Marjoram (sometimes called sweet marjoram) is a really wonderful herb that's widely used in cooking. Marjoram essential oil is also pretty popular too. Let's look at the properties, uses, and benefits of (sweet) marjoram essential oil.
Pros: Marjoram oil is antioxidant, antimicrobial, and repellent for insects and lice.
Cons: Some aromatherapists believe this oil can decrease your libido.
Precautions: Avoid marjoram essential oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Properties of Marjoram Essential Oil
Here are the properties of marjoram essential oil that you should probably know.
NameThe botanical name for sweet marjoram is Origanum majorana.
You'll see sweet marjoram gets easily confused with many other plants. For instance, oregano is sometimes called wild marjoram and its botanical name is Origanum vulgare. Other plants from the thyme family like Thymus mastichina are also sold as marjoram.
So be sure to verify the botanical name before purchasing the essential oil.
Color and ScentMarjoram essential oil is typically colorless but it may have a very light yellow tint. The scent smells like the herb - warm, woody, spicy and slightly like nutmeg.
CompoundsThe main compounds in marjoram essential oil are: terpinen-4-ol (30%), gamma-terpinene (15%), trans-thujanol (10%), alpha-terpinene, beta-terpinene, linalyl acetate, terpinolene, cis-thujanol, sabinene, linalool, eucalyptol, p-cymol, camphene, alpha-terpineol, and beta-caryophyllene.
These properties of marjoram essential oil give the oil tremendous antimicrobial and repellent benefits.
Marjoram Essential Oil Benefits
There are quite a few marjoram essential oil benefits. Let's get into them now.
1. Marjoram oil is antioxidant
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. And free radicals are harmful chemicals that can damage your skin, make you look older, and may, possibly, lead to cancer. Luckily, marjoram essential oil has significant antioxidant benefits.
In fact, a 2011 study tested the free radical scavenging activities of marjoram essential oil and proved it had significant potential as a natural antioxidant agent.
Another study, done in 2009, did a comparative analysis of the antioxidant properties of several oils including black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel seed, caraway, cinnamon leaf, marjoram, ginger, and clove bud essential oils. While marjoram was not the most potent oil (clove bud, ginger and cinnamon leaf were), it still exhibited significant antioxidant effects.
Hooray for marjoram oil!
2. It's good against lice
A 2004 study tested the insecticidal activity of more than 50 essential oils against female human lice. The oils were also compared to two commercial chemicals used against lice (delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum).
The results were pretty amazing. It showed that, of all the essential oils tested, marjoram, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, and rosemary oils were more potent than the commercial chemicals at killing the lice and keeping them away. And the vapors of the oils were enough to have these effects!
Another study from 2009 specifically studied the effects of marjoram essential oil on adult female and drug resistant human lice. This study found several compounds like terpinen-4-ol, eucalyptol, linalool, and alpha-terpineol were responsible for inhibiting egg hatching and killing the lice.
Therefore, marjoram essential oil is a powerful pediculicide (lice-killing agent) even against insecticide-resistant lice.
3. It's also insecticidal
This marjoram essential oil benefit is clearly proven in the point above. But there are many other studies that support these effects.
In fact, a 2007 study tested 34 essential oils on the common housefly. And only marjoram and seven other essential oils (like thyme, oregano, basil, and pennyroyal) were lethal at the lowest concentrations tested. The oils also had fumigant properties, meaning it kept the flies away too.
Studies on the African cotton leafworm (2005 study) and barley midge (2001 study) have also showed similar effects.
4. It repels ticks too
A 2012 study tested three essential oils (rosemary, spearmint and marjoram) on ticks. While marjoram was not as powerful as the other two, it still exhibited an 84% repellent effect in the lab.
5. It is antibacterial
Besides having insecticidal benefits, marjoram essential oil is also a powerful antibacterial oil. In fact, it is one of the top antibacterial essential oils. In a 1999 study, the oil was shown to inhibit multi-drug resistant bacteria at low concentrations of 0.25% to 0.5%.
Yep it's that powerful.
6. It is also anti-fungal
A 2000 study tested several essential oils on the plant fungi species that causes green mold, Penicillium digitatum. And marjoram oil exhibited very strong anti-fungal effects which were actually comparable with oregano and thyme essential oils.
It should also be noted that marjoram oil was found to be more potent than lavender, rosemary and sage oils!
7. It is antiviral
Here's the final marjoram essential oil benefit. It has antiviral properties!
And this 2009 study gives us the proof. The study tested several essential oils including marjoram, basil, lavender, peppermint, spearmint, and sage against the viruses: Herpes simplex type-1 and parainfluenza type-3 (PI-3).
The study showed most of the essential oils tested including marjoram displayed strong antiviral effects at very low concentrations.
So marjoram essential oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral! It really is an all-round antimicrobial essential oil.
Summary: Here's a quick glance at the benefits of marjoram essential oil.
Marjoram Essential Oil Uses
Marjoram essential oil has tremendous benefits especially antimicrobial benefits. So how to use this oil? Let's take a look at a few ways.
Inhaling
If you're looking for a woody, spicy scent, add 1-2 drops of marjoram oil to your diffuser. And the oil blends really well with other spicy and citrusy essential oils. So you can mix the oil with bergamot, black pepper, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, lemon, peppermint, tea tree and thyme essential oils.
Massaging
Before even considering applying marjoram essential oil to your skin, you should do a skin patch test. Actually, you should do this for all essential oils and all your beauty products too.
For this oil, simply mix 2-3 drops of marjoram oil to one teaspoon of a carrier oil of your choice (like sweet almond or jojoba oil). Then dab a little of the mix on the inside of your elbow or behind the ear.
Monitor this area for a few hours. If you feel any burning or the area gets red or irritated, wash off the essential oil mix immediately. You may be allergic to the oil and shouldn't use it.
If you don't experience any of these, then you can use this same mix on your skin to treat any bacterial, viral or fungal skin problems like nail infections, athlete's foot and more. Note, this mix is about a 2-3% concentration, so you can scale up the mix accordingly.
Cleaning
You've seen just how powerful marjoram essential oil is, so you can definitely use it to clean and disinfect your home. You can use stronger concentrations of 5% (that is, 5 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil, alcohol or even water) to sanitize your surfaces. You can also add your mix to a spray bottle and happily spritz away.
Remember though that essential oils are powerful and can melt plastic, rubber, and other similar surfaces. So it may be a good idea to patch test your surfaces before you thoroughly clean them with this oil.
You can also add other powerful antimicrobial oils to your spray bottle too like thyme, oregano, and lemongrass.
More Precautions
There aren't any major red flags associated with this essential oil. But some aromatherapists believe the oil can lower your libido. Go figure! However, there isn't any clinical evidence proving these effects.
You should also avoid the oil if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from any serious ailments.
Be sure too to check with your doctor before using marjoram oil or any essential oil, for that matter.
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