Coriander

Coriandrum sativum

Coriander essential oil

Coriander seed oil smells nothing like the leaf, which people either love or hate. The seed gives a sweet, warm, slightly woody oil that is six to eight tenths linalool. That is the same compound that softens lavender, which is why coriander reads as calming rather than herby. Flow cytometry showed linalool breaking open bacterial membranes, killing them quickly.[1] It also stopped Acinetobacter baumannii, a drug-resistant hospital bacterium, from sticking together into biofilms.[2]

Also Known As
Cilantro Seed, Chinese Parsley Seed
Family
Spice
Perfumery Note
Middle
Intensity
Medium
Extraction
Steam Distillation
Plant Parts
Seeds
Origins
Russia, India, Morocco
Effect
Grounding & Centering, Energy & Uplifting, Sleep & Relaxation
Aroma
Spicy, Sweet, Woody
Applications
Diffusing & Inhalation, Perfumery & Fragrance Making, Cooking & Flavouring
Price
$$$$A major agricultural crop; the seeds are dense and yield oil efficiently

References

  1. [1]Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) essential oil: its antibacterial activity and mode of action evaluated by flow cytometry - Carmo ES et al. J Med Microbiol, 2012
  2. [2]Study of the major essential oil compounds of Coriandrum sativum against Acinetobacter baumannii and the effect of linalool on adhesion, biofilms and quorum sensing - Rubini D et al. Biofouling, 2016