Herbal Oils A to Z: Bergamot, Calendula, Evening Primrose and More

Essential oils are concentrated. Dilute them in a carrier oil, keep them away from eyes and children, and do not swallow them. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have epilepsy or take blood thinners, check with a health professional before using any oil on this page.

Herbal oils at a glance (aceites herbales de la A a la Z)

Bergamot oil (aceite de bergamota)

Bergamot oil comes from the rind of the bergamot orange, Citrus bergamia, and is pressed rather than distilled. It smells light, citrusy and a little floral, and perfumers treat it as a top note (Sharmeen et al., Molecules, 2021). What it's used for: scent, aromatherapy blends and homemade body oils. Evidence: NCCIH notes that rigorous aromatherapy research is limited, and bergamot is no exception. Safety: bergamot contains furocoumarins, mainly bergapten, which react with ultraviolet light. Dermatologists described two people who developed blistering burns after bergamot aromatherapy oil followed by UV light; one had only breathed the oil's vapor in a sauna before a tanning session (Kaddu et al., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001). Don't put it on skin that will see sun or a tanning bed.

Burdock oil

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is a root vegetable in parts of Asia, and burdock fruit has a long history in Chinese medicine as a skin remedy (Memorial Sloan Kettering, About Herbs). Burdock oil is not a classic essential oil, so read the label to see what base oil the root is in. Uses: scalp massage and dry skin. Evidence: we found no human trials of burdock oil for hair. Safety: people allergic to chrysanthemums may react to burdock, allergic skin rashes have been reported, and MSKCC advises avoiding it in pregnancy because animal studies show it can stimulate the uterus.

Cajeput oil

Cajeput (also spelled cajuput) oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of Melaleuca cajuputi and its relative M. leucadendra, cousins of the tea tree. In Indonesia and across Southeast Asia it is a household remedy for colds, stomach aches and insect bites. Its marker compound is 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), which made up roughly 52% to 56% of the batches European regulators tested, giving it a eucalyptus-like smell (EFSA FEEDAP Panel, 2024). Evidence: traditional use only. Safety: the same EFSA opinion warns that cajeput oil irritates skin and eyes and can sensitize both skin and airways. Cineole is among the compounds linked to seizures from essential oils (Burkhard et al., Journal of Neurology, 1999).

Calendula oil (aceite de caléndula)

Calendula oil is an infused oil: Calendula officinalis flowers, sometimes called marigold, are extracted into a vegetable oil. What it's used for: soothing dry, chapped or irritated skin. Evidence: MSKCC notes calendula is used on the skin for wound healing and that some studies suggest benefit in preventing skin reactions from radiation therapy. Safety: calendula can cause allergic reactions, especially in people allergic to the daisy family. MSKCC also advises against taking calendula during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Catnip oil

Catnip oil is distilled from Nepeta cataria, and its main active compounds are the nepetalactones. Use: natural insect repellent. Evidence: in lab cage tests against three mosquito species, catnip oil worked better than DEET at keeping mosquitoes away through the air, while DEET was better once on skin (Bernier et al., Journal of Medical Entomology, 2005). A Rutgers team found catnip oils cut mosquito landings by more than 95%, but protection faded between two and four hours (Reichert et al., Scientific Reports, 2019). Plant repellents are volatile and short-lived, so reviewers do not recommend them alone where mosquitoes carry disease (Maia and Moore, Malaria Journal, 2011). Read more in our catnip herb guide.

Evening primrose oil (aceite de prímula)

Evening primrose oil is pressed from the seeds of Oenothera biennis and contains omega-6 fats, including gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) (NCCIH). What it's used for: skin conditioning and, as a supplement, eczema, breast pain and menopause symptoms. Evidence: weak. A Cochrane review of 27 studies with 1,596 participants found oral evening primrose oil worked no better than placebo for eczema (Bamford et al., 2013), and NCCIH says it is probably no better than placebo for breast pain. Safety: stomach upset is the most common side effect, and it may raise bleeding risk with warfarin (MSKCC). The old warning about seizures traces back to two early-1980s reports that a later review called a spurious link (Puri, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2007).

Fenugreek oil (aceite de fenogreco)

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds smell and taste like maple syrup and have been used as a spice and remedy for thousands of years (NCCIH). What it's used for: hair and scalp care and, traditionally, to increase breast milk. Evidence: we found no human trials of fenugreek oil on hair. For milk supply, studies of fenugreek have had mixed results (NCCIH). Safety: fenugreek is not safe in pregnancy beyond food amounts because it has been linked to birth defects, it can cause serious allergic reactions, and case reports suggest it may boost warfarin's effect (NCCIH; MSKCC). Fenugreek taken by a mother or baby has also led to false diagnoses of maple syrup urine disease in infants (MSKCC).

Galbanum oil

Galbanum is an oleo-gum-resin from Ferula plants; studies name the source as Ferula gummosa or Ferula galbaniflua. Perfumers prize it for notes that chemists describe as green, woody, balsamic and even like bell pepper; beta-pinene is its largest volatile component (Canton et al., Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2025). Uses: perfume and scent blends. Evidence: research focuses on its chemistry, not health effects. Safety: dilute it like any essential oil and patch test.

Palo santo oil (aceite de palo santo)

Palo santo is Bursera graveolens, a tree whose fruit and other parts have been distilled for oil in research. Lab analyses find limonene is the main compound (about 39% to 46%), followed by alpha-terpineol, giving a citrusy smell with a resinous edge (Parichanon et al., Insects, 2025). Uses: scent and incense. Evidence: in that study's arm test, palo santo oil repelled mosquitoes about as well as the DEET comparison during the first 15 minutes. Safety: oxidized limonene is more likely to cause skin allergy, so keep the bottle closed and cool (Sharmeen et al., 2021). Ask sellers how their oil or wood was sourced.

Sage oil benefits and risks

Sage oil is distilled from the leaves of common sage, Salvia officinalis. Its main compounds are 1,8-cineole, camphor, alpha- and beta-thujone and borneol (Raal et al., Natural Product Research, 2007). Uses: aromatherapy and scent. Evidence: NCCIH reports small studies of the sage herb for hot flashes and memory; those were not studies of the essential oil. Safety: thujone can be toxic in large amounts, and sage may be unsafe in pregnancy (NCCIH). Sage is also on the list of oils linked to seizures (Burkhard et al., 1999), so avoid it with epilepsy. Clary sage is a different plant, Salvia sclarea, whose oil is built mainly on linalool and linalyl acetate (Sharmeen et al., 2021).

Marigold oil (tagetes)

Tagetes oil, distilled from Tagetes minuta, is also sold as marigold oil, but it is not calendula. Uses: fragrance. Safety: tagetes oil contains phototoxic furocoumarins, like expressed citrus oils (Sharmeen et al., 2021). A safety table reproduced in a repellent review lists it as a phototoxic skin irritant with a safe concentration of just 0.01% (Maia and Moore, 2011). Do not use it on skin at home. For the lutein supplement made from a related marigold, see our marigold extract guide.

Find it at William's

Four oils from this guide are on our shelves:

• Now bergamot oil, 1 oz: pure bergamot oil cold-pressed from fresh peel. Its listing does not say bergapten-free, so treat it as sun-sensitizing.
• Herb Pharm calendula oil, 1 oz: organic calendula flowers extracted into organic cold-pressed olive oil, for external use.
• Now evening primrose oil (liquid), 4 oz: plain evening primrose oil sold for skin care.
• Now sage oil, 1 oz: pure sage essential oil, steam-distilled from partially dried leaves.

We don't currently list burdock, cajeput, catnip, fenugreek, galbanum, palo santo or tagetes oil online; call the store to check what's on the shelf. Related reading: our rosemary oil guide, tamanu oil guide and cold-pressed oils explained.

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