Botanical Name: Mentha Pulegium

Origin: Albania

So why sell it Adam? This would be a fair question. First of all the key chemical that causes great concern is called ‘pulegone’ which is a monoterpene ketone that is actually a starting material for the manufacture of synthetic menthol but more importantly when ingested in high doses has been proven to cause severe toxicity and in extreme cases death. Most books and papers state Penny Royal Essential Oil contains at least 60% ‘pulegone’, (Barnes et al., 2002). The Penny Royal Oil I sell contains 1.6% Pulegone, I confirm again - 1.6% Pulegone, that is less than what is found in Peppermint oil – Mentha pipperita (about 4%). I’d also just like to address American Penny Royal – this is likely to be - Hedeoma pulegioides, smell has similarities but is extremely bitter in comparison.

The other major constituent is actually pipperitone at a staggering 45.52%. Other constituents are Eucalyptol (1.8 cineole), Camphor, Limonene and cis Thujone collectively accounting for just over 16% of the oil.

The oil colour of Penny Royal is clear yellow, it is of thin viscosity and obtained by steam distillation of the dried leaves and flowering tops. The smell is very clean, fresh, strong, herbaceous and similar to smelling Peppermint and Spearmint which are both from the Mentha genesus like European Penny Royal.

I was impressed to learn that this oil is also referred to as Mosquito Plant, Pudding Grass and Squaw Mint. I understand the Mosquito reference comes about due to Penny Royals ability to deter mosquitos, I can’t help but feel for better results a concoction of Penny Royal, Horsemint, Garlic and Virginian Cedarwood would be far more effective, but this poses a question – how do you make it human friendly.

Aside from the claim Penny Royal is a useful insect repellent, it is also supposedly useful for killing fleas (American is said to be better) and is said to be a good counter irritant.

Specs

Flash point: 68°C
Vapour pressure: NA
Specific gravity (20ºC): 0.899 to 0.950
Optical rotation (20ºC): - 25 º to 10 º
Refractive index (20ºC): 1.455 to 1.497

GC/MS%

pyridine 3-methyl 0.09, alpha pinene 2.15, camphene 1.00, sabinene 0.34, beta pinene 1.41, myrcene 0.60, 3-octanol 0.69, ortho cymene 1.55, limonene 6.00, 1,8-cineole 3.79, trans beta ocimene 0.14, gamma terpinene 0.43, linalool 4.71, cis thujone 3.10, trans thujone 0.36, camphor 4.03, menthone 1.61, para-menthone 5.52, borneol 0.74, terpineol-4 0.15, isomenthol 0.12, cis dihydrocarvone 0.25, dihydro carvone 0.12, pulegone 1.66, carvone 0.38, piperitone 45.52
bornyl acetate 0.30, thymol 1.00, carvacrol 3.06, 2-cyclohexen-1-one,3-methyl 0.45, pipertenone oxide 3.29, beta bourbonene 0.37, beta elemene 0.30, caryophyllene 2.24, alpha humulene 1.51, germacrene D 0.76, delta cadinene 0.13, gamma gurjunene 0.14