Ocimum Basilicum Extract

TL;DR. This ingredient is mainly used as a botanical skin-conditioning extract, with secondary antioxidant and fragrance-support roles depending on the extract type. It can also be included for scalp-care or deodorant-style formulas where aromatic plant compounds are relevant.

What does Ocimum Basilicum Extract do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is mainly used as a botanical skin-conditioning extract, with secondary antioxidant and fragrance-support roles depending on the extract type. It can also be included for scalp-care or deodorant-style formulas where aromatic plant compounds are relevant.

Is Ocimum Basilicum Extract clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally accepted, but its aromatic components can include listed fragrance allergens and may be sensitizing for some users. Its standing depends on extraction solvent, allergen disclosure, and how much volatile material remains in the finished extract.

Is Ocimum Basilicum Extract sustainable?

This material is plant-derived and generally biodegradable, with a lighter profile when sourced from cultivated crops and extracted with water, glycerin, ethanol, or vegetable oil. Sustainability can vary with agricultural practices, irrigation demand, and solvent choice.

Is Ocimum Basilicum Extract COSMOS-approved?

It can be permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when sourced and processed with allowed agricultural and extraction methods. It aligns reasonably well with Green Chemistry when renewable feedstock and benign solvents are used, though solvent recovery and crop traceability matter.

How does Ocimum Basilicum Extract work chemically?

This ingredient is a complex mixture of polyphenols, flavonoids, organic acids, and variable volatile terpenes such as linalool or eugenol, depending on the plant material and extraction method. Typical cosmetic use is often around 0.1% to 2%, and formulas should account for possible color shift, odor contribution, and oxidation of phenolic or volatile fractions during storage.

Last updated 2026-05-13