Sweet marjoram absolute

Warm, slightly sweet herbal spice. Hay and wood facets. Less of the sharp camphoraceous lift of the oil.

Sweet marjoram absolute has no dedicated standard in the 51st Amendment of the IFRA Standards. Origanum majorana is not named in the EU fragrance allergen list.

α-Terpineol and linalyl acetate, present in sweet marjoram, are on the extended EU allergen list under Regulation 2023/1545. They must be labelled above 0.001 percent in leave-on or 0.01 percent in rinse-off products.

Store dark, sealed and cool.

Origanum majorana is a small herb of the mint family, native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia. It is grown as a culinary herb and as an oil crop. Egypt is a major growing source for the fragrance trade.

Sweet marjoram oil has its own page. Its typical constituents are terpinen-4-ol and cis-sabinene hydrate, with γ-terpinene, α-terpineol and linalyl acetate. cis-Sabinene hydrate gives the warm herbal note characteristic of the species.

The absolute is made from dried flowering tops by solvent extraction to a concrete, then washed with ethanol, chilled, filtered of waxes and freed of alcohol. It keeps fewer light monoterpenes and more heavy matter, so it smells rounder and lasts longer.

The names are easily confused. On the market, Spanish marjoram is usually Thymus mastichina, a thyme rich in 1,8-cineole. Products sold as marjoram absolute Spain should be checked for source species.

In perfumery, sweet marjoram absolute gives a warm herbal note for fougères, aromatic and spicy accords. It links well with lavender, clary sage and woody notes.