Melissa Oil comes from plants just before first flowers appear as aroma is less interesting when plant is in full bloom. The oil is steam distilled from melissa leaves & tops and is pale yellow in color with agreeable & subtle, warm, lemony aroma. Rare oil, it is very expensive as 7 tonnes of leaves and tops are needed to produce 1 kg (21/4 lb) of oil.

Melissa officinalis L, also known as lemon balm, bee balm, honey balm, is a perennial herb. It is a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) belongs to a genus that includes 5 species of perennial herbs native to Europe, Central Asia, and Iran. Although Melissa officinalis originated primarily in Southern Europe, it is now naturalized around the world, from North America to New Zealand. Lemon balm occurs naturally in sandy and scrubby areas but has also been reported to grow on damp wasteland, at elevations ranging from sea level to the mountains. In Iran, this plant is known locally by the names Badranjbooye, Varangboo, and Faranjmoshk.