Botanical Name: Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.

Family: Asteraceae (Compositae).

Synonyms: Anthemis nobilis L.; English chamomile; dog fennel; sweet chamomile.

Origin: Native to Southern and Western Europe northwards to northern Ireland. Naturalized and very common in North America. It's now extensively cultivated in England, Hungary, United States, Italy, France and Argentina.

Botanical Description: A tall more or less hairy perennial, decumbent herb up to 30-cm (15 in) high. The gray-green leaves are oblong, stalkless, deeply lobed two or three times, linear with a tooth-like tip. Flowers are large yellow and white daisies. The fruits are about 1 mm long. The plant has a fruity aroma reminiscent of banana and apples when crushed. The base of the flower head is not hollow but solid.

Oil Extraction: Essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of flowers heads. The oil is yellow to greenish-yellow, pale blue mobile liquid. Yield 0.3-1%.

Aroma Profile: Has sweet-herbaceous top note. Middle note is sweet with a fruity-warm, tea-like undertone. The dry note is sweet dry-herbaceous, not tenacious.

Major Constituents: Isobutyl angelate, methylamyl angelate, 3-methyl amyl isovalerate, isoamyl angelate, methylallyl angelate, 3-methyl amyl isobutyrate.

Adulterants: Rarely adulterated.

Regulatory Status: GRAS 182.20

Aromatherapy: Relaxing, replenishing.

Blends well with: Bergamot, clary sage, jasmine, neroli, geranium, rose, lavender.

Safety Data: Non-toxic, non-irritant. Fairly mild allergin and skin irritant in some individuals.