Tansy, Blue (Tanacetum annuum) 
Botanical 
Name
Tanacetum annuum L.
Suggested Use
Aromatherapy, Perfumery, Cosmetics, Soapmaking
INCI Name
Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
 
 
Origin
Morocco
Extraction Method
Steam Distilled
Cultivation
Conventional
Plant Part
flower, leaves.
Note
top, middle.
Aroma Family
herbaceous.
Aroma Profile
Highly aromatic, warm, bitter-green, herbaceous aroma with softly diffusive camphor top notes; has a warm, woody-herbaceous drydown.
Appearance
Vivid, inky, dark blue mobile liquid.
 
(Also known as Moroccan Blue Chamomile)
Our Blue Tansy has a very fresh and alive quality – its refined and softly diffusive, herbaceous aroma attests to great care taken in the process of extracting the essential oil. Blue Tansy's vivid deep blue color develops only during the steam distillation process – the indigo blue chemical constituent known as chamazulene is formed when the essential oil components released from the plant material are exposed to heat.[1] Dramatic creations such as this blue jewel of aromatherapy remind us that the steam distillation of plants is truly a form of alchemy.
Although not a true Chamomile, Blue Tansy is sometimes referred to as ‘Moroccan Blue Chamomile’ among aromatherapy enthusiasts. Kurt Schnaubelt has a host of topical recommendations for the cooling nature of this blue oil, including pairing it with Helichrysum and Lavender in a carrier oil like Rosehip Seed CO2 to improve the appearance of sun-exposed skin.[2] According to Schnaubelt, Blue Tansy seems most effective in minute concentrations of 5% or less.
Tanacetum annuum essential oil is certainly important in aromatherapy applications, due in part to the presence of chamazulene. But chamazulene is not this oil’s only interesting and useful compound: sabinene and camphor display numerous and complementary benefits for skincare, massage blends, joint rubs and outdoor sprays. In a diffuser, the aroma of Blue Tansy helps refresh and open the senses. These qualities and more are what make Blue Tansy essential oil such a useful and well-rounded aromatic material worth exploring.
1 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Essential Oils – A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice, 2nd ed., 2012, p. 150.
2 Schnaubelt, Kurt. Advanced Aromatherapy, 1995, p. 80.