Prima Fleur Essential Oils: Corsican ROSEMARY

The French island of Corsica is the primary growing region for our rare Rosmarinus officinalis, var. verbenone [Prima Fleur No. 114]. Clear in color with a strong buttery aroma, softer and richer than other Rosemary oils, it is more chemically balanced, with lower percentages of camphor and cineole. It specifically contains verbenone and bornyl acetate. This oil proves most useful in skin care, as it is generally safe for all skin types and thought to clean out the skin and aid it to rebuild. The least irritating of the Rosemary varieties, it is good for sluggish, sallow, congested skin. For emotional support, it is extraordinarily fortifying, cleansing the mind and uplifting the spirit.

We also offer other varieties of Rosemary essential oil: verbenone [Prima Fleur Nos. 345, 508], cineole [No. 203]. Our California-grown and distilled certified organic Rosemary Hydrosol [Nos. 719 and 729] are perfect for mid-life phyto-tonics as well as sluggish, congested skin and teen-problematic skin conditions.  

For information on our essential oils and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to explore custom development with exquisite botanicals from our extensive library of raw materials, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

GLOBAL VIEW: Palmarosa Cultivation in Nepal



Palmarosa seeds ready to be sowed

The essential oil from the leaves and flower tops of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii var. motia) has a sweet, slightly citrus scent that calls to mind both geranium and rose. A native grass, palmarosa grows wild from the southern subtropical slopes of Nepal to the serene Himalaya Mountains. Nepal is where we find the farmer’s cooperative that produces our Palmarosa Essential Oil [Prima Fleur No. 208]. After the seeds are sowed, the fields are flooded. The resulting grasses are ready to harvest between October and December, after the plants begin to bud. To obtain the highest yield of oil with the best quality, they distill from the leaves and the upper third of the stems. Below, a slideshow of the cultivation process for our palmarosa in Nepal.


Inspecting the oil after distillation

Produced by steam distillation of the fresh or dried grass, palmarosa may be a lesser known essential oil, but it is superlative for skin care, offering cell regenerative and antiseptic properties beneficial to dry, mature, and problem skin types. While palmarosa soothes the skin, it is also uplifting to the spirit, reducing nervous tension and stress, clearing the mind, and calming the senses. Excellent for use in diffusers, palmarosa is high in geraniol, a terpene alcohol that is anti-bacterial, toning, and stimulating to the immune system. Palmarosa’s pleasing odor and its properties against bacteria make it ideal for disinfecting stale rooms. 



The Nepalese name the plant Motiya, and have capitalized on its benefits to create economic opportunities. By providing a guaranteed market for cultivated and wild-collected plants, cooperative programs help small-scale local farmers continue to work the fields, as well as promote the protection of open space for business purposes by leasing privately owned and community lands. Cultivation and harvest are organic and sustainable: What remains from the distillation process is composted and returned to the lands to encourage fertile soil. Micro-financing is available to help local people begin to farm and to provide them with the knowledge to properly cultivate and harvest the plants. Not only can plants like bountiful palmarosa provide therapeutic benefits to people worldwide, they also offer rural residents consistent employment and cash earnings, thereby raising quality of life.

For information on our Essential Oils and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to place an order, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

Prima Fleur Absolute: VIOLET LEAF

Prima Fleur’s Violet Leaf Absolute [no. 278] - Viola odorata oil - is used in products or blends for its wonderful green scent. Violet Leaf absolute is produced from a concrète made of both flowers and leaves (mostly leaves), which is then washed in alcohol to obtain the fragrance material called the absolute.

Known to be antiseptic and antibacterial, this Violet Leaf absolute is solvent-extracted in Egypt and is deep green-colored, green-smelling, and sweet-green-scented. As an effective liver decongestant and circulatory stimulant, this ingredient is effective for skin with enlarged pores, acne, blackheads and problem skin. A great choice for masques, cremes, lotions and gels for face and body as well as body wraps.

For more information on products and pricing, please visit our website. To place an order, please call (415) 455-0957.