Jasmine oil from Egypt: fragrance, uses and safe use

Jasmine oil is mainly used for its scent, as a fragrant body, massage or hair oil. Most jasmine oils for skin are a plant oil with jasmine extract or fragrance added, so read the label. Jasmine is also a known cause of skin allergy, so test it on a small patch of skin first. This guide is for visitors who want to try Egyptian jasmine oil in Sharm or take it home.

Egypt’s jasmine fields

Most of Egypt’s jasmine grows in Gharbia governorate, in the Nile Delta. A key village is Shubra Beloula, about 100 kilometres north of Cairo.

The plant grown there is “royal jasmine”, Jasminum grandiflorum. Pickers harvest the white flowers by hand between midnight and dawn, because the flowers open fully only at night. The season runs from early summer into autumn.

Egypt and India produce around 95% of the jasmine extract used in perfumes, according to the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades. Egypt’s largest jasmine processor says that Egypt makes nearly half of the world’s jasmine concrete, a waxy extract used as a base for designer fragrances.

What is in a bottle of jasmine oil?

Pure jasmine extract is rare and very strong. One tonne of flowers gives only 2 to 3 kilograms of concrete, and less than half of that becomes jasmine absolute, the pure scented oil that perfumers use.

So a jasmine oil for skin or hair is usually a blend: a plant oil, called the base or carrier oil, with jasmine extract or a jasmine fragrance added. In aromatherapy massage, too, essential oils are diluted in a carrier oil before they go on the skin.

On the label, look for:

• the base oil, the plant oil that carries the scent;
• the jasmine, often by its Latin name, such as Jasminum grandiflorum or Jasminum officinale;
• “fragrance”, a scent that can be made from natural extracts or made synthetically;
• “pure essential oil” or “absolute”, a concentrated oil that should not go on the skin undiluted.

We stock Lotus jasmine oil, made by TNG, a cosmetics company founded in Egypt. Ask us to show you the label before you buy.

Cosmetic uses

People choose jasmine oil for its scent: as a body or massage oil, mixed into an unscented lotion, or on the ends of dry hair.

We found no good studies showing that jasmine oil improves skin or hair, and studies on aromatherapy in general show mixed results. Enjoy it as a fragrance and a moisturising oil, not as a treatment.

Fragrance allergy: what to know first

Fragrance allergy is common. According to DermNet, it affects around 1% of adults. After nickel, fragrance is the second most common cause of allergic skin rashes (allergic contact dermatitis).

Jasmine absolute is one of the essential oils that commonly cause this rash. The rash is usually itchy, red and scaly, and it can blister. It often appears 24 to 72 hours after contact, so a new oil can seem fine at first.

“Natural” does not mean safe for every skin. You can become allergic to a natural oil even after using it without problems.

Some perfumes and fragrances can also cause a skin reaction when the skin is then exposed to sunlight.

How to patch test jasmine oil

DermNet describes a simple home test for new fragranced products:

1. Put a dot of the oil on the same small spot on your forearm or inner upper arm.
2. Repeat twice a day for two weeks.
3. If a rash appears, do not use the oil.

Safety

• Allergies and sensitive skin. If you have reacted to perfume before, choose fragrance-free products. If you have eczema or sensitive skin, ask our pharmacist first.
• Undiluted oil. Do not put pure jasmine essential oil or absolute straight on the skin. Undiluted oils can make you allergic.
• Eyes and damaged skin. Keep it away from your eyes. Do not use it on broken or sunburnt skin.
• Sun. Use it in the evening, or on skin that your clothes will cover.
• Children. Ask our pharmacist before using it on a child. Keep the bottle out of reach.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ask your doctor before you start a new product.
• By mouth. Do not swallow jasmine oil.

If a rash or itching starts, wash the oil off with soap and water and stop using it.

How to use jasmine oil

1. Finish your patch test first.
2. After an evening shower, warm 2 or 3 drops between your palms and smooth them over damp skin.
3. For hair, smooth 1 or 2 drops over dry ends.

Jasmine oil is not a sunscreen. By day, use sunscreen, shade and clothing, and see our sun care products.

How to choose and store it

Check the label for the ingredients, warnings such as “for external use only”, an expiry date and an unbroken seal. Keep the bottle closed, in a cool, dark place, away from heat. If the smell changes, stop using it.

Taking jasmine oil home as a present? Read our tips on Egyptian oils as gifts.

Need help in Sharm?

Ask about Lotus jasmine oil on WhatsApp or call +20 120 344 2201. Our pharmacists speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian, and can read the label with you. See our other Egyptian natural oils, or order with free hotel delivery on orders from $30.