3 min read
2025-09-25
Meet Your New Favorite Green Aroma: Perilla (Shiso) Leaf
Written By: Robin Lander
We’re ecstatic over the arrival of a rare gem in our collection: Perilla (Shiso) Leaf essential oil. With a striking and highly unusual aroma like no other, we’ve sourced a vibrant material that captures the true-to-nature scent of this fascinating beauty. Complex leafy green and herbaceous with notes of fresh citrus, warm spices, earthy undertones, and nuances of cumin, caraway, and cinnamon, Perilla (Shiso) Leaf is the unexpected twist you’ve been waiting for.
The Plant
Perilla, also known Chinese or Japanese basil, is a green to purple-leaved annual herb of the mint family, native to the mountainous regions of China and India. A traditional food and ceremonial plant throughout Asia, the leaves are best known from Japanese cuisine where they are called Shiso, derived from the Chinese Zǐsū. While most commercial cultivation is for its pressed seed oil (a carrier oil used in cosmetics) the fragrant leaves when steam distilled reveal a bold and energetic essential oil to enliven the senses.
Blending Potential
What makes Perilla (Shiso) Leaf so exciting is its remarkable versatility. As part of the Green aroma family, it has an innate ability to lift and give naturalness and dimension to a wide variety of compositions. As either a middle or top note, Perfumers will appreciate how smoothly Perilla bridges the two accords, while cosmetic formulators can rely on it to bring crisp clarity to skin and haircare lines.
Perilla complements florals by adding a green edge, enriches citrus oils with extra sparkle, and finds harmony with spicy, green, gourmand, woody, and earthy botanicals. Minute traces of this diffusive wonder can transform citrus colognes, fougères, white florals, green chypres, and modern Ambers.
Applications for Formulators
Here’s a recipe for a DIY body oil featuring Perilla (Shiso) Leaf to revitalize the senses and leave skin feeling soft and refreshed:
Shiso Rose Body Oil
Materials:
30 ml (2 Tbs.) Jojoba Oil, Golden - Organic
2 drops Vetiver, Madagascar - Organic
5 drops Rose Absolute, Trilogy
2 drops Ylang Ylang, Fine - Organic
Directions:
Set the 1 oz. bottle on a paper towel to absorb any spills. Add the Jojoba Oil to the bottle, then drop in the essential oils. Twist on the pump top and gently shake to combine. For best aromatic results, give the blend time to harmonize and mature before use. You can set aside the bottle in a cool, dark place for 1-3 days, then shake well.
To Use:
Pump a small amount of the blend into your hand and gently massage into skin. Body oils feel best when applied on damp skin, such as after bathing. You can also add the essential oil portion of this blend to an ounce of unscented body lotion and shake well to create your own scented lotion.
Notes of Caution: Avoid the eye area and mucous membranes when applying. Before using any essential oil, please see all Safety Considerations on the left side of the product page. If you have any medical conditions or are on medication, please consult with your physician before using essential oils. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.
Perilla (Shiso) Leaf - Uncommon and Exotic
For perfumers and formulators seeking to go beyond the usual green and herbaceous materials, Perilla (Shiso) Leaf will certainly inspire. Distinctive, unusual, and intriguing, it brings long-lasting verdancy and a sophisticated edge to your compositions.
