Tulsi in perfume is a spicy, herbal note from holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), a plant sacred in Hinduism. It smells warm, clove-like and peppery with a fresh, minty-camphorous lift, and its essential oil is used to bring a spiced, aromatic warmth to herbal, woody and incense-style fragrances.

What does Tulsi smell like?

Tulsi is spicier and warmer than sweet basil. Its dominant facet is clove, from a high eugenol content, joined by peppery, slightly anisic and minty notes and a cool, camphorous edge. The overall effect sits between an herb and a spice. Different chemotypes vary: some are more clove-heavy, others more lemony or camphoraceous. Compared with Thai basil, it is less anise-sweet and more resinous and warm.

Where Tulsi comes from

Holy basil is native to the Indian subcontinent and grows widely across South and South-East Asia. The leaves and flowering tops are steam distilled to produce tulsi essential oil. The plant is also traditionally grown in courtyards and temples in India.

• Also known as: Holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. Ocimum sanctum)
• Fragrance family: Aromatic / spicy
• Type: Natural
• Main origins: India, Nepal and South-East Asia
• How it's obtained: Steam distillation of leaves and flowering tops
• Key aroma molecules: Eugenol, methyl eugenol, beta-caryophyllene

Tulsi in perfume history

Tulsi has deep cultural roots in India, where it is associated with the goddess Tulsi and Vishnu worship and is grown in homes and temples. Its use in Western perfumery is recent, and it appears mostly in fragrances inspired by Indian culture and spice markets.

Tulsi in modern perfumery

Tulsi is used as an accent note in herbal, spiced and incense fragrances, as well as in niche and natural perfumery. Perfumers value its clove-like warmth as a subtler, greener alternative to straight clove oil.

How Tulsi wears and what it pairs with

Tulsi is a top-to-heart note. It pairs with cardamom, ginger, black pepper, vetiver, sandalwood, incense, citrus and rose.

Safety and regulation

Tulsi oil can contain methyl eugenol, which IFRA restricts because of safety concerns, and eugenol, a listed fragrance allergen that must be declared on EU labels above set thresholds.