If Immortelle is the golden flower of the maquis, myrtle is its green scent. You meet it everywhere in Corsica, along paths and on the hills. Here is how to recognise it, and what it brings to our products.
An evergreen shrub
Myrtle, Myrtus communis, is a Mediterranean shrub with small, glossy, dark green leaves that stay on all year. Crushed between the fingers, they give off a fresh, resinous scent that is easy to recognise.
A plant with two seasons
- In early summer, it is covered in white five-petalled flowers, with a heart of long, fluffy stamens.
- In autumn and winter, the flowers give way to blue-black berries. In Corsica, they are traditionally used to make myrtle liqueur.
A maquis plant
Myrtle likes heat and well-drained soil. It grows in the maquis alongside Immortelle, lentisk, strawberry tree and rock rose. It is one of the plants that give the Corsican maquis its unique scent, the one you notice as soon as you arrive on the island.
Myrtle in our products
- Organic myrtle essential oil, 5 ml. Its label states the type: 1,8-cineole myrtle.
- Immortelle and Myrtle dry oil, for hair, face and body: myrtle brings its green note.
- Eau de Jouvence, which blends the floral waters of Immortelle, myrtle and lentisk.
- Myrtle soap, 100 g, enriched with Immortelle oil.
Using myrtle essential oil well
An essential oil is pure and highly concentrated: never apply it undiluted to the skin. Dilute 1 to 2 drops in a teaspoon of vegetable oil, such as our Immortelle oil, before applying to the chosen area. Do a skin test in the crook of the elbow 48 hours before first use. It can also be used in a diffuser: a few drops, in a well-ventilated room, away from children.
Label precautions: for external use only, avoid contact with eyes, keep out of reach of children, stop using if irritation occurs. All our guidance is gathered in our precautions for use.
Frequently asked questions
Is myrtle the same as the blueberry plant?
No. In French the two names sound alike, but the blueberry is a small mountain plant, while myrtle is a Mediterranean shrub from a completely different family.
What does "1,8-cineole" mean on the label?
It is the name of the main molecule in this essential oil. It is stated to tell apart the different types of myrtle.
To discover the other plants of the maquis: The plants of the Corsican maquis.
