Three Main Notes of Essential Oils

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Have you noticed there is a Latin name for each plant listed for every oil? The importance here is that the Latin name identifies the exact type of essential oil in your bottle. Here is a short introduction to plant identification:

  • The Latin name or botanical name is the most precise way to identify a particular plant.
  • Many plants have several species. For example Lavender has many different species like angustifolia or latifolia.
  • Each species of Lavender has different aromas and different therapeutic qualities.
  • We can know which essential oil is in the bottle by what is written on the bottle. The label must include the Latin name so you can be sure from what species your Lavender comes from. The importance here is that different Lavender species have different chemical makeups and different therapeutic properties and safety considerations.
  • The Latin name on your essential oil bottle is always Italicized. Here are some more common oils and their Latin names:


Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. 1,8 cineole)
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

There are three main "notes" for essential oils. They are:
  1. Top
  2. Middle
  3. Base
The first smell to arise from a blend that evaporates quickly is the "Top" note. This fragrance is usually light, fresh, sharp, penetrating and airy. Top note oils add brightness to a blend. The aroma can remind you of wind chimes or a flute. Top note oils stimulate and clear your mind, and generate energy. All citrus oils are top notes. The following citrus oils are top notes:


Essential Oils
  • Distilled Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
  • Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Middle notes are also called the "heart" note. Middle note oils give the blend aromatic softness, fullness and round off any sharp edges. They can have both top and base note aromas within them. Middles notes provide:
  • balance physically and energetically
  • they are soothing and harmonizing for the mind and body
Essential oils in this group are:

Essential Oils
  • Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
  • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. 1,8 cineole)
  • Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
I regularly diffuse Lavender angustifolia for sleeping restfully. I find it to be divine as it is very soothing to my mind and body.

Base Oils provide a deep, warm, grounded quality. They are used to:
  • relieve stress
  • relieve anxiety
  • helps with insomnia
Base oils are calming and grounding. Many of these oils come from woods, resins, and roots with the exception Ylang Ylang which comes from a flower. In this group are:

Essential Oils
  • Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
  • Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
  • Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
Source: Aromahead Institute

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