Tulsi oil is extracted from holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), a species of basil that is native to the Indian subcontinent. This bushy plant can grow from 2 to 3 feet tall, with serrated oval leaves that can range from light green to purple (depending on the variety).
Eugenole makes up a large bulk of tulsi oil's composition, in some cases up to 85 percent. This is the same constituent that gives clove oil its significant fragrance, which is why these two oils have occasionally been confused with each other. Other beneficial compounds in tulsi oil include estragole, 1,8-Cineole, B-Bisabolene and (Z)-a-Bisabolene.
Both the tulsi plant and the essential oil made from it offer wholesome health benefits, such as: