CATNIP ESSENTIAL OIL

Latin Binomial: Nepeta cataria
Plant Part: Aerial Part
Extraction: Steam Distilled
Growing Practice: Ethical
Country of Origin: Canada
Odor Type: MINTY

Odor Characteristic: Catnip is considered a middle note, with an herbaceous-green odor, with strong minty undertone, similar to other mints and pennyroyal.

Refractive Index: 1.4850-1.4925 @ 25.00 °C.
Specific Gravity: 1.0455-1.065 @ 25.00 °C.
Appearance: pale yellow to amber/brown liquid
BioChemical Class: Aldehyde
CAS No: 8023-84-5
INCI Name: NEPETA CATARIA OIL

Aromatherapy: NEWS RELEASE FROM THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY: Chicago, August 276, 2001. "Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET" Entomologist Chris Peterson, Ph.D., with Joel Coats, Ph.D., chair of the university's entomology department, led the effort to test catnip's ability to repel mosquitoes. Peterson, a former post-doctoral research associate at the school, is now with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Wood Products Insects Research Unit, in Starkville, Miss. Peterson put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone. After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent (about four mosquitoes) remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose (1.0 percent) of the oil. In the low-dose test (0.1 percent) with nepetalactone, an average of 25 percent five mosquitoes stayed on the treated side. The same tests with DEET (diethyl-m-toluamide) resulted in approximately 40 percent to 45 percent eight-nine mosquitoes remaining on the treated side. In the laboratory, repellency is measured on a scale ranging from +100 percent, considered highly repellent, to 100 percent, considered a strong attractant. A compound with a +100 percent repellency rating would repel all mosquitoes, while 100 percent would attract them all. A rating of zero means half of the insects would stay on the treated side and half on the untreated side. In Peterson's tests, catnip ranged from +49 percent to +59 percent at high doses, and +39 percent to +53 percent at low doses. By comparison, at the same doses, DEET's repellency was only about +10 percent in this bioassay, he notes.

The information provided on these pages is not a substitute for necessary medical care, nor intended as medical advice. Always keep aromatic extracts tightly closed and in a cool, dark place, out of reach of children. Never ingest aromatic extracts. Always dilute aromatic extracts when applying topically and avoid areas around eyes or mucous membranes. If redness or irritation occurs, stop using immediately and contact your health provider if necessary.