Mentha spicata, Flower Head, Steam distilled, from India
Aroma: Spearmint has a fresh minty, slightly fruity smell reminiscent of Peppermint, but less bright. The major difference is that spearmint oil is sweeter, and not quite as harsh.
History: Spearmint is the mother of common mints like peppermint. The ancient Greeks used Spearmint to scent their bath water. It also had a reputation for curing sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, and for whitening teeth and healing sore gums. This might be credited to its ability to mimic a local anesthetic.
Colour: Pale Yellow with a slight Green tinge
Common Uses: Aromatherapists claim the therapeutic properties of Spearmint essential oil are: as a local/topical anesthetic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, decongestant, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant and restorative. It is also believed to be an uplifting oil great for alleviating fatigue and depression.
Possible Uses: Asthma, exhaustion, fever, flatulence, headache, nausea, scabies, vertigo. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 59-67.]
Constituents: a-pinene, B-pinene, carvone, 1,8-cineole, linalool, limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, menthol. [B. Lawrence, "Spearmint Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist, December/January 1977, 31, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 200-1
Consistency: Light
Note: Top
Strength of Aroma: Medium
Cautions: May irritate mucous membranes, but generally Spearmint has no definitive cautions.
Safety Information: Mucous membrane irritant. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 210.]