Aromatic herbs were close to flat over the three months to 4 November 2026, up 0.8% on average, below the 2.0% for herbs, condiments and spices as a whole. Over a year, though, they are the firmest family in the group at +8.3%. Seven of the ten indexed herbs rose and three fell. The family's 12 materials run from basil and laurel to thyme, lavender and fennel seed.
Oregano leads on both horizons, +4.0% over three months and +22.3% over a year. Sweet mint and peppermint follow with identical moves, +3.3% and +11.8%, then lemon thyme at +2.4% over three months and +8.8% over a year.
Basil, laurel and Thai basil hardly moved over three months, at +0.4%, +0.5% and +0.3%. Over a year, all three are up by about the same amount: 7.1% for basil and laurel, 7.0% for Thai basil.
Three herbs fell over three months. Curly parsley lost 2.6% and is fractionally lower on the year (-0.1%). Parsley slipped 2.4% but remains 2.0% up on the year, and thyme dropped 1.5% while holding a 4.9% annual gain.
Lavender and fennel seed have no index, only dated notes. Drought collapsed the lavender harvest in San Felices, news reported on 24 August, and heat and drought were disrupting harvests in Provence on 17 August. On 12 October, a Burgos farmer said lavender's price had fallen sharply and the crop was losing profitability.
Indian fennel seed prices firmed slightly FOB New Delhi on 25 October, with mandi prices rising, after mild FOB softening reported on 18 October. On 9 August, Unjha cumin and fennel were awarded a GI tag to boost Gujarat's spice exports.