WINTERGREEN ESSENTIAL OIL
An intensely sweet, mint-like aromatic oil rich in methyl salicylate and requiring specialist care.
Botanical Information
Botanical Name: Gaultheria procumbens L.
Common Name: Wintergreen
Family: Ericaceae
Origin of Plant: Eastern North America
Method of Extraction: Warm-water maceration of the leaves followed by distillation
Note: Top to Middle
Colour: Colourless to pale yellow or pinkish
Aroma: Intensely sweet, mint-like and medicinal
About This Essential Oil
Wintergreen Essential Oil is a highly concentrated aromatic material composed predominantly of methyl salicylate. Its sweet, penetrating aroma is familiar from some traditional liniments. Swallowing even a small amount can cause serious poisoning, while topical use can add to systemic salicylate exposure. It is not a routine home-use oil and should be reserved for professionally formulated products within supplier and regulatory limits.
Key Benefits
• Provides an intense, sweet and mint-like aroma
• Adds a penetrating note to specialist formulations
• Recognisable in liniment-style fragrances
• Effective at very low proportions
• Blends with mint, herb and conifer notes
• Best reserved for trained formulators
History
Gaultheria procumbens is a low evergreen native to eastern North America. Indigenous peoples used the plant in customary practices before its adoption into Euro-American preparations. Wintergreen later became familiar in confectionery, oral-care products and liniments. Historical use does not establish that the concentrated oil treats pain, arthritis, respiratory illness or other medical conditions.
Main Chemical Components
Wintergreen oil is typically more than 95% methyl salicylate. Minor constituents vary. Confirm identity, authenticity, methyl salicylate content, contaminants and use limits from the current certificate of analysis and safety data sheet.
Aromatic Characteristics
• Intensely sweet, mint-like, medicinal and persistent
• Top-to-middle aromatic note
Aromatic Uses
• Adds a wintergreen note to specialist mint, conifer and herb formulations
• Use only at professionally assessed levels; not for casual home blending
Aromatic Profile
• Strong at trace proportions
• Sweet, sharply mint-like and dominant
Blends Well With
Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Peppermint and Rosemary. Use only after a formulation-specific safety assessment.
Health & Safety
• HIGH-RISK OIL: methyl salicylate can cause severe or fatal poisoning if swallowed. External use only; never ingest.
• Never use undiluted. Reserve for professionally formulated products within the supplier's dermal limit.
• Avoid for babies and children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and around pets.
• Do not use with salicylate allergy, anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines, bleeding disorders, before surgery, or when advised to avoid salicylates.
• Avoid broken or inflamed skin, large areas, heat, tight bandaging, eyes, mucous membranes and baths.
• Patch testing does not rule out systemic toxicity. Stop use if unwell. Avoid casual diffusion or direct inhalation.
• After swallowing or significant exposure, seek urgent poison-centre or medical advice; do not induce vomiting.
• Keep locked away below 25°C, away from children, animals, sunlight and heat.
