The Artemisia plants are believed to have originated from Eastern Europe and Western Asia. These species are commonly found growing abundantly in the temperate regions around the globe. In Central and Southeastern Europe, India, China, and Japan, Artemisia vulgaris is notably prevalent as a common weed. The essential oil derived from this plant is extracted through steam distillation of the dried herb in locations such as Southern France, Morocco, Germany, Hungary, India, China, and Japan. This French-derived oil is often referred to as "essence d’Armoise."
Artemisia vulgaris essential oil is a pale yellow or nearly colorless liquid, distinct from the blue-green color of Wormwood Oil or Artemisia Alba. It has a potent, fresh-camphoraceous scent, with green and bitter-sweet notes, a cedarleaf-like top note, and a sage-rosemary-like body note. Upon drying, the aroma becomes pleasantly sweet-herbaceous and somewhat tea-like. The oil's flavor is warm, slightly pungent, and bitter-sweet, offering a cooling effect at higher dilutions. However, it's important to note the variations in odor and flavor depending on the oil's origin. In Europe, infusions of the dried herb are used similarly to infusions of Dalmatian sage for gargles.
In perfumery, Artemisia vulgaris essential oil is utilized to impart freshness and warmth to lavender colognes, chypres, fougeres, and pine fragrances. It blends exceptionally well with oakmoss, patchouli, rosemary, lavandin, isobornyl acetate, pine needle oils, sage clary, Spanish sage, coumarin, decyl alcohol, and others. The oil is highly potent and diffusive and remains stable in soaps, offering a more refined and balsamic odor compared to cedarleaf, to which it is sometimes compared.
Artemisia vulgaris oil also finds some utility in flavoring, though the presence of thujone might eventually restrict its use in food products. The recommended usage level for this oil in flavors is approximately 1.00 to 2.00 mg%.
The herb is present in abundance, and the essential oil is available upon request in quite large quantities. The oil is not at all common, however, and it rarely appears in the commercial offers and price lists.
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