Skip to content
SupplyList
Menu

Lemon balm

Lemon balm suppliers and sourcing guide

Lemon balm is Melissa officinalis, a lemon-scented herb in the mint family grown in Europe, the Mediterranean and North America. The ingredient is the dried leaf or herb top, sold cut for tea, as powder, and as water or hydroalcoholic extracts standardized to rosmarinic acid. The essential oil is low-yield and expensive, and is often substituted with cheaper lemon-scented oils.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Melissa officinalis · balm · melissa
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of lemon balm

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Cut leaf

    Dried, cut leaf and herb top for tea and infusions.

  • Leaf powder

    Milled dried leaf; not standardized.

  • Standardized extract

    Dry extract sold on rosmarinic acid or total hydroxycinnamic acids by HPLC.

  • Essential oil

    Steam-distilled oil with very low yield; authenticity testing matters because lemongrass or citronella oils are used to dilute it.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity (HPTLC)
Confirms Melissa officinalis and screens for other mint-family herbs.
Rosmarinic acid (HPLC)
Rosmarinic acid or total hydroxycinnamic derivatives by a named method.
Essential oil profile (GC)
Citral (geranial and neral), citronellal and other components for oil, checked against expected ranges.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella.
Heavy metals and pesticides
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS and a multi-residue pesticide screen.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep leaf and extract sealed, cool, dry and dark; the aroma fades quickly once exposed. Essential oil goes in full, closed, light-blocking containers. Shelf life or retest date comes from the supplier.

Lots and expiry dates

Aroma and rosmarinic acid vary with harvest and drying. Record origin and supplier lot, and for oil keep the GC profile of each lot.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • 21 CFR 182.10 lists balm (lemon balm), Melissa officinalis L., among spices and natural seasonings and flavorings generally recognized as safe for their intended use; 21 CFR 182.20 lists it among plant sources of essential oils, oleoresins and natural extractives.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's natural health product monograph for lemon balm lists the dried herb top of Melissa officinalis as the source material.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Lemon balm suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking lemon balm suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell lemon balm? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of lemon balm can brands buy?

Common forms include cut leaf, leaf powder, standardized extract and essential oil. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for lemon balm include?

Expect identity (HPTLC), rosmarinic acid (HPLC), essential oil profile (GC), microbiology and heavy metals and pesticides, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should lemon balm be stored?

Keep leaf and extract sealed, cool, dry and dark; the aroma fades quickly once exposed. Essential oil goes in full, closed, light-blocking containers. Shelf life or retest date comes from the supplier.

What is the regulatory status of lemon balm?

21 CFR 182.10 lists balm (lemon balm), Melissa officinalis L., among spices and natural seasonings and flavorings generally recognized as safe for their intended use; 21 CFR 182.20 lists it among plant sources of essential oils, oleoresins and natural extractives. Health Canada's natural health product monograph for lemon balm lists the dried herb top of Melissa officinalis as the source material.

More botanicals and mushrooms

All 167 botanicals and mushrooms

Sell ingredients to brands?

Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.

Request a listing