Myrtle is an aromatic green note distilled from the leaves and twigs of Myrtus communis, an evergreen Mediterranean shrub. It smells fresh, camphorous and herbal, like a cross between eucalyptus and bay with a soft, peppery and slightly floral sweetness, and it belongs to the aromatic family.

What does Myrtle smell like?

Myrtle oil opens clean and cooling, with a eucalyptus-like lift from 1,8-cineole and a bright, pine-like sparkle from alpha-pinene. Behind this sits a gentler, slightly floral and spicy character that makes it softer and more rounded than eucalyptus or rosemary. Oils rich in myrtenyl acetate are sweeter and more balsamic, while those without it are sharper and more camphorous. Crushed leaves in the garden have an extra green, resinous freshness, and the berries have a different, peppery and fruity aroma used in food and liqueurs.

Where Myrtle comes from

Myrtle is native to southern Europe, North Africa, western Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent. The essential oil is steam-distilled from leaves and young twigs, mainly around the western Mediterranean, and small quantities of absolute are also made.

• Also known as: Common myrtle, true myrtle, myrte, mirto
• Fragrance family: Aromatic / green
• Type: Natural
• Main origins: The Mediterranean, including North Africa and Corsica
• How it's obtained: Steam distillation of leaves and twigs
• Key aroma molecules: 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, myrtenyl acetate, linalool, limonene

Myrtle in perfume history

Myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite and Demeter in ancient Greece and to Venus in Rome, and it became a lasting symbol of love and marriage. A sprig from Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet was planted, and myrtle grown from it has been carried in later royal wedding bouquets. In Jewish tradition myrtle is one of the four species used at Sukkot and is also used at Havdalah. In Sardinia and Corsica the berries are macerated to make mirto liqueur. In perfumery, myrtle leaf has long been part of the herbal palette of Mediterranean colognes and toilet waters.

Myrtle in modern perfumery

Myrtle is used in aromatic colognes, Mediterranean-inspired fragrances and green unisex scents, often to give a natural, clean freshness that is less medicinal than eucalyptus. Perfumers value it as a subtle bridge between citrus, herbs and woods.

How Myrtle wears and what it pairs with

Myrtle is a top-to-heart note with a fresh opening that softens into a faintly balsamic green. It pairs with bergamot, lemon, rosemary, lavender, bay leaf, fig leaf, lentisk, cypress and cedar.

Safety and regulation

Myrtle oil contains linalool and limonene, which are EU-declarable allergens and must be listed on labels above set thresholds.