Aroma: Sweet, warm-spicy, slightly peppery note. Smells just like the spice commonly used in cooking, a bit oriental and exotic.
Latin Name: Myristica fragrans
Country of Origin: Indonesia
Cultivation Method: Conventionally Grown
Extraction Method: Steam Distilled
Extracted From: Dried nutmeg seed
Color: Clear to pale yellow
Perfumery Note: Middle
Consistency: Liquid
Aromatherapy Properties: (Myristica fragrans) Nutmeg oil is chemically notable for its high content of myristicin, a phenylpropanoid ether, alongside monoterpene hydrocarbons like sabinene, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene. The phenylpropanoid fraction gives nutmeg a distinct character — warm, spiced, and slightly medicinal — that sits apart from purely terpene-dominant oils. Myristicin has been the subject of significant scientific attention due to its psychoactive properties in large amounts (as encountered with whole nutmeg ingestion); in the diluted context of aromatherapy, this is not a concern, but it is a good illustration for students of why constituent-level literacy matters.
History: Well known as a domestic spice worldwide. The nutmeg grown in Indonesia and Sri Lanka is called East Indian and is considered superior to the West Indian nutmeg grown in Grenada.
Specific Safety Information: Used in large doses nutmeg has toxic effects leading to nausea, stupor and irregular heart beat. Avoid in pregnancy and with small children. Contraindicated with certain medical conditions; consult with your Doctor if you have questions before use.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure a disease.
