Myrtle

Native from North Africa, it now grows freely all over the Mediterranean region; it is also cultivated as a garden shrub thought Europe. The oil is mainly produced in Corsica, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Italy, Yugoslavia and France. It is a small tree or a large bush with many tough but slender branches, a brownish-red bark and small sharp-pointed leaves. It has white flowers followed by black berries; both leaves and flowers are very fragrant.

It belongs to the Myrtaceae family and its scientific name is Myrtus communis.

The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the leaves and twinges, sometimes the flowers are also used; it is obtained a pale yellow or orange liquid with a clear, fresh camphorraceous, sweet-herbaceous scent somewhat similar to eucalyptus. The main constituents are cineole, myrtenol, pinene, geraniol, linalool, and camphene, among others.

It is used mainly in eau-de-cologne and toilet waters. It is also employed as a flavouring ingredient in meat sauces and seasonings, generally in combination with other herbs.