If you’ve ever searched for Melissa essential oil on the internet, you know just how pricey this product can be.
You may be asking yourself, “Why is it so expensive? What makes it different from other essential oils?” These are valid questions and ones that we will answer in detail in this blog post.
We’ll explore why Melissa essential oils have such a deep history of use throughout the ages, its complicated production process, the unique chemistry behind the oil’s scent profile, as well as aesthetic factors like flower color & plant structure which drive up its price.
We’ve got all your answers to understand why Melissa essential oil is so expensive in one convenient location.
What is Melissa Essential Oil?
Melissa Essential Oil, also known as lemon balm oil, is precious and highly sought-after.
It is derived from the Melissa officinalis plant’s leaves and flowers.
This aromatic oil has many therapeutic properties.
Its citrusy scent and vibrant yellow color make it popular amongst aromatherapy practitioners.
It has calming effects on the mind and promotes relaxation.
It is an ideal choice for relieving stress and anxiety.
Further, it has antiviral, antibacterial, and antispasmodic properties that support overall well-being.
However, it is rare and limited in availability.
Extraction involves steam distillation, which needs a lot of plant material to produce a small amount of oil.
Plus, the plant needs specific growing conditions, making it hard to cultivate.
This contributes to its high price.
The quality of Melissa Essential Oil is exceptional.
To ensure potency and purity, reputable manufacturers source their raw materials from reliable suppliers who follow strict cultivation practices.
This results in a superior product, but also incurs higher costs.
Despite its higher price, it offers numerous benefits for physical and mental well-being.
Therefore, many are willing to invest in it.
Whether used topically or diffused aromatically, it is a versatile oil.
Why Is Melissa Essential Oil Expensive?
Why is Melissa essential oil so expensive? There are several reasons.
Firstly, it’s rare and hard to cultivate.
Growing it needs special conditions and takes a long time.
This scarcity makes it costly to produce.
Secondly, it’s labor-intensive to extract.
The flowers and leaves need to be steam-distilled carefully.
The yield from each plant is low, adding to the price.
Lastly, it’s beneficial for aromatherapy.
It helps with stress, anxiety, and insomnia, making it even more valuable.
Factors Contributing to the High Cost of Melissa Essential Oil
Melissa essential oil is a highly prized and sought-after oil for its wide variety of medicinal properties, but its high cost often leaves consumers wondering why they have to pay such a steep price for a tiny bottle.
One of the biggest factors contributing to the high cost of Melissa essential oil is its rarity.
The plant, also known as lemon balm, is notoriously difficult to cultivate, even for experienced growers.
In fact, it takes thousands of pounds of plant material to produce just a few ounces of the oil.
Additionally, the process for extracting the oil is complex and time-consuming, involving steam distillation and multiple rounds of extraction.
It’s no wonder why Melissa essential oil is one of the most expensive oils on the market.
Despite its high cost, many people are willing to pay for its numerous health benefits, including relief from anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
1 – Plant Rarity and Growth Conditions
The Melissa essential oil is expensive due to two main reasons: rarity of the plant and its growth conditions.
Lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis, is a rare herb that needs well-drained soil with plenty of nutrients and sunlight.
It only grows in certain regions with suitable climates, making it hard to cultivate.
Furthermore, harvesting at the peak of its maturity is essential to get an excellent quality oil.
This requires skilled labor and attention to detail.
The extraction process is complex and lengthy, usually done by steam distillation.
Heat is applied to the plant material to release its volatile compounds and condense them into essential oil.
All these factors contribute to the exclusivity and high price of Melissa oil.
2 – Extraction Process
The costly price tag of Melissa essential oil is due to the complex extraction process.
This involves getting the oil from the Melissa plant’s leaves and flowers, aka lemon balm.
The expense is caused by several factors.
Firstly, the Melissa plant needs special conditions like soil pH, sunlight, and moisture to grow optimally.
This makes it hard to cultivate on a large scale and limits its availability, causing the price to rise.
Also, the extraction process is labor-intensive and time-consuming.
It uses either steam distillation or cold pressing.
Both require expert knowledge for the oil to retain its therapeutic properties.
Moreover, the yield of Melissa essential oil is low.
A lot of plant material is needed to produce a small quantity.
This increases the cost per unit.
Lastly, the oil’s volatile compounds are fragile.
They can degrade due to heat, light, oxygen, or improper storage.
Therefore, extra care must be taken when transporting and storing it.
3 – Labor and Expertise
Labor and expertise are a must for Melissa essential oil.
Workers devote their time and energy to cultivate and distill the delicate plants.
Extracting it requires precision and skill, as any errors can damage the quality.
Thus, they deserve fair payment for their hard work.
Moreover, labor costs are usually higher in regions where the plants grow, making the oil even more expensive.
The expertise needed to make high-grade Melissa oil cannot be underestimated.
Experienced distillers masterfully extract its oils, preserving all its beneficial properties.
They know the plant’s traits and when to harvest it to get the best results.
This level of knowledge is not easily obtained, and it contributes significantly to the price.
Moreover, Melissa essential oil has its own unique characteristics.
For example, it takes many plants to get a small amount of oil due to low concentration levels, which drives up the cost.
Additionally, climate and pests can affect the growth and production, making each harvest unpredictable.
Benefits and Uses of Melissa Essential Oil
Melissa essential oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and aromatherapy.
It is extracted from the melissa plant, aka lemon balm, which is native to Europe and the Mediterranean.
This oil can help promote relaxation and reduce stress.
It has a calming aroma, which can alleviate anxiety and improve sleep.
Many people also use it to uplift their mood and increase mental clarity.
Physically, melissa oil can soothe skin irritations, such as insect bites or rashes.
It also has antibacterial properties that can fight off infections and speed up wound healing.
Plus, it has antiviral abilities, making it useful for cold and flu season.
This oil can even help with menstrual pain.
It has been shown to reduce cramps when applied topically or diluted in a warm bath.
Overall, melissa oil is highly valued for its many uses.
However, it is expensive due to the labor-intensive process of extracting it.
The yield per kilogram of plant material is low, adding to its scarcity and cost.
Comparing the Price of Melissa Essential Oil to Other Essential Oils
Melissa Essential Oil is pricey compared to other essential oils.
This is because it’s hard to get and the process of extracting it is complex.
Growing Melissa plants is tricky – they need special attention.
Plus, it takes a lot of plant material to make a small amount of oil.
Furthermore, its therapeutic properties make it sought-after and expensive.
It’s good for relaxation, calming anxiety, and raising spirits, which make it a great addition to aromatherapy.
Because of this, the price of Melissa Essential Oil remains high compared to other oils that are easier to get and take less material to make.
Where to Buy Melissa Essential Oil and How to Ensure Quality
When it comes to buying Melissa essential oil, it’s important to ensure quality.
To do so, consider a few things.
- You can purchase from highly-regarded companies or local herbal stores.
- Check product labels and certifications from the manufacturer.
- Research the company you plan to buy from.
- Read customer reviews and testimonials.
- Ask the company questions about their sourcing and production processes.
Price is another factor.
Melissa tends to be pricier than other essential oils.
That’s because the extraction process requires a lot of plant material, making it labor-intensive.
Plus, its therapeutic properties make it desirable in aromatherapy, driving up the price.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Melissa essential oil is an expensive but incredibly versatile and essential oil.
The main reasons for this high cost are the rare nature of its production, as it can only be harvested in a few places around the world.
This means that it cannot rely on big scale mass-production techniques to bring down the price.
It also requires a very laborious distillation process, meaning that a lot of effort must go into producing this powerful oil, causing it to have a fairly steep price tag.
Considering how much bang you get for your buck when using Melissa essential oil, though, its expense is certainly understandable.
Whether used aromatically or topically, this special oil offers numerous health benefits and is well worth the investment — so with this in mind, go forth and enjoy.