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Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Basil (Ocimum basilicum, Lamiaceae) is used in cosmetics as a flower and leaf extract, classed by CosIng as an antioxidant and a skin and hair conditioning agent1. Rosmarinic acid is a major antioxidant in it5. Cosmetic studies are laboratory studies, with no clinical trial on the extract67.

Basil in macro view, raw material on a sage green ceramic surface, raking light

Basil at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Data from the European Commission's CosIng database12 and from consolidated Regulation (EC) No 1223/20093. The Carmel glossary lists the INCI name of an extract; the catalog also uses a powder, whose INCI name must be verified.

INCI name
OCIMUM BASILICUM EXTRACTFlower and leaf extract. US INCI name: Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract1. The catalog also cites basil powders: the INCI name of a powder must be verified, as CosIng lists none among the basil entries found
Other names
Common basil, sweet basilBasil, sweet basil
CAS / EC number
Not given in this CosIng entryThe OCIMUM BASILICUM EXTRACT entry gives neither CAS nor EC1. The neighboring OCIMUM BASILICUM LEAF EXTRACT entry gives CAS 84775-71-3 and EC 283-900-82: do not attribute them to the glossary INCI name without verification
Botanical origin
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae)CosIng: extract of the flowers and leaves1
Composition
Rosmarinic acid (extract); eugenol, linalool, methyleugenol (oil)Rosmarinic acid: main antioxidant of a methanolic sweet basil extract5. Across 21 cultivars, the oil often contains eugenol, methyleugenol and linalool; estragole appears only in the Napoletano type4
CosIng functions
Antioxidant, hair conditioning, skin conditioning"Antioxidant", "Hair conditioning" and "Skin conditioning"1
EU status
No dedicated line in Annex IIICosIng mentions no restriction for this extract1. The consolidated text of the regulation does not name Ocimum3
Allergen to declare
Not basil, but some constituents of its oilAnnex III names eugenol (line 71) and linalool (84): mention above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products. Methyleugenol (line 102) is capped at 0.0002% in other leave-on products and 0.001% in rinse-off products3. Estragole is not named in the text. For an extract, batch analysis tells what applies
Safety
No CIR or SCCS assessment retainedTolerance is judged on the finished formula and on the batch certificate of analysis

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

CompositionChemistry

An oil that varies by cultivar

Laboratory
21 cultivars (Genovese, Napoletano, purple basil)GC and GC-MS

The chemotype strongly influences the composition of the oil. Estragole, absent from the Genovese and purple types, appears in the Napoletano type. Eugenol, methyleugenol and linalool are abundant in most cultivars. The cultivars tested show moderate antibacterial activity4.

Rosmarinic acid, a major antioxidant of the extract

Laboratory
Methanolic sweet basil extractDPPH test, liposomes

The most active fraction is identified as rosmarinic acid, of which one molecule scavenges 1.52 radicals. A synergy with α-tocopherol is shown5.

SkinSkincare

Extracts well tolerated by skin cells

Laboratory
Hydro-alcoholic extracts of leaves and aerial partsKeratinocytes, fibroblasts, melanocytesApplication on human skin

The leaf extract inhibits 89% in the antioxidant test, against 95% for the reference. It induces no notable cytotoxicity on the normal skin cell lines tested. Erythema values decrease after application on human skin; the abstract does not detail the protocol6.

Protection of collagen fibers against UVA in culture

Laboratory
Basil extract containing rosmarinic acidHuman dermal fibroblastsRepeated UVA

The extract and rosmarinic acid reduce reactive oxygen species and carbonylated proteins, and restore type I collagen synthesis and the number of collagen fibers in irradiated fibroblasts7.

Effects described, with no quantified clinical result

Review
2026 narrative reviewStudies from 1999 to 2025

The review reports antioxidant, antimicrobial, moisturizing and protective effects attributed to flavonoids, phenolic acids and terpenes. Its abstract gives no figure from a clinical trial8.

ToleranceSafety

Basil among the spices patch tested

Clinical trial
55 people suspected of contact allergySpices at 10 and 25% in petrolatum

Concordant results are most frequent with ginger (7 participants), nutmeg (5) and oregano (4). Basil is not among them and gives no isolated reaction at 25%9.

An occupational contact allergy described

Case report
Basil, occupational use

A 2010 publication describes a case of occupational contact allergy to basil10. An isolated case: it gives no frequency.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Evidence is flagged by level: clinical trial, review or laboratory.

Which products use basil?

Our white label catalog includes 2 formulas with basil, always as a supporting ingredient. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).

2Body

Plant powder of the traditional argan oil soap, and supporting extract of a dry rosemary salt scrub.

In our formulas, it is most often paired with

Vitamin E 2Chamomile 1Myrtle extracts 1Soybean oil 1Bay leaf 1

Frequently asked questions about basil

What is basil in cosmetics?
It is basil (Ocimum basilicum, Lamiaceae), used as a flower and leaf extract, a powder or an essential oil1. In our formulas, it appears as a plant powder in a soap and as an extract in a scrub.
What are the benefits of basil for the skin?
CosIng classifies it as an antioxidant and a skin and hair conditioning agent1. In the laboratory, the rosmarinic acid of the extract scavenges radicals5 and protects fibroblasts from the effect of UVA7. No clinical trial on the extract was retained: a brand should stay cautious with its claims.
What is the INCI name of basil?
The Carmel glossary lists OCIMUM BASILICUM EXTRACT (flowers and leaves)1. CosIng contains other entries, such as OCIMUM BASILICUM LEAF EXTRACT2. For a basil powder, the INCI name must be verified before labeling; it must match the part of the plant and the form actually used.
Do I have to declare allergens with basil?
Basil is not named in the regulation, but some constituents of its oil are: eugenol and linalool, above 0.001% in leave-on products or 0.01% in rinse-off products34. Methyleugenol is capped at 0.0002% in other leave-on products3. The calculation is done on the finished product, from the batch analysis.
Can basil cause an allergy?
A case of occupational contact allergy is described10, but in a series of spice patch tests, basil gave no isolated reaction at 25%9. Tolerance is checked on the finished formula, and a healthcare professional's advice comes first for reactive skin.
Can you make a basil product for my brand?
Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab can add basil to one of its 2 catalog formulas to customize, or to a custom formula. Free samples are offered.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

  1. European Commission. CosIng, entry OCIMUM BASILICUM EXTRACT. ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  2. European Commission. CosIng, entry OCIMUM BASILICUM LEAF EXTRACT (CAS 84775-71-3, EC 283-900-8). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  3. European Parliament and Council. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated version of 1 May 2025: Annex III, lines 71 (eugenol), 84 (linalool) and 102 (methyleugenol). eur-lex.europa.eu
  4. Maggio A, Roscigno G, Bruno M, et al. Essential-Oil Variability in a Collection of Ocimum basilicum L. (Basil) Cultivars. Chem Biodivers. 2016;13(10):1357-1368. PMID 27444992
  5. Jayasinghe C, Gotoh N, Aoki T, Wada S. Phenolics composition and antioxidant activity of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51(15):4442-4449. PMID 12848523
  6. Faur A, Watz C, Moacă EA, et al. Correlations on Phenolic Screening Related to In Vitro and In Ovo Assessment of Ocimum basilicum L. Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts Used as Skin Active Ingredient. Molecules. 2020;25(22):5442. PMID 33233640
  7. Yoshikawa M, Okano Y, Masaki H. An Ocimum basilicum Extract Containing Rosmarinic Acid Restores the Disruption of Collagen Fibers Caused by Repetitive UVA Irradiation of Dermal Fibroblasts. J Oleo Sci. 2020;69(11):1487-1495. PMID 33055443
  8. Gupta D, Chaurasia H, Verma S, et al. Basil (Ocimum basilicum): A Natural Approach to Skin Care and its Cosmeceutical Potential. Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2026;23(3):e15701638372091. PMID 40910211
  9. Futrell JM, Rietschel RL. Spice allergy evaluated by results of patch tests. Cutis. 1993;52(5):288-290. PMID 8299390
  10. Kiec-Swierczynska M, Krecisz B, Chomiczewska D, et al. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by basil (Ocimum basilicum). Contact Dermatitis. 2010;63(6):365-367. PMID 21070226
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