Al-Tarawneh et al. (2025), Journal of Biomedical and Applied Research
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 72 GC-MS samples across 29 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2018–2026). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
- Oxygenated monoterpene 64%
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 30.4%
- Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 4.3%
- Unclassified 1.2%
- Oxygenated sesquiterpene 0.1%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,8-cineole ↗ C10H18O | 19.8% | 8.9–34.4% | 49.7% | |
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| camphor ↗ C10H16O | 14.9% | 10.9–19.5% | 27.6% | |
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| α-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 11.7% | 6.9–19.5% | 31.8% | |
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| camphene ↗ C10H16 | 4.8% | 2.7–6.5% | 13.2% | |
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| borneol ↗ C10H18O | 4.0% | 2.6–4.9% | 15.5% | |
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| β-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 2.9% | 1.3–4.0% | 20.2% | |
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| limonene ↗ C10H16 | 2.5% | 1.4–4.2% | 11.8% | |
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| β-caryophyllene ↗ C15H24 | 2.1% | 1.0–5.8% | 15.4% | |
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| p-cymene ↗ C10H14 | 2.1% | 1.2–2.8% | 6.2% | |
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| α-terpineol ↗ C10H18O | 2.0% | 1.3–2.9% | 19.3% | |
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| myrcene ↗ C10H16 | 1.4% | 0.7–2.1% | 13.1% | |
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| linalool ↗ C10H18O | 1.4% | 0.7–2.3% | 11.9% | |
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+ 114 more compounds reported across the dataset.
29 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Guelifet K, Kherraz K, Messaoudi M, Ferhat MA, Khattabi L, Bendrihem KA, Zahnit W, Addad D, Benmohamed M, Azoudj Y, Harchaoui L, Aggoun K, Boumechhour A, Rastrelli L. (2025). Seasonal and Extraction-Dependent Variation in the Composition and Bioactivity of Essential Oils from Wild <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i> L. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Ben Arfa A, Gouja H, Hannachi H, Isoda H, Neffati M, Najjaa H. (2022). Seasonal changes in rosemary species: A chemotaxonomic assessment of two varieties based on essential oil compounds, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. PloS one.
- Kowalski R, Gagoś M, Kowalska G, Pankiewicz U, Sujka M, Mazurek A, Nawrocka A. (2019). Effects of Ultrasound Technique on the Composition of Different Essential Oils. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry.
- Rathore S, Mukhia S, Kapoor S, Bhatt V, Kumar R, Kumar R. (2022). Seasonal variability in essential oil composition and biological activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. accessions in the western Himalaya. Scientific reports.
- Solgi M, Bagnazari M, Mohammadi M, Azizi A. (2025). Thymbra spicata extract and arbuscular mycorrhizae improved the morphophysiological traits, biochemical properties, and essential oil content and composition of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) under salinity stress. BMC plant biology.
- EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Villa RE, Azimonti G, Bonos E, Christensen H, Durjava M, Dusemund B, Gehring R, Glandorf B, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, Marcon F, Nebbia C, Pechová A, Prieto-Maradona M, Röhe I, Theodoridou K, Bastos ML, Benfenati E, Brantom P, Chesson A, Schlatter J, Westendorf J, Manini P. (2025). Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the flowering aerial parts of <i>Salvia rosmarinus</i> Spenn. (rosemary oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl). EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority.
- Soltan MM, Mahfouz S, Motawe FH, Karam EA, El-Hagrassi A. (2024). In sight on olive oil maceration and supercritical CO2 in extracting rosemary essential oil. Scientific reports.
- Özliman S. (2026). Volatile compounds of volatile oils and hydrosols: intra-specific comparison in seven Lamiaceae species. BMC plant biology.
- Soto-Vásquez MR, Alvarado-García PAA, Jara-Aguilar DR, Gavidia-Valencia JG, Ruiz-Reyes SG, Rengifo-Penadillos RA. (2026). Integrated Chemical, In Silico, and Functional Neurobehavioral Evaluation of Three Essential Oils in Acute Anxiety- and Depression-Related Mouse Models. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Ait Elallem K, Ben Bakrim W, Yasri A, Boularbah A. (2024). Growth, Biochemical Traits, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Essential Oils of Four Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Cultivated in Phosphate-Mine Residues. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Rosa A, Piras A, Porcedda S, Solari P, Pinna I, Masala C. (2026). Age-Related Olfactory and Cognitive Decline: Potential Effects of <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i> and <i>Carum carvi</i> Essential Oils. Nutrients.
- Teimouri S, Miandoab MP, Jabalameli L, Aramideh S, Haddadi A. (2026). Nanoformulation of peppermint (Mentha Piperita L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils: Antibacterial effects. International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology.
- Kačániová M, Zhang G, Popovic S, Bianchi A, Ban Z, Li L, Čmiková N, Elizondo-Luevano JH, Ben Hsouna A, Ben Saad R, Haščík P, Garzoli S. (2026). Extension of Sous Vide Preservation of Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo L.) Meat With Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oil: A Study on Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Effectiveness Against Listeria monocytogenes and Other Population of Isolated Microbiota. Environmental microbiology reports.
- Vetere ML, Devi P, Lanteri AP, Ponticelli M, Minuto A, Giacomini M, Maggi N, Bisio A, Glasl S. (2026). Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of Salvia rosmarinus 'Eretto Liguria' essential oil against tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta). Scientific reports.
- Oguz MC. (2025). A sustainable approach for smallholder farmers: evaluation of plant by-products and industrial waste in wheat cultivation. PeerJ.
- Al-Askar AA, Hamzah KA, Aseel DG, El-Far AH, Abdelhamid MM, Behiry S, Elbeaino T, Abdelkhalek A. (2025). Rosemary essential oil: chemical composition, antiviral, cytotoxicity, and in silico molecular docking analysis against tobacco mosaic virus. Scientific reports.
- Ribeiro S, Moraes MC, Scoaris DO, Madeira JEGC, Fialho SL, Moreira CPS. (2025). Rosemary Essential Oil Microemulsion for Fungal Keratitis Treatment. Chemistry & biodiversity.
- Lanave G, Catella C, Catalano A, Lucente MS, Pellegrini F, Fracchiolla G, Diakoudi G, Palmisani J, Trombetta CM, Martella V, Camero M. (2024). Assessing the virucidal activity of essential oils against feline calicivirus, a non-enveloped virus used as surrogate of norovirus. Heliyon.
- Hendel N, Sarri D, Sarri M, Napoli E, Palumbo Piccionello A, Ruberto G. (2024). Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant and Antifungal Activities of Powders, Methanol Extracts, and Essential Oils from Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Thymus ciliatus Desf. Benth. International journal of molecular sciences.
- Houzi G, El Abdali Y, Beniaich G, Chebaibi M, Taibi M, Elbouzidi A, Kaioua S, Asehraou A, Addi M, Chaabane K, Flouchi R, Allali A, Khal-Layoun S. (2024). Antifungal, Insecticidal, and Repellent Activities of Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oil and Molecular Docking of Its Constituents against Acetylcholinesterase and β-Tubulin. Scientifica.
- Pei T, Zhao Y, Huang X, Zhao Y, Pan L, Wang L, Gao H, Xu ML, Gao Y. (2024). Chemical Composition of Five Lamiaceae Essential Oils and Their Insecticidal and Phytotoxic Activity. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Stancu AI, Oprea E, Dițu LM, Ficai A, Ilie CI, Badea IA, Buleandra M, Brîncoveanu O, Ghica MV, Avram I, Pîrvu CED, Mititelu M. (2024). Development, Optimization, and Evaluation of New Gel Formulations with Cyclodextrin Complexes and Volatile Oils with Antimicrobial Activity. Gels (Basel, Switzerland).
- Karaca N, Demirci B, Gavahian M, Demirci F. (2023). Enhanced Bioactivity of Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, and Chamomile Essential Oils by Fractionation, Combination, and Emulsification. ACS omega.
- Begna T, Ulziibayar D, Bisrat D, Jung C. (2023). Acaricidal Toxicity of Four Essential Oils, Their Predominant Constituents, Their Mixtures against Varroa Mite, and Their Selectivity to Honey Bees (Apis cerana and A. mellifera). Insects.
- Iwiński H, Różański H, Pachura N, Wojciechowska A, Gębarowski T, Szumny A. (2023). In Vitro Evaluation of Antiprotozoal Properties, Cytotoxicity Effect and Anticancer Activity of New Essential-Oil Based Phytoncide Mixtures. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Dhouibi I, Flamini G, Bouaziz M. (2023). Comparative Study on the Essential Oils Extracted from Tunisian Rosemary and Myrtle: Chemical Profiles, Quality, and Antimicrobial Activities. ACS omega.
- Ramzi A, El Ouali Lalami A, Ez Zoubi Y, Assouguem A, Almeer R, Najda A, Ullah R, Ercisli S, Farah A. (2022). Insecticidal Effect of Wild-Grown Mentha pulegium and Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oils and Their Main Monoterpenes against Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Shawer R, El-Shazly MM, Khider AM, Baeshen RS, Hikal WM, Kordy AM. (2022). Botanical Oils Isolated from Simmondsia chinensis and Rosmarinus officinalis Cultivated in Northern Egypt: Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
- Touazi L, Aberkane B, Bellik Y, Moula N, Iguer-Ouada M. (2018). Effect of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (L.) on rooster sperm motility during 4°C short-term storage. Veterinary world.
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- 1,8-Cineole — the dominant constituent of the common chemotype; blood levels have been correlated with cognitive-task performance Moss & Oliver (2012), Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
Chemotypes
- ct. 1,8-cineole — The bright, camphoraceous 'clearing' type most widely sold for focus and everyday diffusing.
- ct. camphor — Higher in camphor — traditionally used in muscle-massage blends; the type to be most cautious with.
- ct. verbenone — Softer, gentler, prized in skin- and hair-care formulations.
European folklore tied rosemary to memory — students reportedly wore sprigs during exams.
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.
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Inhaling rosemary aroma has been studied for cognition and mood, with a study linking 1,8-cineole blood levels to performance on cognitive tasks. Interesting and consistent with tradition, but small-scale and preliminary.
Moss & Oliver (2012), Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Rosemary's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Rosemary oil comes in distinct chemotypes; the common one is dominated by 1,8-cineole, with camphor and α-pinene next.
Al-Tarawneh et al. (2025), Journal of Biomedical and Applied Research -
Rosemary's link to alertness and memory has some experimental support, tied to its 1,8-cineole content.
Moss & Oliver (2012), Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
Frequently asked questions
Is rosemary oil safe during pregnancy?
It's best avoided during pregnancy. Rosemary contains camphor, which is also why it's cautioned against for people with epilepsy or a seizure disorder and for young children. Al-Tarawneh et al. (2025), Journal of Biomedical and Applied Research
Does rosemary oil help with focus?
Small studies suggest inhaling rosemary may support alertness and memory, linked to its 1,8-cineole. It's a pleasant, low-risk thing to diffuse while working — not a proven cognitive treatment. Moss & Oliver (2012), Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
Are all rosemary oils the same?
No — rosemary comes in chemotypes. The 1,8-cineole type is the bright, clearing one; the camphor type is stronger and needs more caution; the verbenone type is gentler and favored for skin and hair care. Al-Tarawneh et al. (2025), Journal of Biomedical and Applied Research
Gallery
The Plant
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, also classified today as Salvia rosmarinus) is a woody Mediterranean shrub native to sunny, well-drained hillsides across southern Europe. It has been grown and used for thousands of years, valued in ancient Greek and Roman tradition as a symbol of remembrance and used at weddings, funerals, and academic ceremonies long before it became a common kitchen and garden plant.
Extraction & Aroma
The essential oil is steam-distilled from the leaves and small woody stems, capturing that same sharp, camphoraceous, herbaceous scent familiar from the fresh or dried culinary herb, just in much more concentrated form.
Traditional & Everyday Uses
Rosemary’s association with mental clarity and memory dates back centuries in European folk tradition — students in some periods reportedly wore rosemary sprigs during exams. Modern use leans on that same reputation: 3–5 drops in a diffuser, used alone, creates an energizing, focus-oriented atmosphere, or blended with peppermint and lemon for a daytime combination during work or study sessions. Rosemary is also one of the most frequently used oils in scalp-massage routines — see our hair growth guide for how it’s typically combined with cedarwood and lavender.
What Pairs Well
Beyond peppermint and lemon, rosemary works well with lavender in scalp-care blends, and with other Mediterranean herbs like thyme or clary sage in earthier combinations.
Safety Note
Rosemary oil is generally not recommended for anyone managing a seizure disorder or during pregnancy without professional guidance — check our allergy and safety guide before adding it to a routine. Dilute to 1–2% in a carrier oil for topical use.
Sourcing Note
Chemotype — the specific chemical profile of the plant, which shifts with climate and soil — varies by growing region and affects both aroma and appropriate use, so we point to a single documented source rather than a generic bottle.
Found in these blends
Rosemary is one of the oils inside 7 Young Living blends.