Cape Chamomile Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

Cape chamomile essential oil (Eriocephalus punctulatus) is sometimes difficult to obtain and varies considerably depending on where it is grown.

Plant family: Asteraceae.

Production: Steam distilled from the flowering tops of a highly aromatic woody, evergreen shrub native to South Africa.

Aroma: Like sweet apples, with floral notes and an earthy, herbaceous undertone, according to Aromatics International.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle to top.

System affinity: Skin, according to The Aromatherapy Companion.

Is cape chamomile safe to use during pregnancy? Consult a professional.

Is cape chamomile essential oil safe for children? Yes, properly diluted.

Cautions: The oil is prone to oxidation—store it away from light and heat.

Main components:

• 2-methylbutyl 2-methylpropanoate ~24%
• linalyl acetate ~14%
• 2-methylpropyl 2-methylpropanoate ~8%
• 2-methylbutyl 3-methylpropanoate  ~6%

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition. The book notes that little information is available about cape chamomile oil or most of its constituents. However, the oil is composed of 80% esters, similar to those found in Roman chamomile essential oil.

Cape Chamomile Aromatherapy Benefits

Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol. 1: Cape chamomile essential oil is a cooling systemic nervous, cerebral, and neuromuscular relaxant. Uses for this essential oil are tense conditions marked by anxiety, irritability, pain, and spasms, and specifically agitated depression. The oil is often used in topical blends for eczema, dermatitis, and other hot, inflamed skin conditions, such as acne, boils, insect bites, and sunburn.

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art: Cape chamomile essential oil helps relieve stress and depression, promote sleep, reduce pain, and support digestion. The oil is considered a restorative tonic that may benefit the liver and nervous system.

The Aromatherapy Companion: Cape chamomile soothes inflammation, relaxes muscle tension, and relieves anxiety. Use this essential oil for itchy or inflamed skin conditions, acne, insect bites, psoriasis, and sunburn. Emotionally, the oil calms and soothes, helping relieve anxiety, overwhelmed feelings, and irritability.

Original Swiss Aromatics: This essential oil has an unusual combination of rare monoterpene esters that make the oil powerful against depression and anxiety and effective for dealing with nerve problems, ranging from neuritis to neuralgia.

Cape Chamomile Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Suggested uses for cape chamomile essential oil:

• Diffuse the oil at night to help you sleep.
• Add the oil to salves to help calm skin irritation and relieve itchy, cracked, or dry skin.
• Use the essential oil in a massage oil to help relieve muscle tightness.

Healing Facial Oil

• 5 drops cape chamomile
• 5 drops myrrh essential oil
• 4 drops helichrysum essential oil
• 6 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 1 tablespoon calendula herbal oil
• 1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil

Combine all ingredients in a small glass bottle. Cap bottle and shake well. Use a few drops daily on your face.

Source: Aromatics International

Bug Bite Relief Gel

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon lavender hydrosol
• 1 tablespoon calendula oil
• 10 drops cape chamomile essential oil
• 20 drops lavender essential oil

Blend all ingredients. (A flip-top PET bottle works well.) Apply gel as needed to irritated skin.

Source: Jade Shutes, NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Summer 2013.2, p. 60.

Relaxing Blends

Calm Anxiety Roll-On

• 10 ml (about 2 teaspoons) St. John’s wort infused olive oil
• 2 drops cape chamomile
• 2 drops German chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops Roman chamomile essential oil
• 10-ml glass roller bottle

Combine all the oils in the bottle. Put the roller ball top into place. Use on the back of your neck as needed during the day.

Source: Aromahead

Diffuser Blend for Sleep

• 6 drops vetiver essential oil
• 3 drops cape chamomile essential oil

Source: Aromahead 

Bath Salts

Relaxing Bath Salts

• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) pink Himalayan salt
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 3 drops cape chamomile
• 2 drops cedarwood essential oil

In a four-ounce container, combine the pink salt, jojoba, and essential oils, stirring with a stainless steel spoon. Stir the salt into a bathtub full of water. Relax!

Source: Aromahead

Prosperity Bath Salts

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of your favorite salt
• 3 drops cape chamomile
• 3 drops sweet basil ct. linalool essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil 

Blend essential oils into salt. Add to bath.

Note: To avoid a photosensitive response, use bergamot FCF if you plan to go out into the sun after the bath.

Source: Stillpoint Aromatics

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About the Author

Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer. She uses her deep interest in aromatherapy and essential oils to research their benefits and uses and bring you summaries and blends with links to more resources.

If you find this site useful, you can show your support by buying through my affiliate links. The site is a labor of love, and I appreciate any income that helps keep it up and running.

Buy essential oils at Aromatics International or Rocky Mountain Oils.
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Eriocephalus punctulatus Photo Credit: ©tobielouw, CC-BY-NC from iNaturalist

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