West Indian Bay Essential Oil

Latin name Pimenta racemosa - Family species Myrtaceae

West Indian Bay is also referred to as Myrcia Acris, Pimenta Acris, Myrcia, Bay, Bay Rum Tree, Wild Cinnamon, Bayberry, Bay Leaf, but is NOT the same as Laurel Leaf Oil (Laurus nobilis) nor North American bayberry or wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). The leaves of the bay tree used to be commonly distilled with rum and water to produce “bay rum”, a formulation used primarily on the hair.

Oil Selection Guide

Color - Deep, dark yellow
Viscosity - Medium to watery
Scent - Spicy, fresh top note, sweet, balsamy undertone
Perfume aroma: Base / middle / top note

Oil Source Information

Plant Type - Tree
Part Used - Leaves
Countries of Origin - West Indies (as the name infers), St. Thomas (Virgin Islands), Jamaica, South and Central America
Extraction Method - Steam distillation (salt or sea water sometimes used in process)

Known Chemical Constituents

Eugenol, chavicol, myrcene, cineol, methyl eugenol, linalol, limonene

Uses of Bay

Used in aromatherapy, and found in perfumery and product fragrances (soaps, lotions, detergents). Also in foods such as condiments and drinks.

Bay blends well with

Special Precautions*

High eugenol content is a concern.
Take extreme care to avoid using near mucous membranes.
* See Safety and Usage.

References and Resources

See References and Resources page.

Studies Involving Bay Oil

Antibacterial activity of essential oils of Pimenta racemosa var. terebinthina and Pimenta racemosa var. grisea

“These data would indicate the potential usefulness of the variety grisea as a microbiostatic, antiseptic or disinfectant agent.”

Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, C/Profesor García González s/n, University of Sevilla, 41012-Sevilla, Spain.

Antibacterial activity of selected plant essential oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7

“Significance and Impact of the Study: Oregano and light thyme EO, particularly when enhanced by agar stabilizer, may be effective in reducing the number or preventing the growth of E. coli O157:H7 in foods.”

Department of Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Anti-inflammatory activity of abietic acid, a diterpene isolated from Pimenta racemosa var. grissea

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, C/Professor García Gonzalez s/n, 41012-Sevilla, Spain.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, UCM, Avda Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Volume 53, Number 6, 1 June 2001 , pp. 867-872(6)

Application of gas - liquid chromatography to the analysis of essential oils. Part IV. Determination of eugenol in oil of bay (Pimenta racemosa, Miller).

The Analyst - 1975 Aug.

Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica.

Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, California 94710, USA.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry study of the essential oils of Pimenta racemosa var. terebinthina and P. racemosa var grisea.

Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.

Mosquito larvicidal activity of aromatic medicinal plant oils against Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens pallens.

“These plants warrant further studies as possible agents for mosquito control.”

Faculty of Biotechnology and Center for Agricultural Science and Tchnology, Chonbuk National University, Chonju 561-756, South Korea.