Revision - classic aroma research articles on anti-microbial virtues

AROMATOGRAM a laboratory test used to determine the antibacterial activity of essential oils in which the oil is introduced into the center of a bacteria-laden petri dish. A clear zone indicates the bactericidal activity of the oil. The greater the diameter of the zone, the higher the efficacy of the oil.  Dominique Baudoux on the aromatogram .  The Aromatogram has a long history the effectiveness of aromatic oils first being tested by suspending germs above oil by Koch in 1881, followed by Chamberland in 1887.  Bertrand in 1910 measured the Antimicrobial strength of essential oils by reference to phenol in isolation.

Phenol 1 Origan 25 Thymol 25 Cinnamon 9 Clove 8 

We are then into the modern era with the researches of Gattefosse, Valnet and many others.

1994, the work of Lapraz and Duraffourd and a nice history of the use of the aromatogram from 1881 to the present day phyto2000


The results of 268 cases with 15 of the Essential Oils used most frequently :

ESSENTIAL OIL	% EFFECTIVENESS IN VITRO	PERCENT OF EFFICIENCY
Origanum	86,31	88,43
Cinnamon	79,85	85,83
Savory	67,32	75,16
Clove	50,24	56,34
Lavender	41,91	49,62
Cajeput	39,42	45,89
Pine	38,43	43,65
Geranium	26,99	29,85
Myrtle	25,24	30,59
Eucalyptus	24,25	27,61
Petitgrain	18,15	21,64
Aspic	17,41	20,89
Tarragon	15,04	17,91
Lemon	13,68	16,41

1996 aromatograms demonstrated in the UK  Mike Smith, PMC Laboratories, 0171-436 9395 Link 

2000, Antibacterial activity of essential oils and their major constituents against respiratory tract pathogens by gaseous contact, the researchers used inverted petri dishes to assess the efficacy of diffusing oils  Link

Franchomme and Penoel, L'aromatherapie exactement is a french language textbook for the study of scientific aromatherapy.  Find it on Amazon

Shirley Price's Aromatherapy for Health Professionals  Find it on amazon

Today there is also information on the Florihana website  

Doctors are busy people and it is relatively easy to prescribe antibiotics compared to the messiness, delay and uncertainty of prescribing essential oil use even for something like a fungal toenail or foot infection which responds well to a topical application of tea tree.  However since the 1990s there has been increasing concern at the side effects of antibiotic use.

Essentia