Monarda Didyma Oil is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the Monarda didyma plant (Labiatae), commonly known as bee balm or bergamot mint. This aromatic oil is celebrated for its refreshing scent and therapeutic properties. Rich in essential oils, Monarda Didyma Oil offers numerous benefits for skin care, including its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties. It is widely used in cosmetics and personal care products for its ability to promote skin health, enhance mood, and provide a pleasant fragrance.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Monarda Didyma Oil contains:

• Essential Oils: The oil is rich in compounds such as thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol, which contribute to its antimicrobial and soothing properties.
• Flavonoids: Antioxidant compounds that help protect the skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage.
• Terpenes: These compounds enhance the oil’s aroma and therapeutic benefits.

This unique composition allows Monarda Didyma Oil to nourish and protect the skin effectively while offering aromatherapeutic benefits.

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Typically a clear to pale yellow liquid.

• Solubility: Soluble in oils and alcohol; limited solubility in water.

• pH: Generally neutral, ensuring compatibility with various cosmetic formulations.

• Odor: Characteristic herbal and minty aroma, aromatic and pleasant.

• Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions; should be protected from excessive heat and light.

Production Process

1. Harvesting: The leaves and flowers of the Monarda didyma plant are harvested during the flowering period to optimize the quality of the oil.

2. Extraction: The oil is obtained through steam distillation or cold-pressing methods to retain its beneficial properties.

3. Purification: The extracted oil is purified to remove impurities and ensure a high-quality product.

4. Formulation: Purified Monarda Didyma Oil is incorporated into various cosmetic products to enhance their aromatic and therapeutic properties.

Applications

• Medical: Used in topical formulations for its soothing and antimicrobial properties, beneficial for minor skin irritations and inflammation.

• Cosmetics: Commonly found in creams, lotions, hair products, and aromatherapy oils for its skin-conditioning benefits and pleasant fragrance. It improves skin texture and promotes a healthy appearance.

INCI Functions:

Tonic. This product is used to treat the hair when the scalp is clean or after shampooing. It stimulates hair growth, revitalises the scalp for healthy hair growth and reduces hair loss. It provides a feeling of well-being on skin and hair.

CAS 91722-89-3

EC number 294-492-6

• Industrial Uses: May be employed in formulations requiring natural extracts.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Generally regarded as safe for topical application, however, like all extracts, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions or skin irritations. People with allergies or very sensitive skin should be careful. It is important to ensure that the extract is sustainably sourced and free from harmful chemicals. 

Responsible sourcing and formulation practices are essential to ensure that the ingredient is free from harmful contaminants and produced sustainably.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Smeriglio A, Ingegneri M, Germanò MP, Miori L, Battistini G, Betuzzi F, Malaspina P, Trombetta D, Cornara L. Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Monarda didyma L. Growing in Trentino (Northern Italy) for Cosmeceutical Applications. Plants (Basel). 2023 Dec 30;13(1):112. doi: 10.3390/plants13010112. 

Abstract. Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal and aromatic herb native to eastern North America and now is also cultivated in Northern Italy, which shows terminal heads of bright scarlet-red flowers, subtended by a whorl of red-tinged leafy bracts. Starting from 2018, M. didyma flowering tops have been included in the Belfrit List of botanicals. However, to date studies on the crude extract of this plant are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and anatomical features of the flowering tops and the phytochemical profile of their ethanolic and hydroglyceric extracts (EE and HGE, respectively). HGE was the richest in total phenols (105.75 ± 5.91 vs. 64.22 ± 3.45 mg/100 mL) and especially in flavonoids (71.60 ± 5.09 vs. 47.70 ± 1.27 mg/100 mL), as confirmed also by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Fifty-three polyphenols were identified and quantified. Even if they showed a common polyphenolic profile, EE and HGE showed quantitative differences. Flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins were the most expressed metabolites in HGE, whereas flavonols were the most expressed metabolites in EE. These features confer to HGE the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties, detected by several in vitro and in vivo assays, highlighting a promising use of this plant extract for skincare applications.

Côté H, Pichette A, St-Gelais A, Legault J. The Biological Activity of Monarda didyma L. Essential Oil and Its Effect as a Diet Supplement in Mice and Broiler Chicken. Molecules. 2021 Jun 2;26(11):3368. doi: 10.3390/molecules26113368. 

Abstract. The use of growth-promoting antibiotics in livestock faces increasing scrutiny and opposition due to concerns about the increased occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Alternative solutions are being sought, and plants of Lamiaceae may provide an alternative to synthetic antibiotics in animal nutrition. In this study, we extracted essential oil from Monarda didyma, a member of the Lamiaceae family. We examined the chemical composition of the essential oil and then evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of M. didyma essential oil and its main compounds in vitro. We then evaluated the effectiveness of M. didyma essential oil in regard to growth performance, feed efficiency, and mortality in both mice and broilers. Carvacrol (49.03%) was the dominant compound in the essential oil extracts. M. didyma essential oil demonstrated antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (MIC = 87 µg·mL-1), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 47 µg·mL-1), and Clostridium perfringens (MIC = 35 µg·mL-1). Supplementing the diet of mice with essential oil at a concentration of 0.1% significantly increased body weight (+5.4%) and feed efficiency (+18.85%). In broilers, M. didyma essential oil significantly improved body weight gain (2.64%). Our results suggest that adding M. didyma essential oil to the diet of broilers offers a potential substitute for antibiotic growth promoters.

Ricci D, Epifano F, Fraternale D. The Essential Oil of Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) Exerts Phytotoxic Activity in Vitro against Various Weed Seed. Molecules. 2017 Feb 2;22(2):222. doi: 10.3390/molecules22020222.

Abstract. The chemical composition of the essential oil of the flowering aerial parts of Monarda didyma L. cultivated in central Italy was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds of the oil were thymol (59.3%), p-cymene (10.3%), terpinolene (9.2%), δ-3-carene (4.4%), myrcene (3.7%), and camphene (3.4%). The essential oil was tested in vitro for its anti-germination activity against Papaver rhoeas L., Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg., Avena fatua L., Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L. seeds, demonstrating good inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent way. The exposure of the employed weed seeds to M. didyma essential oil and thymol solution (59.3%) increased the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), markers of oxidative stress, in emerging 5-day-old rootlets.