Many people are surprised to see Organic Chamomile Flower Extract among the first three ingredients in Branch Basics Concentrate.

After all, isn’t Chamomile typically used for relaxation, sleep, skincare, and its soothing scent?

In many cases, yes, but that’s not why we use it in our naturally fragrance-free cleaning, laundry, and hand soap products.

Discover why we consider Organic Chamomile Flower Extract as the star ingredient in Branch Basics Concentrate and Gel Handsoap, including how it’s extracted (and why it’s not a fragrance), why we use it, how it works, its benefits, what harmful ingredients it replaces, Marilee’s take, and some FAQs. 

Key Takeaways

• Organic Chamomile Extract is one of the primary ingredients in Branch Basics
• Concentrate and Gel Handsoap
  
• We use Organic Chamomile Flower Extract to help power our self-preserving formula, benefit the skin, and as a natural descaling agent
  
• We’ve gone the extra mile with this product, carefully selecting a German Chamomile
• Flower Extract that’s Allergen (IFRA) Certified and not a fragrance

What is Organic Chamomile Flower Extract? 

Organic Chamomile Flower Extract is a concentrated extract of Organic Chamomile Flowers, offering potent antioxidant properties, incredible skincare benefits, and natural antimicrobial properties against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.[1]

Most Chamomile Flower Extracts are made using alcohol, glycerin, or other synthetic solvents, which can leave behind harmful residues and irritate the body and skin. 

Our Organic Chamomile Flower Extract is made from German Chamomile via pure water extraction, ensuring an irritant-free end product with no harsh chemical residues. 

It is not a hydrasol or an essential oil, and therefore does not have a fragrance. It’s also Allergen (IFRA) Certified, certifying it is non-allergenic and not a fragrance.

Why Does Branch Basics Use Organic Chamomile Extract? 

So, why do we use so much Organic Chamomile Flower Extract in our products if it’s not for the scent?

Several reasons, including:

To Help Power Our Self-Preserving Formula. 

Chamomile has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties[1] that work synergistically with other human-safe ingredients in our formulas to create a preservative system. More on this to come.

Its Skin Nourishing Properties

Several studies have shown Chamomile offers a range of skincare benefits, including soothing sensitive skin, hydrating, supporting graceful aging, providing antioxidant support, and even helping with skin conditions.[2-3]

It’s Mild Enough For Even The Most Sensitive Skin

This makes our Concentrate and Gel Hand Soap safe to use on babies, children, and people with sensitive skin or skin irritation. 

It’s Certified Fragrance-Free

Making it truly safe for people with fragrance, natural fragrance, essential oil, or chemical sensitivities, and is totally free from endocrine disruptors.

Says Branch Basics co-founder Marilee Nelson on sourcing our Chamomile, “We went the extra mile with this ingredient, as some people are allergic to Chamomile and other ragweeds.

“We did our best to minimize the risk of allergic reactions* with our product, as this was one of the issues we addressed when we tested over 100 formula iterations!  We have conducted third-party, independent skin irritation testing that shows not only that we are not a skin irritant, but also that our product acts on the skin as water would.”

All this makes it the perfect ingredient for our Concentrate and Gel Handsoap.

*Nelson notes that even if you have an allergy to chamomile or ragweed, it is likely you will not react to Branch Basics products due to the form of Chamomile and formulation. 

To be sure, check with your doctor and consider purchasing a Mini All-Purpose Cleaner to test out. As always, do not inhale the product (or any aerosolized/sprayed product) until it has settled on a surface or cloth.

How Does Organic Chamomile Work In Branch Basics? 

Marilee explains how Organic Chamomile Flower Extract works within our self-preserving formula.

“One of our first priorities when formulating Branch Basics products was to avoid using any alcohol or commonly used harmful preservatives/antimicrobials, such as methylisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, or potassium sorbate.”

This is not easy when formulating a water-based product, which is why many green or low-tox cleaners still use synthetic preservatives. 

“We used what is called "Hurdle Technology" to achieve this, where you combine specific ingredients in precise amounts, resulting in a pH of 8.5 +/- 0.5 that ultimately results in a stable, preserved product. The large amounts of Organic Chamomile Flower Extract used, which has antifungal and antibacterial actions, help us achieve this, along with phytic acid and sodium citrate.”

Fun fact: Although Chamomile cannot act as a stand-alone preservative, its effects come from active plant compounds like α-bisabolol, azulenes, and various flavonoids/antioxidants like quercetin and apigenin.

“After over 100 formula iterations, we got the balance just right to provide the preservative power we were looking for, plus the skin soothing and conditioning benefits.”

Nelson also notes they chose the German Chamomile variety, which studies suggest has anti-allergenic properties and supports skin health and healing.[4]

As mentioned previously, Chamomile also has skin-soothing, conditioning, and hydrating properties, making it ideal for hand washing, makeup removal, and overall skin cleansing.

Branch Basics Foaming Wash (made using Concentrate plus water) and Gel Hand Soap both contain Organic Chamomile Flower Extract for its skin health benefits.

Finally, Chamomile has descaling properties, making it helpful for removing dirt, grime, soap scum, and scale.

What is Chamomile Extract Commonly Used For?

Chamomile flowers, tinctures, teas, essential oils, hydrasols, oil infusions, and extracts have been used for thousands of years as natural plant medicines, functional foods, and skin and beauty aids.

Today, Chamomile Extract is commonly used in supplements to support sleep, relaxation, digestion, and a calm state of mind, as well as for reducing symptoms of PMS, including menstrual cramps.[1-5]

In skincare products, it's revered for its hydrating, soothing, and anti-aging properties, largely thanks to its antioxidant compounds, which help support overall skin health.

Chamomile oils and extracts are also used in baby care products as they are helpful for sensitive skin.[1-2]

What Harmful Ingredients Does Chamomile Extract Replace? 

Chamomile Extract can be used to replace a variety of preservatives and descaling ingredients in cleaning products, including:

• Alcohols
• Aldehydes
• Bronopol
• Formaldehyde donors (slowly release formaldehyde to preserve products)
• Isothiazolones
• Parabens
• Methylisothiazolinone
• Phenoxyethanol
• Sodium benzoate
• Potassium sorbate

It also takes the place of synthetic skin-conditioning or protective agents, such as those derived from petroleum or animal products.

Again, Chamomile is not a substitute for a complete preservative, but when combined with synergistic ingredients at the right concentrations, it can help create a self-preserving system with no harsh synthetics required.

Organic Chamomile FAQs

We hope this article has opened your eyes to the incredible benefits of Chamomile Extract in cleaning products (who knew?!)!

If you’re the type of person who wants all the details and more (like us!), here are some FAQs.

Q: Is Organic Chamomile A Natural Bleach?

A: Great question! 

Chamomile does have natural lightening properties for skin and hair, which is why many spray-in hair lighteners or non-toxic hair colors contain chamomile.

It also shares some of bleach’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

However, we haven’t found it to be a suitable substitute for bleaching in cleaning or laundry, which is why we offer Oxygen Boost.

If you’re looking for safe bleach alternatives, check out: 9 Natural Alternatives To Bleach For Disinfecting.

Q: Is Chamomile An Endocrine Disruptor?

A: With new evidence surfacing on the endocrine-disruptive potential of certain essential oils, many people are worried about chamomile.

The good news is, Chamomile, whether as a water-based extract in Branch Basics, a tea, tincture, or even essential oil, has not been shown to have endocrine-disruptive properties; quite the opposite!

Studies show that Chamomile has a balancing effect on the endocrine system, partly due to its stress-relieving properties, which promote overall hormonal balance and healthy function.[1-2]

Q: How Does Organic Chamomile Support The Branch Basics “Human Safe” Standard?

A: As Marilee stated previously, we went to great lengths to source this ingredient and ensure it was as non-irritating, safe, and natural as humanly possible.

Here’s why it supports our human-safe standard:

• It’s Allergen (IFRA) Certified, certifying it is non-allergenic and not a fragrance
• We use German Chamomile, which is anti-allergenic in nature
• It’s safe for sensitive skin
• It’s safe for babies, children, people with chemical sensitivities, older people, and people with chronic illnesses
• It’s Certified vegan
• It’s Certified Organic
• It’s CITES Certified, meaning nothing in it comes from an endangered or vulnerable plant species
• It’s CMR Certified, verifying it doesn’t contain any Carcinogens, Mutagens, or Reprotoxic substances
• It’s Cruelty-Free
• It’s phthalate-free
• Within our complete formulas, it helps with preservation and is completely free from endocrine-disrupting chemicals and compounds
• And it comes with a certificate of origin, stating that all the organic raw material is grown in Egypt 

Learn more about our human-safe standards in: What Is Human Safe? Our Brand Promise

Q: What Are The Side Effects of Organic Chamomile Extract? 

A: As discussed previously, the type of Organic Chamomile Flower Extract used in Branch Basics was carefully chosen to reduce the chances of side effects or reactions.

The exceptions may be for people with Chamomile or ragweed allergies, especially during ragweed season, or anyone with a contact allergy to Chamomile.

However, German Chamomile has been shown to have anti-allergenic properties, and the Chamomile Flower Extract used in Branch Basics is Allergen (IFRA) Certified, certifying it is non-allergenic and not a fragrance.

Our product has also been third-party tested as a non-skin and eye irritant.

Other forms of Chamomile Extract, such as alcohol extracts, could cause other side effects such as skin irritation, dry skin, or allergic reactions.

If you have a history of reactions to ragweed or Chamomile, check with your doctor before using any product with Chamomile.

If you’d like to try Branch Basics, we recommend purchasing our Trial Kit to test out. After thousands of tests, we can say the chances of a reaction are very low, but possible, as with all natural products.

Related reading: End-Product Testing: How Branch Basics Is Changing the Cleaning Industry

Q: Is Chamomile Extract Safe During Pregnancy? 

A: Yes, unless you have an allergy to Chamomile, all the ingredients in Branch Basics products are safe to use during pregnancy.

References:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669018303340 
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9611340/ 
   
3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289263589_Topical_effects_of_Chamomilla_Recutita_in_skin_damage_A_literature_review 
   
4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51200545_Anti-allergic_activity_of_German_chamomile_Matricaria_recutita_L_in_mast_cell_mediated_allergy_model 
   
5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338802206_Efficacy_of_Chamomile_in_the_Treatment_of_Premenstrual_Syndrome_A_Systematic_Review