Updated 29 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

• Kingdom: Plantae 
• Order: Lamiales 
• Family: Lamiaceae 
• Genus: Origanum
• Part used: Flowering tops
• Country of origin: Egypt

Precautions for use

Marjoram essential oil is authorised for everyone except pregnant women under 3 months and babies under 3 months.

All forms of application are possible.

However, application to the skin should be diluted in the case of hypersensitive skin.

Its use in high doses and over a long period of time carries risks such as dependence, drowsiness and nephrotoxicity.

Other precautions

Warning: 

• If you have asthma, seek medical advice before use.

Cutaneous use:

• For hypersensitive skin, dilute the essential oil by 50% in a vegetable oil (50% essential oil in 50% vegetable oil) before use.

Contraindications:

• Marjoram essential oil should not be used in cases of acute hypotension.
• In high doses, marjoram essential oil may cause drowsiness and dizziness.
• Long-term use carries a risk of dependence.
• There is a risk of nephrotoxicity at high doses and prolonged use.

Allergenic components:

Marjoram essential oil contains biochemical allergenic components:

• limonene (≤ 4%)
• linalool (≤ 3%)
• citronellol (≤ 0.5%)
• eugenol (≤ 0.2%)
• citrals (neral + geranial) (≤ 0.2%)
• geraniol (≤ 0,5%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

Risks of use