Botanical atlas

Common Myrtle

Myrtus communis

Myrtle has perfumed Mediterranean hillsides since antiquity, and it carried real weight for the Greeks and Romans, who wove it into wedding wreaths and dedicated it to Aphrodite and Venus as an emblem of love and fidelity. Village healers across Italy, Corsica, and North Africa turned to the leaves for a soothing gargle when the throat felt raw, and for a mild infusion when the chest felt heavy after a cold. In Sardinia, the deep blue berries have long flavored mirto, a beloved after dinner liqueur, while myrtle water was once distilled across Europe as a gentle skin toner known as eau d'ange, or angel water. That long partnership between kitchen, apothecary, and garden still defines how the herb is used today.

Safety.

The essential oil is potent and shouldn't be taken internally or used undiluted, especially with children. Avoid in pregnancy, and check with a doctor if you take liver-processed medications.