The Vietnamese Herbal Steam Blend is a blend of 6 essential oils inspired by the traditional Vietnamese steam pot (nồi xông lá): mint, patchouli, lemongrass, cajeput (tràm), clove basil and Indian camphorweed (cúc tần). It is blended by Thao Duoc Xanh; the lot code is printed on the label.
In traditional Vietnamese medicine, steaming is a way to bring on a sweat and relieve a cold. Modern research finds that steaming feels soothing, but the evidence that it cures colds is weak, and steaming the wrong way can easily cause burns.
Quick facts
- Type
- Essential oil blend
- Composition
- Mint, patchouli, lemongrass, cajeput, clove basil and Indian camphorweed oils
- Origin
- Blended at Thảo Dược Xanh (Blue Herbs)
- Method
- Component oils steam-distilled, then blended
- Appearance & odour
- Herbal scent: cool mint and cajeput, fresh lemongrass, warm clove basil, deep patchouli
- Common aromatic compounds
- Menthol, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, patchoulol, citral or citronellal (depending on the lemongrass type)
- Storage
- Dark glass bottle, tightly closed, in a cool place
What is the Herbal Steam Blend?
This is not the oil of a single plant. It is a blend of 6 component oils, put together in the spirit of the Vietnamese folk steam pot. Each component oil is distilled separately and only then blended.
As a result, the scent stays consistent from one use to the next. A pot of fresh leaves is different: every batch smells a little different, depending on which leaves were picked.
The 6 oils in the blend
| Oil | Plant | What it adds to the scent |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | Cornmint (Mentha arvensis) | Cool, nose-clearing menthol |
| Patchouli | Pogostemon cablin | Deep, warm, earthy base that makes the scent last |
| Lemongrass | Cymbopogon species | Fresh, lemony top note |
| Cajeput (tràm) | Melaleuca species | Cool, slightly sharp, from 1,8-cineole |
| Clove basil | Ocimum gratissimum | Warm, clove-like spice from eugenol |
| Indian camphorweed (cúc tần) | Pluchea indica | Pungent leafy note, a classic steam leaf in northern Vietnam |
What goes into a traditional Vietnamese steam pot?
There is no single national recipe. Each region, and each household, uses whatever leaves grow in the garden.
According to doctors’ guidance published by VnExpress and Vinmec, the most common leaves are lemongrass, pomelo leaf, lime leaf, clove basil (hương nhu), perilla (tía tô), Vietnamese balm (kinh giới), mint and bamboo leaf. Many families add ginger, mugwort, Indian camphorweed (cúc tần) or guava leaf.
| Leaf | Scent and aromatic compounds | Folk notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lemongrass | Citral, lemony | Both leaves and stalks are used |
| Pomelo leaf | Per Do Tat Loi: dipentene, linalool, citral | Boiled with other fragrant leaves for steaming during colds and headaches |
| Lime leaf | Fresh lime scent | Often paired with pomelo leaf |
| Clove basil | Eugenol, warm and clove-like | Used for steaming and hair rinses |
| Perilla, Vietnamese balm | Strong, pungent herbal scent | Kitchen herbs that are also classic steam leaves |
| Mugwort | Per Do Tat Loi: cineole (1,8-cineole), thujone | Pungent, sharp aroma |
| Mint | Menthol, cool | Gives a feeling of open nasal passages |
| Indian camphorweed | Pungent, aromatic leaves | Often grown as a hedge; a familiar steam leaf |
| Bamboo leaf | Little scent | Used in folk practice for fever |
The steam pot in Vietnamese life
In much of rural Vietnam, when someone at home has chills, a headache or a blocked nose, a grandmother or mother goes into the garden and picks a handful of each leaf. The pot of boiling water is set on the bed, the patient sits under a blanket over it and breathes the hot steam until they break into a sweat.
City homes rarely have a garden, and gathering enough fresh leaves is hard. Doctors note that a few drops of cajeput, lemongrass or ginger oil can replace part of the leaves.
Uses
Traditional use
Steaming is a long-established practice in traditional Vietnamese medicine. Heat and the scent of aromatic leaves help bring on a sweat, so steaming is used for colds caused by “chill”:
- for people with chills, sensitivity to wind, headache, body aches or a blocked nose;
- according to Do Tat Loi, pomelo leaves are boiled with other fragrant leaves and used for steaming during colds, flu and headaches;
- steaming stops once the person feels lighter, no longer feels cold and has sweated enough.
People with high fever who feel hot rather than cold, or who are already sweating a lot, are not suited to steaming.
What research says
- Component oils: in laboratory tests, citral (lemongrass), eugenol (clove basil) and 1,8-cineole (cajeput) show antibacterial activity. Menthol from mint acts on cold-sensing nerve endings in the nose, giving a feeling of easier breathing (Clinical Otolaryngology, 1988).
- Warm, humid air for colds: a Cochrane review (2017) found the evidence to be of low quality. It could not confirm that steam helps people recover from a cold faster. One study recorded more discomfort among people who used steam.
- Burn risk: a study from the Netherlands (BJGP, 2012) recorded many scald injuries from steam inhalation. Most victims were children, and many needed skin grafts.
In short: steaming feels soothing and eases a blocked nose while you steam, but it does not cure infectious diseases.
For information only; not a substitute for medical advice.
The blend vs a pot of fresh leaves
| Criterion | Herbal Steam Blend | Pot of fresh leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | A few drops in hot water | Pick, wash and boil for 10–15 minutes |
| Scent | Consistent, following the formula | Changes with the leaves and season |
| What it contains | Only the volatile essential oil | Essential oil plus water-soluble compounds |
| Dosing | Easy to measure in drops | Usually about 200–300 g of leaves in 2–3 litres of water |
| Storage | Keeps for many months | Leaves must be fresh, or dried and mould-free |
Scent profile and blending
The blend has three layers: cool mint and cajeput with fresh lemongrass at the top; the warm spice of clove basil and the pungent note of Indian camphorweed in the middle; and the deep, warm patchouli that lingers at the end.
- Add 1 drop of cornmint for a cooler scent.
- Diffuse with Java citronella in the evening to help keep mosquitoes away as well.
How to use at home
- Face steam (adults): 3–5 drops in a bowl or basin of about 1 litre of hot water, below boiling point. Do not lean too close to the water; close your eyes and breathe normally.
- Room diffusing: 3–5 drops in a diffuser for 30–60 minutes, then pause; keep a door or window slightly open.
- Foot bath: mix 3 drops with a spoonful of salt, then add to a basin of warm water.
- Traditional full-body steam: 5–8 drops in a pot of hot water in place of part of the leaves. Set the pot down firmly and lift the lid slowly.
Steaming the right way: 6 steps
- Clean your body and drink a glass of warm water before steaming.
- Sit somewhere sheltered from draughts. Place the pot or basin firmly on a flat surface, away from the edge of the bed.
- Add the oil after the water has stopped boiling. Lift the lid slightly so the steam escapes slowly.
- Steam for no more than 15–20 minutes. Full-body steaming: at most 2–3 times a week.
- Stop at once if you feel dizzy, faint, have palpitations, chest tightness or difficulty breathing.
- Pat away the sweat, change into dry clothes and rest. Do not shower straight away, and avoid cold wind.
Safe use
- Who should not steam: young children, pregnant women and women who have just given birth, frail older people, people with high blood pressure or heart disease, people with high fever, and people dehydrated from diarrhoea. For children, only light diffusing in a well-ventilated room, never under a blanket.
- Do not apply undiluted. On skin, dilute below 1% (at most 2 drops in 10 ml carrier oil) and patch-test on the wrist first.
- Do not swallow; avoid the eyes. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting; call 115 (Vietnam emergency) or go to a medical facility, and bring the bottle.
- Keep away from children. Do not diffuse in a closed room with a cat, and do not apply to the fur of cats or dogs.
- High fever, breathing difficulty or a fever that will not go away needs a doctor, not home steaming.
How to recognise a good blend and store it
- The oil is clear, without haze. Each layer of the herbal scent is distinct, with no harsh or burnt note.
- Close the bottle after use and keep it cool and out of sunlight. Best used within about 1–2 years.
Quality specifications
For a blend, quality depends on each component oil. Every incoming oil is tested before blending. Each finished lot has a chromatogram and a lot code, and comes with a COA and MSDS.
Reference figures; actual values follow the COA of each lot.
What buyers usually ask for
Retailers, spa operators and distributors who want a ready-made Vietnamese steam blend typically ask for:
- The list of component oils in the blend.
- COA and chromatogram for the finished blend.
- MSDS / SDS for handling, labelling and transport.
- A sample before ordering, to check the scent in their own setting, whether diffuser, spa steam room or foot bath.
- Consistent repeat lots, so the scent customers know stays the same.
If you need an herbal steam blend for a product line or spa, contact us to discuss samples and documents.
Growers & cooperatives
The Herbal Steam Blend is made from component oils. So the company does not buy “steam leaves” as such. Instead, it buys raw materials for each component oil:
- Cornmint (plants) — see Cornmint oil.
- Patchouli (leafy stems) — see Patchouli oil.
- Lemongrass (leaves) — see Lemongrass oil and Java citronella oil.
- Cajeput / niaouli (leaves, young twigs) — see Niaouli oil.
- Clove basil (flowering plants) — see Clove basil oil.
- Indian camphorweed (leafy stems) — no separate page yet; contact us to discuss.
Priority areas, harvest seasons and raw material requirements are on each of those pages. To talk about selling any of these materials, call or message on Zalo: +84 983 299 529. See more on the Raw material sourcing page.
How the blend is made
- Distil each component oil separately and test it under its lot code.
- Blend to the lot formula, let the scent settle, and filter until clear.
- Check the scent and chromatogram; print the lot code on the label and keep the COA.
Frequently asked questions
How is the blend different from a pot of fresh leaves?
A pot of fresh leaves contains both essential oil and water-soluble compounds, and its scent changes with the leaves. The blend contains only the volatile part, with a consistent scent, easy dosing and less preparation.
How long should each steam session last?
No more than 15–20 minutes. Full-body steaming at most 2–3 times a week; face steaming 1–2 times a day when needed.
Can children use steam?
Do not steam children under a blanket, because of the risk of burns and dehydration. For older children, only light diffusing in a well-ventilated room. For children under 2, ask a doctor.
Can pregnant women steam?
Pregnant women and women who have just given birth should not steam, including with essential oils.
Can people with high blood pressure steam?
Full-body steaming is not advised, because heat and heavy sweating can cause dizziness and palpitations. The same applies to people with heart disease.
Does steaming cure flu or COVID-19?
No. Steaming only helps relieve a blocked nose, headache and body aches, and helps you relax while you steam.
What is in the blend?
Six oils: mint, patchouli, lemongrass, cajeput, clove basil and Indian camphorweed. Each lot has its own lot code and COA.
Read more: Clove basil oil Cornmint oil Patchouli oil Vietnamese herbal essential oils
Supplying vietnamese herbal steam blend raw material, or interested in contract growing?
Thảo Dược Xanh buys raw materials and provides technical support to farmers and cooperatives in Vietnam.
References: Steaming with leaves the right way (VnExpress) · Heated, humidified air for the common cold (Cochrane, 2017) · Pomelo tree – Do Tat Loi, Medicinal Plants of Vietnam