Herbal uses Aromatic, cosmetic, culinary, medicinal. Culinary uses for flavoring include the fresh leaves which are used in tomato sauces, to make pesto sauce. It is used in Italian, Mediterranean, and Thai cooking and is good with veal, lamb, fish, poultry, white beans, pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs. Purple basil is also excellent used in vinegar and as a garnish. It is aromatic and is used for drying and for fragrance in pot-pourris and sachets.
Cosmetic uses are in herbal bath mixtures and for bringing luster to the hair.
Basil can be grown in containers and makes an excellent ornamental plant in the landscape. It is reported to have some medicinal qualities.