Nepeta cataria Steam Distilled from Leaves and Flowers/Buds

Aroma: Herbaceous with a subdued mint aroma.

Catnip Oil Uses: Minimal documentation on essential oil use. May act as a topical anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, astringent, carminative, nervine, sedative. [Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual (Tampa, FL: Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, 1994), 309.]

Catnip is recognized as a mosquito repellant more effective than DEET. Please read this article if you intend to use it in a home made insect repellant. http://www.anarreshealth.ca/content/catnip-repels-mosquitoes-more-effect...

Constituents: Nepetalactone (60-95%). [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 214.]

Nepetalactone, caryophyllene, epi-nepetalcatone, trans-ocimene, myrcene, cis-ocimene. [Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual (Tampa, FL: Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, 1994), 309.]

Colour: Pale Yellow/Orange

Consistency: Medium

Perfumery Note: Middle

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium

Safety Information: Tisserand advises that Catnip Oil may be a skin sensitizer and to use it with caution. Sheppard-Hanger advises to avoid use of Catnip Oil during pregnancy and to avoid use in babies and children.

Photo courteousy of photographer Rob Duval and Wikimedia Commons.