Guide To Cape Chamomile Essential Oil and Its Benefits and Uses

Cape chamomile essential oil (Eriocephalus punctulatus) is sometimes difficult to obtain and varies considerably depending on where it is grown.

Plant family: Asteraceae

Production: Steam distilled from the flowering tops of the highly aromatic plant, a woody, evergreen shrub native to South Africa. The plant's only relationship to roman or german chamomile is that they belong to the same plant family.

Aroma: Like sweet apples, with floral notes and an earthy, herbaceous undertone, according to Aromatics International.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle to top

Is cape chamomile safe to use during pregnancy? Consult a professional.

Is cape chamomile essential oil safe for children? Consult a professional.

Cautions: The oil is prone to oxidation—store it away from light and heat.

Main components:

• 2-methylbutyl 2-methylpropanoate ~24%
• linalyl acetate ~14%
• 2-methylpropyl 2-methylpropanoate ~8%
• 2-methylbutyl 3-methylpropanoate  ~6%

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition. The book notes that little information is available about cape chamomile oil or most of its constituents. However, the oil is composed of 80% esters, similar to those found in roman chamomile essential oil.

Cape Chamomile Aromatherapy Benefits

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art: Cape chamomile contains azulene, giving the oil its blue color. This essential oil helps relieve stress and depression, promote sleep, reduce pain, and support digestion and is considered a restorative tonic that may benefit the liver and nervous system.

The Aromatherapy Companion: Cape chamomile soothes inflammation, relaxes muscle tension, and relieves anxiety. Use this essential oil for itchy or inflamed skin conditions, acne, insect bites, psoriasis, and sunburn. Emotionally, the oils calms and soothes, helping relieve anxiety, overwhelmed feelings, and irritability.

Oshadhi: Cape chamomile contains significant amounts of azulene, which helps relieve inflammation. However, the amount of azulene—and the resulting blue color—varies with the proportion of the flowers used by the distiller, which depends on the harvest. More flowers produce a paler color, which doesn't affect the anti-inflammation properties. The oil's composition varies greatly from batch to batch, depending on climate and soil conditions.

Aromatics International: Cape chamomile soothes the skin, calms emotions, and supports you through long-term stress, helping you maintain peace of mind. Suggested uses:

• Diffuse the oil at night to help you sleep.
• Add the oil to salves to help calm skin irritation and relieve itchy, cracked, or dry skin.
• Use the essential oil in a massage oil to help relieve muscle tightness.

Cape Chamomile Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Healing Facial Oil

• 5 drops cape chamomile
• 5 drops myrrh essential oil
• 4 drops helichrysum essential oil
• 6 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 1 tablespoon calendula herbal oil
• 1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil

Combine all ingredients in a small glass bottle. Cap bottle and shake well. Use a few drops daily on you face.
Source: Aromatics

Bug Bite Relief Gel

• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon lavender hydrosol
• 1 tablespoon calendula oil
• 10 drops cape chamomile essential oil
• 20 drops lavender essential oil

Blend all ingredients. (A flip-top PET bottle works well.) Apply gel as needed to irritated skin.

Source: Jade Shutes, NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Summer 2013.2, p. 60.

Anxiety Calming Roll-On

• 10 ml St. John’s wort infused olive oil (Hypericum perforatum) 
• 2 drops cape chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops german chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 10-ml glass roller bottle

Combine all the oils in the bottle. Snap the roller ball top into place. Use throughout the day as needed.

Source: Aromahead

Diffuser Blend for Sleep

• 6 drops vetiver essential oil
• 3 drops cape chamomile essential oil

Source: Aromahead 

Relaxing Bath Salts

• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) pink himalayan salt
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 3 drops cape chamomile
• 2 drops cedarwood essential oil

In a four-ounce container, combine the pink salt, jojoba, and essential oils, stirring with a stainless steel spoon. Stir the salt into a bathtub full of water. Relax!

Source: Aromahead

Prosperity Bath Salts

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of your favorite salt
• 3 drops cape chamomile
• 3 drops sweet basil (ct linalol) essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil

Blend essential oils into salt. Add to bath.

Source: Stillpoint Aromatics

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Eriocephalus punctulatus Photo Credit: ©tobielouw, CC-BY-NC from Inaturalist