FAMILY: Myrtaceae
SYNONYMS: Taxandria fragrans, coarse tea-tree.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Agonis is a genus comprising four species, all of which are native to Western Australia. The species generally have fibrous, brown bark, dull green leaves and inflorescences of small, white flowers. They are best known and most readily identified by the powerful peppermint or eucalyptus-like odour emitted when the leaves are crushed or torn. A. fragrans is a small shrub which grows up to 2.5 metres high, with narrow leaves and clusters of small white flowers, characteristic of the genus.
DISTRIBUTION: As a wild native species, fragonia (A. fragrans) has limited distribution in Western Australia, growing near the coast in the south-west region and being reliant on its winter rains and drier summers. For commercial purposes, A. fragrans is grown in large plantations in south-western Australia.
OTHER SPECIES: The Myrtaceae is a large family of plants with over 3,000 species. It is one of the most important families from an aromatherapy perspective, as it includes not only members of the Agonis genus (which includes trees such as A. flexuosa, the Western Australian peppermint) but also hundreds of aromatic plants from the Eucalyptus, Leptospermum, Melaleuca, Myrtus and Pimenta genera. There are several varying chemotypes of A. fragrans, but fragonia essential oil has a unique balance of primary constituents, which imparts its particular therapeutic qualities.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The name Agonis derives from the Greek agon, meaning ‘gathering’ or ‘collection’, in reference to the tightly clustered flowers. Traditional knowledge on A. fragrans has never been recorded, and there is no known use of the plant by early settlers. The species only came to the forefront at around the turn of the century when a husband-and-wife team heard about the local plant and began to explore its potential. Having selected superior genetic varieties, they established a small plantation of these shrubs on their property in south-west Western Australia in 2001. The essential oil distilled from this specific plant and chemotype is thus relatively new to the aromatherapy industry. Indeed it has only recently been given its common name ‘fragonia’ by its discoverer Chris Robinson, and has since been trademarked as FragoniaTM. In a series of tests, the University of Western Australia demonstrated that fragonia oil has anti-inflammatory properties and significant anti-microbial activity, similar to tea tree oil.
ACTIONS: Analgesic (mild), antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-infectious, antiseptic, expectorant, immuno-tonic, nervine, regulating.
EXTRACTION: An essential oil by steam distillation from the stems, twigs and leaves.
CHARACTERISTICS: A pale, watery liquid with a pleasant slightly citrus, fresh-clean and faintly medicinal top note, mixed with a slight spicy, earthy and balsamic undertone: more pleasing than tea tree. It blends well with niaouli, eucalyptus, myrtle, lemon myrtle, rosemary and tea tree.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Primary constituents are 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene and linalool. From a chemical perspective, it is an extremely well-balanced oil, with the oxides (1,8-cineole), monoterpenes (alpha-pinene) and monoterpenols (linalool, geraniol, terpineol and others) in a near perfect 1:1:1 ratio.
SAFETY DATA: Fragonia essential oil is non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing: an extremely mild oil when applied to the skin and safe for children.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE:
Skin Care: Cuts, bites, stings and general skin care.
Circulation Muscles And Joints: Aching muscles and joints, arthritis, rheumatism.
Respiratory System: Asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds, influenza, sinusitis, tonsillitis.
Genito-Urinary System: Candida (thrush), menstrual pain and breast tenderness, vaginitis.
Immune System: Powerful immune-system tonic and restorative.
Nervous System: Anxiety, depression, emotional blockages, grief, insomnia, nervous debility and tension, mood swings, stress.
OTHER USES: Many Agonis species are used as decorative garden plants while sprigs of the white flowers of A. fragrans are cut and used in the florist industry. Fragonia oil is now being used in the phyto-cosmetic industry, e.g. for soaps and skin care products. The oil can also be used as a natural, fresh-smelling disinfectant around the home, e.g. as a room fragrance, in the laundry and for cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
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