Clove Essential Oil

Latin (Botanical) Name:  Eugenia Caryophyllata

Plant Family:  Myrtaceae

Common Extraction Method:  Steam distillation

Typically Used Plant Part:   Buds

Renk:  Pale yellow

Aromatic Characteristic:  Spicy, warm, bitter and woody aroma.

 

Clove oil is obtained by steam distillation from the aromatic unopened flower buds of the clove tree.

Clove buds got their name from the Latin term "clavus" meaning "nail", a reference to their distinctive shape. In the Spice Islands of Indonesia, which is considered the homeland of the clove tree, traditionally, when a child was born, the natives planted a clove tree, connecting the child's life to the tree's life cycle.

In China, historical records show that the use of cloves dates back to the Han dynasty of the early 2nd century BC, where it was chewed as a breath freshener as well as used in food and medicine. From China, cloves are believed to have reached Greece and Egypt in the 1st century AD. Cloves reached India in the 2nd century AD, where it would play an important role in Ayurvedic medicine. Phoenician traders spread them throughout the Mediterranean over the next two centuries, and Jewish traders later spread them to Europe, where they were used as preservatives and garnishes.

The clove trade was under Chinese control between the 15th and 16th centuries, after which the Portuguese developed a monopoly that lasted for about a hundred years. The Dutch were the next country to dominate trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. At that time the market value was so high that in Britain, cloves were said to be worth their weight in gold. Later, French smugglers brought cloves from the East Indies to islands in the Indian Ocean and to the New World.

The demand for Clove Essential Oil has been increasing in recent years; It is used in many products such as foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, natural body care products.

It offers many benefits thanks to the active ingredients it contains.

      KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

• Eugenol

      BENEFITS

• It shows antimicrobial and antifungal characteristics [1]:

 

• Dental health:

Studies have shown that clove oil helps prevent tooth decay and prevent the organisms that cause caries [4] [5].

 

• Pains:

In topical applications, clove oil helps to reduce pain [6].

 

• Itching:

Clove oil helps reduce itching [7].

 

      WARNINGS

• IT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL, DIRECT APPLICATION MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying topically. You can do a patch test before using the oil if you want to make sure it doesn't irritate your skin.
• FOR EXTERNAL USE, NON-DRINKABLE.
• Avoid contact with eyes, in case of contact rinse with plenty of water.
• Do not use the product if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients.
• It is recommended that children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people using medication should consult their doctor before using clove oil.

      ACADEMIC STUDIES

[1] T. Schroder, S. Gaskin, K. Ross, H. Whileya (2018). Antifungal activity of essential oils against fungi isolated from air. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2017 Jul; 23(3): 181–186.

[2] N. Chami, S. Bennis, F. Chami, A. Aboussekhra, A. Remmal (2005). Study of anticandidal activity of carvacrol and eugenol in vitro and in vivo. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 2005 Apr;20(2):106-11

[3] K. Ács, V. L. Balázs, B. Kocsis, T. Bencsik, A. Böszörményi, G. Horváth (2018). Antibacterial activity evaluation of selected essential oils in liquid and vapor phase on respiratory tract pathogens. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018; 18: 227.

[4] C. M. Marya, G. Satija, J. Avinash, R. Nagpal, R. Kapoor, A. Ahmad (2012). In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of Clove Essential Oil and Its Two Active Principles on Tooth Decalcification by Apple Juice. Int J Dent. 2012; 2012: 759618.

[5] M. R. Kanth, A. R. Prakash, G. Sreenath, V. S. Reddy, S. Huldah (2016). Efficacy of Specific Plant Products on Microorganisms Causing Dental Caries. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Dec; 10(12): ZM01–ZM03.

[6] A. Alqareer, A. Alyahya, L. Andersson (2006). The effect of clove and benzocaine versus placebo as topical anesthetics. J Dent. 2006 Nov;34(10):747-50.

[7] İ. M. Ibrahim, M. L. Elsaie, A. M. Almohsen, M. H. Mohey-Eddin (2017). Effectiveness of topical clove oil on symptomatic treatment of chronic pruritus. J. Cosmet Dermatol, 2017 Dec;16(4):508-511.