A botanical name helps you check which plant is identified for an essential oil. Start with the complete genus-and-species combination, then compare it with a botanical reference. A common name such as "rosemary" is useful in conversation. The scientific record helps you see which names are linked to the species you found.
Copy the complete line from the packaging
Record the botanical name without shortening it to the first word. Keep a photograph of the whole line, including additional markings. A genus and species-epithet combination is usually a useful starting query. Keep unfamiliar extra letters in your note and ask the supplier to explain them.
Do not replace a scientific name with a translation based only on how it sounds. Record the front-label name, scientific line and manufacturer separately. If several plants appear in the ingredients, check each entry.
The eoASSIST oil reference
Search for oils by name and open their reference entries.
Read the genus-and-species combination
This example uses Salvia rosmarinus, the name used for rosemary in the EPPO database. The table explains that record, rather than the ingredients of a particular essential oil.
| Part of the name | Meaning in this example |
|---|---|
| Salvia | The plant genus |
| rosmarinus | The specific epithet within the combination |
| Salvia rosmarinus | The combination used to look up the species record |
The first word alone can be too broad for the check you need. Ask for the full name if a package gives only a genus. A species name also does not replace the plant part, extraction method or finished product's ingredients.
Why rosemary can have two scientific names
The EPPO rosemary record gives Salvia rosmarinus as its preferred name. It also lists Rosmarinus officinalis among other scientific names. This is a reason to check two different-looking names in a reference before treating them as two different plants.
Do not correct packaging from memory. Keep the original name, check its relationship to the record in your chosen database and ask the manufacturer which plant material is intended. Botanical references can use different taxonomic treatments. Save the source link and check date.
What to compare in the record
- Does the complete scientific combination match, or is it listed among other names?
- Which name does the database prefer?
- Which common name is linked to the record?
- Have genus, species and additional markings been kept distinct?
If the reference does not settle the question, do not automatically choose a similar-looking entry. Check the spelling against your photograph and ask the supplier. You cannot reliably reconstruct a missing part of a name without clarification.
Continue to the oil catalogue
After the botanical check, explore the common name in the eoASSIST catalogue. This is a next step for reading an oil reference entry. The catalogue-search walkthrough shows the tested Lavender and Peppermint examples and the role of language.
This route does not promise that every Latin name is searchable inside eoASSIST. A botanical database and an oil catalogue serve different tasks. Identifying a plant species also does not certify your bottle's ingredients or quality. Use the label checks for the actual product.
Source and scope
EPPO Global Database, Salvia rosmarinus, code RMSOF. On 11 November 2026, we checked the preferred name, other scientific names, genus and common names. This example concerns the rosemary botanical record. It does not establish an oil's chemical profile or legal labeling compliance in every country.
The eoASSIST oil reference
Search for oils by name and open their reference entries.