15/09/2025
The alchemy of Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) 🌀
German chamomile aka blue chamomile essential oil gets its dazzling hue due to the presence of chamazulene, a sesquiterpenoid with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidant effects.
💧But did you know that chamazulene isn't actually found in Chamomile plants?
How so? Well, German chamomile naturally contains matricin, a colourless non-aromatic molecule which serves as the precursor to chamazulene. It's only when heat is applied, during distillation, that the matricin converts to chamazulene!
✨ Although it’s not alchemy in the ancient sense, this transformation from invisible to indigo feels nothing short of magical. It’s a perfect example of nature’s chemistry, where fire and water unlocks the plant's full potential.
🌀Here we are hydrodistilling the flowers for a very special, limited hydrolat. In the video, the fresh distillate is exiting the still, with chamazulene visible both as a small layer floating on the surface and suspended as a colloidal dispersion in the aromatic water.