Catnip

NaturalGREENS, HERBS & FOUGERESfresh · green · aromatic

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

2Origins

Specimen

Nepeta cataria

Definition

Minty-herbaceous, slightly skunky, with a peculiar warmth. Catnip smells like rough spearmint crossed with something musky — cats know why, humans can only guess.

GREEN SWEET HERBAL FRESH

catmint, field balm, nepeta

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Aromatic
Subfamily: Herbal aromatics
Cluster: Green-herbal notes
Source: leaves and flowering tops
Chemical class: complex natural (essential oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

Asia Europe

Scent

Minty-herbaceous, slightly musky-skunky. Like spearmint that spent time in a barn — the mint freshness is there but overlaid with warmth, earthiness, and a faint animal quality. Less clean than peppermint, less sweet than spearmint.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

Terroir & Transformation

The Full Story

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a mint-family herb whose essential oil has a particular minty-herbaceous profile with an unusual musky-skunky undertone. The molecule responsible for feline attraction is nepetalactone, a monoterpene that mimics cat pheromones.

The oil contains nepetalactone (iridoid), citronellol, geraniol, and menthol-type compounds. The scent is recognizably mint-family but rougher, less clean, with a warmth and slight funkiness absent from true mint.

In perfumery, catnip is a niche natural providing herbal-minty character with unusual musky depth. It functions in green-aromatic and herbal compositions where conventional mint would be too clean or predictable.

Production: mainly Europe, North America. The plant naturalizes aggressively in temperate regions.

—

Related: Alpha Pinene · Angelica · Angelica Root · Angelica Root Oil · Artemisia · Barrenwort · Beachheather · Behini Tree

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Steam distillation of dried flowering herb. Yield approximately 0.3-1%. The oil is pale yellow with a characteristic mint-herbal-musky odor.

Formula: Complex mixture — key component: nepetalactone (C₁₀H₁₄O₂)
CAS: 8023-84-5
Botanical: Nepeta cataria
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: catmint, field balm, nepeta

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Note: Main component nepetalactone (C₁₀H₁₄O₂); oil specific gravity ~0.920–0.945 @ 25 °C; pale yellow liquid

In Perfumery

Niche herbal natural providing minty character with musky depth. Nepetalactone gives it a warmth absent from true mints. Functions in herbal, green-aromatic, and unconventional compositions. Works with lavender, green notes, earthy bases.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03lifting agent

04blender

05freshness

Available as

essential oil absolute