Helichrysum is one of those oils people hear about long before they ever smell it. It has a reputation in natural skincare and perfumery, a price that raises eyebrows, and a scent that surprises almost everyone the first time: honey, warm hay, and something herbal underneath.
Here is what helichrysum is, why it costs what it does, and how to make a single bottle last.
The Everlasting Flower
Helichrysum (pronounced heli-KRY-sum) is a small, silvery shrub in the daisy family that grows wild across the Mediterranean, on dry, rocky, sun-baked hillsides. In summer it is covered in clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers.
Those flowers give the plant its nicknames, immortelle and everlasting. When they are picked and dried, they hold their color and shape for a remarkably long time, which is why they have long been used in dried flower arrangements. The name itself comes from the Greek helios, sun, and chrysos, gold.
Our Helichrysum Essential Oil is Helichrysum italicum, steam distilled from the flowers. As with any oil that shares a common name with several plants, the Latin name on the label is the one to check.
What Does Helichrysum Smell Like?
Distinctive. The first impression is sweet and honeyed, followed by dry hay and a green, herbaceous note. Some people also pick up a faint spicy quality, which is why one variety of the plant is sometimes called the curry plant.
It is a base note, so it lingers. On its own it can be a little intense; in a blend, a single drop adds warmth and depth that is hard to get any other way.
Why Helichrysum Is So Precious
Helichrysum is one of the most expensive oils in our collection, and the reason is simple: yield. It takes a very large harvest of flowers, gathered by hand in a short summer window, to distill a small amount of oil.
The upside is that you rarely need more than a drop or two at a time. A small bottle used thoughtfully lasts a long while.
How People Use Helichrysum
In skincare blends. Helichrysum is a favorite in natural skincare and perfumery for its warm, golden aroma. To add it to your routine, mix a single drop into a teaspoon of a gentle carrier oil such as golden jojoba. For the face, keep it very diluted and patch test first.
In a body oil. Add 2 drops helichrysum, 4 drops lavender, and 3 drops mandarin to one ounce (30 ml) of carrier oil. Smooth it on after a warm shower, while your skin is still damp.
In a roller. A 10 ml roller bottle with 1 drop helichrysum, 2 drops mandarin, and 1 drop lavender, topped with jojoba, makes a soft, honeyed blend to carry with you. Our guide on how to use roller bottles covers the basics.
As a perfume note. Its honey and hay character makes helichrysum a beautiful base note in natural fragrance, especially alongside florals and citrus.
We do not recommend helichrysum for the diffuser. It works there, but its strength is close up, on skin, where a single drop goes much further.
What Blends Well With Helichrysum
Helichrysum plays well with a wide range of oils. Some of our favorite pairings:
- Floral: lavender, geranium, ylang ylang, neroli, chamomile
- Citrus: mandarin, bergamot, lemon
- Woody and earthy: vetiver, cypress, rosewood
- Herbal and spicy: clary sage, palmarosa, black pepper
A good rule: let helichrysum be one drop in five. It anchors a blend best when it is not the loudest voice in it.
If you are building a collection, our Create Your Own Essential Oil 3 Pack is an easy way to pick helichrysum alongside two oils to pair with it.
Safety and Storage
Helichrysum is concentrated, like all essential oils. Always dilute before applying to skin, patch test on a small area, keep it away from your eyes and the inside of your nose, and keep it out of reach of children and pets. Do not take it internally. Citrus oils like bergamot and lemon can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so skip them in blends you will wear outdoors. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, check with your doctor first.
Keep the bottle tightly capped, in its dark amber glass, somewhere cool and out of direct light, so a precious oil stays at its best.