For hair
In Morocco, leaf powder is a classic of hair blends: among herbalists in the Fès-Meknès region, it is the plant most cited for hair care. In a mask or a cleansing treatment, it brings a plant-based note and a tradition that is easy to tell.
Plant extractMoroccan heritage
Myrtle (rihane)
The myrtle an evergreen shrub of the Mediterranean basin.
The flowers white, star-shaped and fragrant.
The berries blue-black, ripe from October to February.
The leaves dried and ground for hair rituals.
INCI · MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAFBuild my myrtle range
- INCI name
- MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF
- Other names
- Rihane or rihan (Morocco), common myrtle, Myrtus communis L.
- Family
- Aromatic plant (Myrtaceae): leaf powder, extract, hydrosol, essential oil
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin and North Africa, including Morocco
- Part used
- Leaves
- Areas of use
- Hair, scalp, body, hammam, room fragrance
In brief
Myrtle in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 18, 2026
- INCI nameMYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF (myrtle leaf)
- What it isan aromatic Mediterranean shrub, called rihane in Morocco
- For haira flagship plant of traditional hair blends, often with henna
- For skina fresh green note in scrubs, hydrosols and oils
- Originthe Mediterranean basin and North Africa, including Morocco
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is myrtle?
Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is an evergreen aromatic shrub of the Mediterranean basin, found in Morocco where it is called rihane. Its small glossy leaves give off a fresh scent when crushed. Dried and ground into powder, they go into traditional hair blends, often with henna. In cosmetics, the leaf comes as powder, extract, hydrosol and essential oil, for hair care, scrubs and fragranced products.
Myrtle powder, hydrosol or essential oil: the difference
Leaf powder
The dried, ground leaves, mixed with henna or other plants in hair rituals, or added to a scrub. This is the form closest to Moroccan tradition.
Hydrosol
The water obtained by steam-distilling the leaves, gentle and lightly scented, for mists and lotions. Its INCI name is MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF WATER.
Essential oil
Highly concentrated and very aromatic, rich in alpha-pinene and 1,8-cineole. It is used at a low dose and contains allergens that must be labeled. Its INCI name is MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF OIL.
( B )ITS BENEFITS01 02 03
Myrtle for hair and skin: benefits
For skin
In a scrub or body care product, myrtle leaf brings a fresh, green aroma. The European CosIng database lists skin conditioning and perfuming functions for myrtle leaf extract.
For the formula
Myrtle leaves are rich in phenolic compounds, studied in the laboratory for their antioxidant activity. A Moroccan plant that gives your range a clear hammam identity.
How do you use myrtle?
- Hair
Traditionally, the leaf powder is mixed with henna or other plants into a paste, applied to the hair then rinsed; as a decoction, it serves as a rinse water. In a finished product, it goes into a ready-to-use mask or cleansing treatment.
- Body
In a salt or sugar scrub, massaged onto damp skin then rinsed, for soft, lightly scented skin, in the hammam or in the shower.
- Face
As a hydrosol, sprayed on the face or applied with a cotton pad as a lotion, for a feeling of freshness. The essential oil, by contrast, is never applied pure.
( C )IN OUR PRODUCTS
Launch your myrtle range
We add it to body scrubs, hair oils and plant powders ready to carry your brand. Pick a category to see the formulas.
Catalog products with myrtle (rihane)
( D )FORMULATOR NOTES
How we use it
What our formulators take into account when myrtle goes into your product.
Often paired with
- 01The right INCI name
Myrtle leaf is declared according to its form: MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF EXTRACT for the extract, MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF WATER for the hydrosol, MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF OIL for the essential oil. We check the exact wording on each material's data sheet.
- 02Allergens to label
The essential oil contributes limonene, linalool, pinene and, depending on origin, geranyl acetate. Above 0.001% in a leave-on product and 0.01% in a rinse-off product, they must appear in the INCI list.
- 03A variable composition
The essential oil changes by region: a Moroccan sample from Ouazzane is rich in 1,8-cineole, another from Benslimane in methyleugenol, a substance restricted by Annex III. We require a certificate of analysis for every batch.
- 04No medical claims
Traditional uses of myrtle are sometimes medicinal: we present them as a tradition and write your claims within the cosmetic frame of fragrance, softness and hair care, with no therapeutic promise.
Did you know?
Rihane, the hair plant of Fès
- Rihane
In a survey of 70 herbalists in the Fès-Meknès region, myrtle, called rihane, is the plant most cited for hair care, often as a powder mixed with henna.
- Blue-black berries
Myrtle berries are most often blue-black, sometimes white-yellow depending on the variety. They ripen from October to February, and birds spread the seeds.
- Leaves
Myrtle leaves contain more phenolic compounds than its berries, and their extracts show stronger antioxidant activity in the laboratory.
Myrtle: your questions
A project with this ingredient?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Message us on WhatsApp
What is myrtle?
Myrtle is an evergreen aromatic shrub, Myrtus communis, that grows around the Mediterranean and in North Africa, including Morocco. It bears small, glossy, fragrant leaves, scented white flowers and blue-black berries. In Morocco, it is called rihane and its leaves are used mostly for hair care.
What are the benefits of myrtle for hair?
In Morocco, myrtle leaf powder is a flagship plant of hair rituals, often mixed with henna. In a cosmetic product, it brings a fresh plant-based note and a strong Moroccan tradition. It is mostly the other ingredients in the mask or treatment that nourish and soften the fiber.
How do you use myrtle powder on hair?
Traditionally, the powder is mixed with lukewarm water, alone or with henna, until it forms a paste, which is applied to the hair before rinsing. A leaf decoction can also serve as a rinse water. Patch test on a small area before first use.
What is myrtle oil?
The term most often means the essential oil, obtained by distilling the leaves and declared as MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF OIL. Highly concentrated, it is always diluted in an oil or a cream. There are also macerates: leaves infused in a vegetable oil, such as olive oil, which are milder and less fragranced.
Are myrtle and rihane the same plant?
Yes: in Morocco, rihane, sometimes written rihan, means common myrtle, Myrtus communis. Because local names vary from one region to another, the Latin name remains the safest reference to identify the plant, and the INCI name the one to declare it on a product.
Is myrtle suitable for sensitive skin?
The powder and hydrosol are gentle. The essential oil, however, contains allergens such as limonene and linalool: it is used at a low dose, is never applied pure, and these allergens appear on the label above the regulatory thresholds. A patch test on a small area is still recommended.
Can you create a myrtle range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. We add it to white label body scrubs, hair oils, plant powders and hammam care, or to an exclusive private label formula, made in our ISO 22716 factory in Morocco. Free samples and a free consultation.
Sources
- European Commission, CosIng database: MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF EXTRACT (myrtle leaf extract)
- European Commission, CosIng database: MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF OIL (myrtle leaf essential oil)
- Al-Snafi A.E. et al., The therapeutic value of Myrtus communis L.: an updated review, Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology 397(7) (2024)
- Salhi N. et al., Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in the Fez-Meknes Region, Trop J Nat Prod Res 7(11) (2023)
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products
Your myrtle range, made in Morocco
Send your brief: we formulate and manufacture in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and formula selection, no commitment.