SOAPS AND OTHER PRODUCTS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Citrus Oils
Have you ever walked into a room when someone is pealing an orange and detected the familiar orange aroma wafting throught the air? What you are smelling is the natural essential oil that is housed within the rind of the orange. It is the rinds of citrus fruits that gives them their highly aromatic and familiar aroma. Although the majority of commercially available essential oils are extracted from the original botanical material by use of steam distillation, most citrus essential oils are extracted by pressing the rinds of the citrus fruits. The next time that you eat an orange or a grapefruit, take a portion of the peel and squeeze it in half ensuring that the colorful side of the peel is on the outside. If the fruit is fresh and healthy, you should notice that the rind squirts a tiny quantity of an aromatic fluid. That fluid is the essential oil.
Citrus Essential Oils are often thought of mostly for light, summery aromas, but I love using citrus essential oils all year round. My use of the citrus oils actually increases during the colder months as they are energizing and help to uplift the spirits. They are the perfect complement to blends that fight off the winter blues, "cabin fever" and depression. For Winter Blues recipes, visit AromaWeb's Winter Blues Recipe page.
Citrus Essential Oils are also a must to have within your apothecary when experimenting with natural fragrance blends for men or women. Most of the citrus oils are generally regarded as top notes and help lift an aroma and brighten more earthy, deep aromatics like Patchouli, Vetiver and Rose. The exception is the highly floral Neroli Essential Oil which I personally consider a middle note.
An Introduction to the Citrus Oils
Below are brief descriptions of the aromatic properties of each of the citrus oils. Each oil also offers some benefit for topical application, i.e. when used prudently, Bergamot can be helpful in controlling oily skin and acne. To learn more about each of the citrus oils, click on the associated links for each oil to be taken to the oil's essential oil profile.
Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis)
Sweet Orange Essential Oil, often simply referred to asOrange Essential Oil or Orange Oil, is readily available and is amongst the most inexpensive of all essential oils. Orange Essential Oil aromatically blends so well with other citruses and most all other essential oil types including floral, spice and mint oils. Orange Essential Oil is energizing and is usually well loved by men, women and children. It has few contraindications when diffused in moderation making it one of the first choices to consider when selecting an oil to diffuse around a diversity of individuals. Orange Essential Oil is becoming widely used and included in commercial cleaners as it can help to naturally cut grease (though beware of a lot of commercial cleaners as they can still also include significant levels of synthetic fragrance oil and color to give consumers the illusion that the product contains more natural essential oil than it actually has).
Bitter Orange Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
As the name implies, Bitter Orange Essential Oil has a bitter orange aroma reminiscent of a cross between the sweetness of sweet orange oil and the slight bitterness of grapefruit oil. Although it's favored by some individuals, I have less experience in use of this particular oil as I personally tend to lean towards using sweet orange, grapefruit and the other citrus oils.
Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon)
Lemon Essential Oil has a powerfully fresh traditional lemon fragrance that is quite energizing and uplifting. Lemon Essential Oil is a good choice to diffuse when trying to clear a room of the smell of cigarette smoke or other unpleasant aromas.
Limonene is the naturally occurring chemical constituent within Lemon Essential Oil that gives it its distinctive lemony aroma. There are a few other non-citrus essential oils available that include limonene naturally and feature a lemony aroma. Lemongrass andLemon Myrtle essential oils both include noteworthy concentrations of limonene.
Lime Essential Oil (Citrus aurantifolia)
With the exception of floral Neroli Essential Oil, cold pressedLime Essential Oil is the most aromatically potent of the fruity citrus oils. A little goes a long way. It is so fresh and brite smelling and adds a nice complexity to other aromas. Including a few drops of Lime Essential Oil is a must when I create citrus blends for my diffuser or for when creating room mists. Lime Essential Oil is well known in folklore for its ability to cleanse, purify and renew the spirit and the mind. It is also said to be effective in cleansing the aura. Lime Essential Oil is sometimes found steam distilled.
Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus paradisi)
Not everyone enjoys the flavor of eating grapefruit segments, as grapefruit is known for its bittersweet, tart flavor.Grapefruit Essential Oil, however, although still possessing slightly tart characteristics, is sweet-smelling, bright and uplifting. It is quite an energizing and uplifting oil and is wonderful to diffuse in the mornings or while working out to help awaken and energize me.
Bergamot Essential Oil (Citrus bergamia)
Bergamot Essential Oil is amongst the more expensive of the cold pressed citrus oils, but is well worth the cost. Its aroma is reminiscent to that of orange, but it is more complex and almost has an underlying floral characteristic to it. It can be helpful in use during periods of depression and is known for its ability to help combat oily skin and acne. Though because it is highly phototoxic, it must be used with care on the skin and avoided when exposed to the sun or UV rays. Bergaptene is the naturally occurring chemical constituent found in Bergamot Essential Oil that makes the oil so highly phototoxic. Varieties of Bergamot Essential Oil are available that have the bergaptene synthetically removed. Bergamot Essential Oil is sometimes found steam distilled.
Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
Mandarin Essential Oil is a favorite of children and parents. Of all the citrus oils, Mandarin Essential Oil is the sweetest and tends to be the most calming. If desiring to use a citrus oil in the evenings before bed or with children, this is usually the best choice.
Tangerine Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
Tangerine Essential Oil is fresh, sweet, citrusy and is similar to the brighter aroma of tangerine peels (as compared to orange peels), but has a more concentrated, intense aroma than does Sweet Orange Essential Oil.
Petitgrain Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
Though steam distilled from the same botanical species as neroli and bitter orange, Petitgrain Essential Oil possesses its own characteristically unique aroma. Petitgrain Essential Oil is distilled from the leaves and sometimes the twigs and branches of the tree whereas Neroli Essential Oil is distilled from the blossoms and Orange Essential Oil is typically cold pressed from the rinds of the fruits.
Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
The most costly of citrus essential oils, Neroli Essential Oil is steam distilled from the fragrant blossoms of the orange tree, Citrus aurantium. Neroli Essential Oil is intensely floral, citrusy, sweet and exotic and is most often categorized as a floral essential oil instead of as a citrus. It is highly concentrated and is amongst the more rare and costly of essential oils. A little goes a long way and the complexity of the aroma is best detected when enjoyed in very low dilutions.
Phototoxicity
Many of the citruses oils are phototoxic. Put as simply as possible, phototoxicity is the process in which particular compounds can become toxic when exposed to sunlight. When exposed to sunlight, the naturally occurring chemical constituents found in some citrus essential oils become phototoxic. Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Lemon and Lime are amongst the citrus oils that are generally regarded to be highly phototoxic. I have read conflicting reports as to whether Sweet Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine and Mandarin are phototoxic. It may be prudent to treat these oils as phototoxic as well. Neroli and Petitgrain essential oils are not phototoxic.
The phototoxicity of citrus essential oils is not of concern when diffusing them or when using them in other room fragrancing applications. The concern comes when incorporating these phototoxic oils in topical blends and skin formulations that are applied to the skin.When using any skin care products that include phototoxic essential oils, it is strongly recommended that you avoid exposure to the sun for at least 24 hours.
A Warning About Applying Citrus Oils to the Skin
As mentioned, my focus within this article is in focusing upon the use of citrus essential oils for diffusion and room fragrancing applications. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that in addition to photoxicity concerns, citrus essential oils can cause skin irritation if used without properly diluting them. For more information, see AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety article.
Choose Organic Citrus Essential Oils Whenever Possible
The rinds of conventional (non-organic) citrus fruits are typically sprayed heavily with pesticides. Because of the cold pressed methods used to extract citrus oils, the resulting essential oils can contain trace amounts of pesticides. Whenever possible, purchase organic citrus essential oils. This becomes especially important when using citrus oils in topical applications or when frequently diffusing citrus essential oils. For applications in which you aren't actively breathing in the aroma for more than a moment or two, the need for organic is reduced, but still, choosing organic remains the ideal.
Ingesting Citrus Essential Oils Is Not Recommended
Although the food and flavoring industries do use citrus essential oils to flavor particular foods and beverages, I strongly encourage you not to ingest essential oils or dabble in using them within culinary applications without first becoming intimately familiar withEssential Oil Safety. Essential oils are best treated like medicines and can be toxic and fatal if misused.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
General Safety Information: Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Essential Oil Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on essential oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs.
Have you ever walked into a room when someone is pealing an orange and detected the familiar orange aroma wafting throught the air? What you are smelling is the natural essential oil that is housed within the rind of the orange. It is the rinds of citrus fruits that gives them their highly aromatic and familiar aroma. Although the majority of commercially available essential oils are extracted from the original botanical material by use of steam distillation, most citrus essential oils are extracted by pressing the rinds of the citrus fruits. The next time that you eat an orange or a grapefruit, take a portion of the peel and squeeze it in half ensuring that the colorful side of the peel is on the outside. If the fruit is fresh and healthy, you should notice that the rind squirts a tiny quantity of an aromatic fluid. That fluid is the essential oil.
Citrus Essential Oils are often thought of mostly for light, summery aromas, but I love using citrus essential oils all year round. My use of the citrus oils actually increases during the colder months as they are energizing and help to uplift the spirits. They are the perfect complement to blends that fight off the winter blues, "cabin fever" and depression. For Winter Blues recipes, visit AromaWeb's Winter Blues Recipe page.
Citrus Essential Oils are also a must to have within your apothecary when experimenting with natural fragrance blends for men or women. Most of the citrus oils are generally regarded as top notes and help lift an aroma and brighten more earthy, deep aromatics like Patchouli, Vetiver and Rose. The exception is the highly floral Neroli Essential Oil which I personally consider a middle note.
An Introduction to the Citrus Oils
Below are brief descriptions of the aromatic properties of each of the citrus oils. Each oil also offers some benefit for topical application, i.e. when used prudently, Bergamot can be helpful in controlling oily skin and acne. To learn more about each of the citrus oils, click on the associated links for each oil to be taken to the oil's essential oil profile.
Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis)
Sweet Orange Essential Oil, often simply referred to asOrange Essential Oil or Orange Oil, is readily available and is amongst the most inexpensive of all essential oils. Orange Essential Oil aromatically blends so well with other citruses and most all other essential oil types including floral, spice and mint oils. Orange Essential Oil is energizing and is usually well loved by men, women and children. It has few contraindications when diffused in moderation making it one of the first choices to consider when selecting an oil to diffuse around a diversity of individuals. Orange Essential Oil is becoming widely used and included in commercial cleaners as it can help to naturally cut grease (though beware of a lot of commercial cleaners as they can still also include significant levels of synthetic fragrance oil and color to give consumers the illusion that the product contains more natural essential oil than it actually has).
Bitter Orange Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
As the name implies, Bitter Orange Essential Oil has a bitter orange aroma reminiscent of a cross between the sweetness of sweet orange oil and the slight bitterness of grapefruit oil. Although it's favored by some individuals, I have less experience in use of this particular oil as I personally tend to lean towards using sweet orange, grapefruit and the other citrus oils.
Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon)
Lemon Essential Oil has a powerfully fresh traditional lemon fragrance that is quite energizing and uplifting. Lemon Essential Oil is a good choice to diffuse when trying to clear a room of the smell of cigarette smoke or other unpleasant aromas.
Limonene is the naturally occurring chemical constituent within Lemon Essential Oil that gives it its distinctive lemony aroma. There are a few other non-citrus essential oils available that include limonene naturally and feature a lemony aroma. Lemongrass andLemon Myrtle essential oils both include noteworthy concentrations of limonene.
Lime Essential Oil (Citrus aurantifolia)
With the exception of floral Neroli Essential Oil, cold pressedLime Essential Oil is the most aromatically potent of the fruity citrus oils. A little goes a long way. It is so fresh and brite smelling and adds a nice complexity to other aromas. Including a few drops of Lime Essential Oil is a must when I create citrus blends for my diffuser or for when creating room mists. Lime Essential Oil is well known in folklore for its ability to cleanse, purify and renew the spirit and the mind. It is also said to be effective in cleansing the aura. Lime Essential Oil is sometimes found steam distilled.
Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus paradisi)
Not everyone enjoys the flavor of eating grapefruit segments, as grapefruit is known for its bittersweet, tart flavor.Grapefruit Essential Oil, however, although still possessing slightly tart characteristics, is sweet-smelling, bright and uplifting. It is quite an energizing and uplifting oil and is wonderful to diffuse in the mornings or while working out to help awaken and energize me.
Bergamot Essential Oil (Citrus bergamia)
Bergamot Essential Oil is amongst the more expensive of the cold pressed citrus oils, but is well worth the cost. Its aroma is reminiscent to that of orange, but it is more complex and almost has an underlying floral characteristic to it. It can be helpful in use during periods of depression and is known for its ability to help combat oily skin and acne. Though because it is highly phototoxic, it must be used with care on the skin and avoided when exposed to the sun or UV rays. Bergaptene is the naturally occurring chemical constituent found in Bergamot Essential Oil that makes the oil so highly phototoxic. Varieties of Bergamot Essential Oil are available that have the bergaptene synthetically removed. Bergamot Essential Oil is sometimes found steam distilled.
Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
Mandarin Essential Oil is a favorite of children and parents. Of all the citrus oils, Mandarin Essential Oil is the sweetest and tends to be the most calming. If desiring to use a citrus oil in the evenings before bed or with children, this is usually the best choice.
Tangerine Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
Tangerine Essential Oil is fresh, sweet, citrusy and is similar to the brighter aroma of tangerine peels (as compared to orange peels), but has a more concentrated, intense aroma than does Sweet Orange Essential Oil.
Petitgrain Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
Though steam distilled from the same botanical species as neroli and bitter orange, Petitgrain Essential Oil possesses its own characteristically unique aroma. Petitgrain Essential Oil is distilled from the leaves and sometimes the twigs and branches of the tree whereas Neroli Essential Oil is distilled from the blossoms and Orange Essential Oil is typically cold pressed from the rinds of the fruits.
Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
The most costly of citrus essential oils, Neroli Essential Oil is steam distilled from the fragrant blossoms of the orange tree, Citrus aurantium. Neroli Essential Oil is intensely floral, citrusy, sweet and exotic and is most often categorized as a floral essential oil instead of as a citrus. It is highly concentrated and is amongst the more rare and costly of essential oils. A little goes a long way and the complexity of the aroma is best detected when enjoyed in very low dilutions.
Phototoxicity
Many of the citruses oils are phototoxic. Put as simply as possible, phototoxicity is the process in which particular compounds can become toxic when exposed to sunlight. When exposed to sunlight, the naturally occurring chemical constituents found in some citrus essential oils become phototoxic. Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Lemon and Lime are amongst the citrus oils that are generally regarded to be highly phototoxic. I have read conflicting reports as to whether Sweet Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine and Mandarin are phototoxic. It may be prudent to treat these oils as phototoxic as well. Neroli and Petitgrain essential oils are not phototoxic.
The phototoxicity of citrus essential oils is not of concern when diffusing them or when using them in other room fragrancing applications. The concern comes when incorporating these phototoxic oils in topical blends and skin formulations that are applied to the skin.When using any skin care products that include phototoxic essential oils, it is strongly recommended that you avoid exposure to the sun for at least 24 hours.
A Warning About Applying Citrus Oils to the Skin
As mentioned, my focus within this article is in focusing upon the use of citrus essential oils for diffusion and room fragrancing applications. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that in addition to photoxicity concerns, citrus essential oils can cause skin irritation if used without properly diluting them. For more information, see AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety article.
Choose Organic Citrus Essential Oils Whenever Possible
The rinds of conventional (non-organic) citrus fruits are typically sprayed heavily with pesticides. Because of the cold pressed methods used to extract citrus oils, the resulting essential oils can contain trace amounts of pesticides. Whenever possible, purchase organic citrus essential oils. This becomes especially important when using citrus oils in topical applications or when frequently diffusing citrus essential oils. For applications in which you aren't actively breathing in the aroma for more than a moment or two, the need for organic is reduced, but still, choosing organic remains the ideal.
Ingesting Citrus Essential Oils Is Not Recommended
Although the food and flavoring industries do use citrus essential oils to flavor particular foods and beverages, I strongly encourage you not to ingest essential oils or dabble in using them within culinary applications without first becoming intimately familiar withEssential Oil Safety. Essential oils are best treated like medicines and can be toxic and fatal if misused.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
General Safety Information: Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Essential Oil Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on essential oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs.
POT POURRIE
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Essential Oils for the Holidays & Christmas
As the days draw closer to Christmas, it's a perfect time to enjoy diffusing and blending essential oils that will help get us into the spirit of the season.
Below is a list of essential oils well suited for incorporation into your favorite holiday diffuser blends.
The oils included in this list were selected for their warming, spicy, resinous or woody aroma. This is a highly subjective list. You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profiles area for oils that you personally like for the season.
By their nature, spicy essential oils like Cinnamon, Clove Bud and Ginger are strong and quite warming. A little goes a long way with these oils. They shouldn't be heavily diffused into a room as they can irritate the mucous membranes. It's best to blend stronger spice oils into more gentle oils like Sweet Orange Essential Oil (see the Blending Spice Oils section below).
Essential oils commonly associated with Christmas include coniferous oils like Fir Needleand Scotch Pine, minty oils like Peppermint and Spearmint, resinous oils like Frankincenseand Myrrh, spicy oils like Cinnamon and Nutmeg and woody oils like Cedarwood.
Wintertime is often a source for an increase in colds and flus. Many essential oils are naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, so using essential oils to fragrance your holidays instead of synthetic room fragrances can potentially help to ward off the spread of colds and flus. The below list, however, was selected based solely on their appropriateness for the holidays. For more information and to view a list of essential oils with anti-bacterial, ant-viral and expectorant/decongestant properties, read Reducing the Risk of Contracting H1N1, Flus and Colds With Aromatherapy.
Essential Oils for Christmas:
Warming/Spicy/Resinous/Woody/Spiritual Essential Oils and Absolutes Allspice
Anise
Anise, Star
Basil, Holy
Balsam, Peru
Bay
Bay Laurel
Benzoin
Black Pepper
Cardamom
Cassia
Cedarwood, Atlas
Cedarwood, Virginian
Chocolate Peppermint
Cinnamon
Clove Bud
Coffee
Common Sage
Cypress
Dalmation Sage
Dill
Fennel
Fir Needle
Frankincense
Galbanum
Ginger
Gurjum Balsam
Immortelle
Juniper Berry
Marjoram
Myrrh
Nutmeg
Oakmoss
Olibanum
Peppermint
Peppermint, Chocolate
Pine, Scotch
Sage, Common
Sage, Dalmation
Sage, Spanish
Sandalwood
Scotch Pine
Spearmint
Spikenard
Spruce
Star Anise
Sweet Orange
Thyme
Vanilla
Vetiver Blending Spice and Mint Oils
Spice and Mint essential oils can be especially strong. When I create a seasonal essential oil diffuser blend that is intended to highlight a particular spice or mint oil, I either use the oil in very low quantity or include it in a blend at low proportion.
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil blend well with the spice oils. Some individuals like me also enjoy blending mints with the citrus and woody oils. Orange essential oil is especially abundant and is one of the most affordable of essential oils. It has few contraindications and most people love the aroma. During the chilly fall months, I love combining a few drops of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and/or patchouli with Orange,Mandarin or Tangerine. Working with the other citrus oils like Bergamot, Lemon, Lime andGrapefruit and the oils in the above list can lead to some lovely combinations.
View Holiday Recipes Within AromaWeb's Recipe Box Area
Christmas Tree Diffuser Blend
Sugar and Spice Blend
Frankincense and Myrrh Holiday Blend
Scented Greeting Cards & Tissue Paper
A Warning About Applying Spice and Mint Oils to the Skin
My focus within this article is in selecting oils for diffusion. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that many of the spice oils can cause skin irritation and should be used as incredibly low dilutions, if at all.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
General Safety Information: Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Essential Oil Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on essential oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs.
As the days draw closer to Christmas, it's a perfect time to enjoy diffusing and blending essential oils that will help get us into the spirit of the season.
Below is a list of essential oils well suited for incorporation into your favorite holiday diffuser blends.
The oils included in this list were selected for their warming, spicy, resinous or woody aroma. This is a highly subjective list. You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profiles area for oils that you personally like for the season.
By their nature, spicy essential oils like Cinnamon, Clove Bud and Ginger are strong and quite warming. A little goes a long way with these oils. They shouldn't be heavily diffused into a room as they can irritate the mucous membranes. It's best to blend stronger spice oils into more gentle oils like Sweet Orange Essential Oil (see the Blending Spice Oils section below).
Essential oils commonly associated with Christmas include coniferous oils like Fir Needleand Scotch Pine, minty oils like Peppermint and Spearmint, resinous oils like Frankincenseand Myrrh, spicy oils like Cinnamon and Nutmeg and woody oils like Cedarwood.
Wintertime is often a source for an increase in colds and flus. Many essential oils are naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, so using essential oils to fragrance your holidays instead of synthetic room fragrances can potentially help to ward off the spread of colds and flus. The below list, however, was selected based solely on their appropriateness for the holidays. For more information and to view a list of essential oils with anti-bacterial, ant-viral and expectorant/decongestant properties, read Reducing the Risk of Contracting H1N1, Flus and Colds With Aromatherapy.
Essential Oils for Christmas:
Warming/Spicy/Resinous/Woody/Spiritual Essential Oils and Absolutes Allspice
Anise
Anise, Star
Basil, Holy
Balsam, Peru
Bay
Bay Laurel
Benzoin
Black Pepper
Cardamom
Cassia
Cedarwood, Atlas
Cedarwood, Virginian
Chocolate Peppermint
Cinnamon
Clove Bud
Coffee
Common Sage
Cypress
Dalmation Sage
Dill
Fennel
Fir Needle
Frankincense
Galbanum
Ginger
Gurjum Balsam
Immortelle
Juniper Berry
Marjoram
Myrrh
Nutmeg
Oakmoss
Olibanum
Peppermint
Peppermint, Chocolate
Pine, Scotch
Sage, Common
Sage, Dalmation
Sage, Spanish
Sandalwood
Scotch Pine
Spearmint
Spikenard
Spruce
Star Anise
Sweet Orange
Thyme
Vanilla
Vetiver Blending Spice and Mint Oils
Spice and Mint essential oils can be especially strong. When I create a seasonal essential oil diffuser blend that is intended to highlight a particular spice or mint oil, I either use the oil in very low quantity or include it in a blend at low proportion.
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil blend well with the spice oils. Some individuals like me also enjoy blending mints with the citrus and woody oils. Orange essential oil is especially abundant and is one of the most affordable of essential oils. It has few contraindications and most people love the aroma. During the chilly fall months, I love combining a few drops of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and/or patchouli with Orange,Mandarin or Tangerine. Working with the other citrus oils like Bergamot, Lemon, Lime andGrapefruit and the oils in the above list can lead to some lovely combinations.
View Holiday Recipes Within AromaWeb's Recipe Box Area
Christmas Tree Diffuser Blend
Sugar and Spice Blend
Frankincense and Myrrh Holiday Blend
Scented Greeting Cards & Tissue Paper
A Warning About Applying Spice and Mint Oils to the Skin
My focus within this article is in selecting oils for diffusion. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that many of the spice oils can cause skin irritation and should be used as incredibly low dilutions, if at all.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
General Safety Information: Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Essential Oil Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on essential oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Home Page > Essential Oil Profiles > Essential Oils for Autumn
Essential Oils for Autumn
As Autumn brings forth its cooler temperatures and richly colored falling leaves, it's a perfect time to enjoy diffusing and blending with warming essential oils like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and clove.
Below is a list of essential oils well suited for incorporation into your favorite fall and autumn diffuser blends. The oils included in this list were selected for their warming, spicy, resinous or woody aroma. This is a highly subjective list. You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profiles area for oils that you personally like for Autumn.
By their nature, spicy essential oils like Cinnamon, Clove Bud and Ginger are strong and quite warming. A little goes a long way with these oils. They shouldn't be heavily diffused into a room as they can irritate the mucous membranes. It's best to blend stronger spice oils into more gentle oils like Sweet Orange Essential Oil (see the Blending Spice Oils section below).
Essential Oils for Autumn (Fall):
Warming/Spicy/Resinous/Woody Essential Oils and Absolutes Allspice
Anise
Anise, Star
Balsam, Peru
Bay
Bay Laurel
Beeswax
Benzoin
Black Pepper
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Cassia
Cedarwood, Atlas
Cedarwood, Virginian
Cinnamon
Clove Bud
Coffee
Common Sage
Coriander
Cumin
Dalmation Sage
Dill
Fennel
Frankincense
Galbanum
Ginger
Gurjum Balsam
Immortelle
Myrrh
Nutmeg
Oakmoss
Patchouli
Rosemary
Rosewood
Sage, Clary
Sage, Common
Sage, Dalmation
Sage, Spanish
Sandalwood
Vanilla
Vetiver Blending Spice Oils
Spice essential oils can be quite strong. When I create a seasonal autumn essential oil diffuser blend, I typically start with a single essential oil that I particularly enjoy and then complement it by adding spice oils in low proportion.
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil blend well with the spice oils. Orange essential oil is especially abundant and is one of the most affordable of essential oils. It has few contraindications and most people love the aroma. During the chilly fall months, I love combining a few drops of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and/or patchouli with Orange,Mandarin or Tangerine. Working with the other citrus oils like Bergamot, Lemon, Lime andGrapefruit and the oils in the above list can lead to some lovely combinations.
Autumn Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Examples
Below are 3 example autumn diffuser blends. Create the blends by adding the proper amount of essential oils to a dark-colored glass bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Be sure and familiarize yourself using reputable sources for the safety and contraindications of all oils you choose to use. Make the smallest possible blend first to make sure you like the blend before doubling, tripling, etc. the recipe.
Please be responsible to find out the specific safety precautions and contraindications of the oils in the blends you choose to use.
Blend #1
10 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
4 drops Ginger Essential Oil
6 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
Blend #2
8 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
6 drops Lime Essential Oil
6 drops Sage Essential Oil
Blend #3
12 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
3 drops Cinnamon Essential oil
3 drops Clove Bud Essential Oil
2 drops Nutmeg Essential Oil
Coniferous Essential Oils Are Also Nice in Fall Blends
Though more traditionally associated with Christmas and wintertime, I also like incorporating coniferous oils like Cypress, Fir Needle, Juniper Berry and Scotch Pine into my autumn blends.
A Warning About Applying Spice Oils to the Skin
My focus within this article is in selecting oils for diffusion. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that many of the spice oils can cause skin irritation and should be used as incredibly low dilutions, if at all. For more information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Essential Oils for Spring
I personally love blending with floral essential oils more during the spring months than any other time of the year. Citrus Essential Oilsare a favorite of mine all year round. With their uplifting and energizing aroma, you'll certainly find me reaching for them on upcoming rainy spring days.
Below is a list of essential oils chosen with springtime use in mind. This is a highly subjective list and is meant only as a starting point for your own exploration.
You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profiles area to see if there are additional essential oils that you personally like for Spring.
Seasonal Essential Oils for Spring:
Floral/Energizing/Herbaceous/Sweet Essential Oils and Absolutes Atlas Cedarwood
Basil
Bay Laurel
Beeswax
Bergamot
Bergamot Mint
Blue Cypress
Bois-de-rose
Boronia
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Catnip / Catmint
Chocolate Peppermint
Citronella
Clary Sage
Cypress
Dill
Eucalyptus Globulus
Eucalyptus Radiata
Geranium
German Chamomile
Grapefruit
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Kanuka
Lavender
Lavendin
Lemon
Lemon Balm
Lemon Eucalyptus
Lemongrass
Lemon Myrtle
Lemon Tea Tree
Lime
Linden Blossom
Mandarin
Manuka
Marjoram
May Chang
Melissa
Neroli
Orange
Palmarosa
Parsley
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Roman Chamomile
Rose
Rosewood
Spearmint
Tagetes
Tangerine
Tea Tree
Tuberose
Violet Leaf
Virginian Cedarwood
Ylang Ylang
Yuzu
Spring Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Examples
Below are several basic springtime diffuser blends. Create the blends by adding the proper amount of essential oils to a dark-colored glass bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Be sure and familiarize yourself using reputable sources for the safety and contraindications of all oils you choose to use. Make the smallest possible blend first to make sure you like the blend before doubling, tripling, etc. the recipe.
Please be responsible to find out the specific safety precautions and contraindications of the oils in the blends you choose to use.
Blend #1
2 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
14 drops Mandarin Essential Oil
Blend #2
5 drops Manuka Essential Oil
5 drops Petitgrain Essential Oil
1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil
9 drops Orange Essential Oil
Blend #3
7 drops Cypress Essential Oil
7 drops Lavender Essential Oil
6 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Blend #4
1 dropJasmine Absolute
2 drops Neroli Absolute
17 drops Yuzu Essential Oil
Blend #5
3 drops Geranium Essential Oil
13 drops Grapefruit Essential oil
2 drops Lime Essential Oil
2 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
The above blends are only several of an infinite possiblity of combinations.
Citrus Essential Oils
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil is an inexpensive essential oil to include in diffuser blends all year round. See AromaWeb's Citrus Essential Oil article for descriptions of summery citrus essential oils.
Natural Insect Repellent Recipe
A number of essential oils also act as natural insect repellents. These oils include Citronella, Catnip, Lavender, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus. For a natural insect repellent recipe that uses commonly available essential oils, refer to AromaWeb's Aromatherapy Insect Repellent Recipe.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
I personally love blending with floral essential oils more during the spring months than any other time of the year. Citrus Essential Oilsare a favorite of mine all year round. With their uplifting and energizing aroma, you'll certainly find me reaching for them on upcoming rainy spring days.
Below is a list of essential oils chosen with springtime use in mind. This is a highly subjective list and is meant only as a starting point for your own exploration.
You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profiles area to see if there are additional essential oils that you personally like for Spring.
Seasonal Essential Oils for Spring:
Floral/Energizing/Herbaceous/Sweet Essential Oils and Absolutes Atlas Cedarwood
Basil
Bay Laurel
Beeswax
Bergamot
Bergamot Mint
Blue Cypress
Bois-de-rose
Boronia
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Catnip / Catmint
Chocolate Peppermint
Citronella
Clary Sage
Cypress
Dill
Eucalyptus Globulus
Eucalyptus Radiata
Geranium
German Chamomile
Grapefruit
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Kanuka
Lavender
Lavendin
Lemon
Lemon Balm
Lemon Eucalyptus
Lemongrass
Lemon Myrtle
Lemon Tea Tree
Lime
Linden Blossom
Mandarin
Manuka
Marjoram
May Chang
Melissa
Neroli
Orange
Palmarosa
Parsley
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Roman Chamomile
Rose
Rosewood
Spearmint
Tagetes
Tangerine
Tea Tree
Tuberose
Violet Leaf
Virginian Cedarwood
Ylang Ylang
Yuzu
Spring Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Examples
Below are several basic springtime diffuser blends. Create the blends by adding the proper amount of essential oils to a dark-colored glass bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Be sure and familiarize yourself using reputable sources for the safety and contraindications of all oils you choose to use. Make the smallest possible blend first to make sure you like the blend before doubling, tripling, etc. the recipe.
Please be responsible to find out the specific safety precautions and contraindications of the oils in the blends you choose to use.
Blend #1
2 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
14 drops Mandarin Essential Oil
Blend #2
5 drops Manuka Essential Oil
5 drops Petitgrain Essential Oil
1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil
9 drops Orange Essential Oil
Blend #3
7 drops Cypress Essential Oil
7 drops Lavender Essential Oil
6 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Blend #4
1 dropJasmine Absolute
2 drops Neroli Absolute
17 drops Yuzu Essential Oil
Blend #5
3 drops Geranium Essential Oil
13 drops Grapefruit Essential oil
2 drops Lime Essential Oil
2 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
The above blends are only several of an infinite possiblity of combinations.
Citrus Essential Oils
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil is an inexpensive essential oil to include in diffuser blends all year round. See AromaWeb's Citrus Essential Oil article for descriptions of summery citrus essential oils.
Natural Insect Repellent Recipe
A number of essential oils also act as natural insect repellents. These oils include Citronella, Catnip, Lavender, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus. For a natural insect repellent recipe that uses commonly available essential oils, refer to AromaWeb's Aromatherapy Insect Repellent Recipe.
Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ESSENTIAL OIL LISTING
Essential oil of EucalyptusA glass vial containing sandalwood oilDavana Essential OilEssential oils are volatile and liquid aroma compounds from natural sources, usually plants. Essential oils are not oils in a strict sense, but often share with oils a poor solubility in water. Essential oils often have an odor and are therefore used in food flavoring and perfumery. Essential oils are usually prepared by fragrance extraction techniques such as distillation (including steam distillation), cold pressing, or extraction (maceration). Essential oils are distinguished from aroma oils (essential oils and aroma compounds in an oily solvent), infusionsin a vegetable oil, absolutes, and concretes. Typically, essential oils are highly complex mixtures of often hundreds of individual aroma compounds.
- Agar oil or oodh, distilled from Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis). Highly prized for its fragrance.
- Ajwain oil, distilled from the leaves of Bishop’s weed (Carum copticum). Oil contains 35-65% thymol.[2]
- Angelica root oil, distilled from the Angelica archangelica.[3]
- Anise oil, from the Pimpinella anisum, rich odor of licorice, used medicinally.[4]
- Asafoetida, used medicinally and to flavor food.
- Balsam oil, from the Myroxylon pereirae.[5]
- Basil oil is used in making perfumes, as well as in aromatherapy
- Bay oil is used in perfumery; Aromatherapeutic for sprains, colds, flu, insomnia, rheumatism.
- Bergamot oil, used in aromatherapy and in perfumes.
- Black Pepper essential oil is distilled from the berries of Piper nigrum. The warm, soothing effect makes it ideal for treating muscle aches, pains and strains.
- Buchu oil, made from the buchu shrub. Considered toxic and no longer widely used.[citation needed] Formerly used medicinally.
- Birch is aromatheapeutic for gout, Rheumatism, Eczema, Ulcers.
- Camphor is used for cold, cough, fever, rheumatism, and arthritis
- Cannabis flower essential oil, used as a flavoring in foods, primarily candy and beverages. Also used as a scent in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and candles.[6]
- Caraway oil, used a flavoring in foods. Also used in mouthwashes, toothpastes, etc. as a flavoring agent.[7]
- Cardamom seed oil, used in aromatherapy and other medicinal applications. Extracted from seeds of subspecies of Zingiberaceae(ginger). Also used as a fragrance in soaps, perfumes, etc.[8]
- Carrot seed oil (essential oil), used in aromatherapy.
- Cedarwood oil, primarily used in perfumes and fragrances.[9]
- Chamomile oil, There are many varieties of chamomile but only two are used in aromatherapy- Roman and German. Both have similar healing properties but German chamomile contains a higher level of azulin (an anti-inflammatory agent).
- Calamus Root, used medicinally
- Cinnamon oil, used for flavoring and medicinally.
- Cistus species
- Citronella oil, from a plant related to lemon grass is used as an insect repellent, as well as medicinally.
- Clary Sage
- Clove leaf oil, used as a topical anesthetic to relieve dental pain.
- Coffee, used to flavor food.
- Coriander
- Costmary oil (bible leaf oil), from the Tanacetum balsamita[10][11]
- Costus Root, used medicinally
- Cranberry seed oil, equally high in omega-3 omega-6 fatty acids, primarily used in the cosmetic industry.
- Cubeb, used medicinally and to flavor foods.
- Cumin oil/Black seed oil, used as a flavor, particularly in meat products. Also used in veterinary medicine.
- Cypress
- Cypriol
- Curry leaf, used medicinally and to flavor food.
- Davana oil, from the Artemisia pallens, used as a perfume ingredient and as a germicide.[12]
- Dill oil, chemically almost identical to caraway seed oil. High carvone content.
- Elecampane, used medicinally.
- Eucalyptus oil, historically used as a germicide. Commonly used in cough medicine, among other medicinal uses.[13]
- Fennel seed oil, used medicinally, particularly for treating colic in infants.
- Fenugreek oil, used medicinally and for cosmetics from ancient times.
- Fir
- Frankincense oil, used for aromatherapy and in perfumes.
- Galangal, used medicinally and to flavor food.
- Galbanum
- Geranium oil, used medicinally, particularly in aromatherapy, used for hormonal imbalance, for this reason geranium is often considered to be "female" oil.
- Ginger oil, used medicinally in many cultures.
- Goldenrod
- Grapefruit oil, extracted from the peel of the fruit. Used in aromatherapy. Contains 90% limonene.[14]
- Henna oil, used medicinally.[15]
- Helichrysum
- Horseradish oil
- Hyssop
- Idaho Tansy
- Jasmine oil, used for its flowery fragrance.
- Juniper berry oil, used as a flavor. Also used medicinally, including traditional medicine.
- Laurus nobilis
- Lavender oil, used primarily as a fragrance. Also used medicinally.[16]
- Ledum
- Lemon oil, similar in fragrance to the fruit. Unlike other essential oils, lemon oil is usually cold pressed. Used medicinally, as an antiseptic, and in cosmetics.[17]
- Lemongrass. Lemongrass is a highy fragrant grass from India. In India, it is used to help treat fevers and infections. The oil is very useful for insect repellent.
- Lime, anti septic, anti viral, astringent, aperitif, bactericidal, disinfectant, febrifuge, haemostatic, restorative and tonic.[18]
- Litsea cubeba oil, lemon-like scent, often used in perfumes and aromatherapy.
- Mandarin
- Marjoram
- Melaleuca See Tea tree oil
- Melissa oil (Lemon balm), sweet smelling oil used primarily medicinally, particularly in aromatherapy.
- Mentha arvensis oil/Mint oil, used in flavoring toothpastes, mouthwashes and pharmaceuticals, as well as in aromatherapy and other medicinal applications.[19]
- Mountain Savory
- Mugwort oil, used in ancient times for medicinal and magical purposes. Currently considered to be a neurotoxin.[20]
- Mustard oil (essential oil), containing a high percentage of allyl isothiocyanate or other isothiocyanates, depending on the species of mustard
- Myrrh oil, warm, slightly musty smell. Used medicinally.
- Myrtle
- Neem oil or Neem Tree Oil
- Neroli is produced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree.
- Nutmeg
- Orange oil, like lemon oil, cold pressed rather than distilled. Consists of 90% d-Limonene. Used as a fragrance, in cleaning products and in flavoring foods.[21]
- Oregano oil, contains thymol and carvacrol, making it a useful fungicide. Also used to treat digestive problems.[22]
- Orris oil is extracted from the roots of the Florentine iris (Iris florentina) and used as a flavouring agent, in perfume, and medicinally.[23]
- Palo Santo
- Parsley oil, used in soaps, detergents, colognes, cosmetics and perfumes, especially men’s fragrances.[24]
- Patchouli oil, very common ingredient in perfumes.
- Perilla essential oil, extracted from the leaves of the perilla plant. Contains about 50-60% perillaldehyde.
- Pennyroyal oil, highly toxic. It is abortifacient and can even in small quantities cause acute liver and lung damage.[25]
- Peppermint oil, used in a wide variety of medicinal applications.
- Petitgrain
- Pine oil, used as a disinfectant, and in aromatherapy.
- Ravensara
- Red Cedar
- Roman Chamomile
- Rose oil, distilled from rose petals, Used primarily as a fragrance.
- Rosehip oil, distilled from the seeds of the Rosa rubiginosa or Rosa mosqueta. Used medicinally.
- Rosemary oil, distilled from the flowers of Rosmarinus officinalis. Used in aromatherapy, topically to sooth muscles, and medicinal for its antibacterial and antifungal properties.[26]
- Rosewood oil, used primarily for skin care applications. Also used medicinally.
- Sage oil, used medicinally.
- Sandalwood oil, used primarily as a fragrance, for its pleasant, woody fragrance.[27]
- Sassafras oil, from sassafras root bark. Used in aromatherapy, soap-making, perfumes, and the like. Formerly used as a spice, and as the primary flavoring of root beer, inter alia.
- Savory oil, from Satureja species. Used in aromatherapy, cosmetic and soap-making applications.
- Schisandra oil, from Schisandra chinensis, used medicinally.
- Spearmint oil, often used in flavoring mouthwash and chewing gum, among other applications.
- Spikenard, used medicinally.
- Spruce has calming and elevating properties. It can be used as a topical application for muscular aches and pains, poor circulation, and rheumatism. Spruce Oil has also been used to improve breathing conditions of asthma, bronchitis, coughs, and general weakness.[2]
- Star anise oil, highly fragrant oil using in cooking. Also used in perfumery and soaps, has been used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams.[28] 90% of the world's star anise crop is used in the manufacture of Tamiflu, a drug used to treat influenza, and is hoped to be useful for avian flu
- Tangerine
- Tarragon oil, distilled from Artemisia dracunculus, used medicinally.
- Tea tree oil, distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia, used medicinally. Being a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and antiviral agent, tea tree's ability to fight infection is second to none.
- Thyme oil, used medicinally.
- Tsuga belongs to the pine tree family. It is used as analgesic, antirheumatic, blood cleanser, and stimulant. It treats cough, respiratory conditions, kidney ailments, urinary infections. [3]
- Turmeric, used medicinally and to flavor food
- Valerian is used for insomnia, migraines, nervous dyspepsia, and dandruff.
- Vetiver oil (khus oil) a thick, amber oil, primarily from India. Used as a fixative in perfumery, and in aromatherapy
- Western red cedar
- Wintergreen can be used as an analgesic, anodyne, anti rheumatic & anti arthritic, anti spasmodic, anti septic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, emenagogue and stimulant [4]
- Yarrow oil is used medicinally, to relieve joint pain
- Ylang-ylang is used for calming, antiseptic, and aphrodisiac purposes, as well as hypertension and skin diseases. [5]
- Zedoary, used medicinally and to flavor food
Pine oil is an essential oil obtained by the steam distillation of needles, twigs and cones from a variety of species of pine, particularlyPinus sylvestris.
It is used in aromatherapy, as a scent in bath oils, as a cleaning product, and as a lubricant in small and expensive clockworkinstruments. It is naturally deodorizing, and antibacterial. It may also be used varyingly as a disinfectant, massage oil and an antiseptic.
Pine oil is distinguished from other products from pine such as turpentine, the low-boiling fraction from the distillation of pine sap, androsin, the thick tar remaining after turpentine is distilled. Chemically, pine oil consists mainly of cyclic terpene alcohols. It may also contain terpene hydrocarbons, ethers, and esters. The exact composition depends on various factors such as the variety of pine it is produced from and the parts of the tree used. Industrially, pine oil is used in metal extraction from ores. For example, in copper extraction pine oil is used to soak all copper sulfideores for froth flotation.Grape seed oil (also called grapeseed oil or grape oil) is a vegetable oil pressed from the seeds of various varieties of Vitis viniferagrapes, an abundant by-product of winemaking. Potential medicinal; benefitsFurther information: Grape seed extractAlthough grape seeds contain antioxidants and other biologically active compounds, the cold-pressed grape seed oil contains negligible amounts due to their insolubility in lipids. For instance, sufficiently high amounts of resveratrol occur in grape seed for it to be extracted commercially, yet it is almost entirely absent in the grape seed oil. There may however be health benefits from the oil itself. A 1993 study supports the claim that grape seed oil increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C or "good cholesterol") levels and reduces LDL levels.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Essential Oils for Summer
The warmer summertime months is the perfect time to diffuse and blend with light, energizing, herbaceous, floral, andcooling essential oils. Oils from the mint, citrus and floral families are especially nice during summer.
Below is a list of essential oils chosen with summertime use in mind. This is a highly subjective list. For instance, I grow patchouli in the summertime, and tend to enjoy the aroma of patchouli all year round. I also love to include Ginger Essential Oil in summertime blends, but it is a warming essential oil. You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profilesarea to see if there are additional essential oils that you personally like for Summer.
I have included a few spicy essential oils like Ginger. Spicy essential oils are strong and quite warming. A little goes a long way with the spice oils. They shouldn't be heavily diffused into a room as they can irritate the mucous membranes. It's best to blend stronger spice oils into more gentle oils like Sweet Orange Essential Oil (see the Blending Spice Oils section below).
Seasonal Essential Oils for Summer:
Cooling/Floral/Energizing/Herbaceous/Sweet/Summery
Essential Oils and Absolutes
Atlas Cedarwood
Basil
Bay Laurel
Beeswax
Bergamot
Bergamot Mint
Blue Cypress
Bois-de-rose
Boronia
Cajeput
Cananga
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Catnip / Catmint
Chocolate Peppermint
Citronella
Clary Sage
Common Sage
Coriander
Cypress
Dill
Dalmation Sage
Fennel
Geranium
German Chamomile
Ginger
Grapefruit
Helichrysum
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Lavender
Lavendin
Lemon
Lemon Balm
Lemongrass
Lemon Myrtle
Lime
Linden Blossom
Mandarin
Manuka
Marjoram
Melissa
Neroli
Oakmoss
Orange
Palmarosa
Parsley
Patchouli
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Roman Chamomile
Rose
Rosemary
Rosewood
Sandalwood
Spanish Sage
Spearmint
Tagetes
Tangerine
Thyme
Tuberose
Violet Leaf
Virginian Cedarwood
Ylang Ylang
Yuzu
Cooling Essential Oils
Read Essential Oils That Help Cool You Down When You're Hot for a list of essential oils that are particularly cooling and that are useful to enjoy on hot summer days. The article includes suggested recipes and tips.
Summer Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Examples
Below are several example summertime diffuser blends. Create the blends by adding the proper amount of essential oils to a dark-colored glass bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Be sure and familiarize yourself using reputable sources for the safety and contraindications of all oils you choose to use. Make the smallest possible blend first to make sure you like the blend before doubling, tripling, etc. the recipe.
Please be responsible to find out the specific safety precautions and contraindications of the oils in the blends you choose to use.
Blend #1
14 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
2 drops Ginger Essential Oil
4 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
Blend #2
1 drop Jasmine Absolute
2 drops Rose Essential Oil
17 drops Yuzu Essential Oil
Blend #3
7 drops Lavender Essential Oil
7 drops Grapefruit Essential oil
4 drops Lemon Essential Oil
2 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
Blend #4
7 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil
6 drops Cypress Essential Oil
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Blend #5
10 drops Petitgrain
8 Drops Sweet Orange
2 drops Ylang Ylang
The above blends are only several of an infinite possiblity of combinations.
Citrus Essential Oils
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil is an inexpensive essential oil to include in diffuser blends all year round. See AromaWeb's Citrus Essential Oil article for descriptions of summery citrus essential oils.
Natural Insect Repellent Recipe
A number of essential oils also act as natural insect repellents. These oils include Citronella, Catnip, Lavender, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus. For a natural insect repellent recipe that uses commonly available essential oils, refer to AromaWeb's Aromatherapy Insect Repellent Recipe.
A Warning About Mint Essential Oils and Spice Oils Like Ginger
Mint oils, especially Peppermint Essential Oil and spice essential oils like Ginger Essential Oil can be quite strong. When I create a seasonal essential oil diffuser blend, I typically start with a single essential oil that I particularly enjoy and then complement it by adding spice oils in low proportion.
My focus within this article is in selecting oils for diffusion. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that many of the spice oils can cause skin irritation and should be used as incredibly low dilutions, if at all.
The warmer summertime months is the perfect time to diffuse and blend with light, energizing, herbaceous, floral, andcooling essential oils. Oils from the mint, citrus and floral families are especially nice during summer.
Below is a list of essential oils chosen with summertime use in mind. This is a highly subjective list. For instance, I grow patchouli in the summertime, and tend to enjoy the aroma of patchouli all year round. I also love to include Ginger Essential Oil in summertime blends, but it is a warming essential oil. You may want to skim through the list of 110 oils contained in AromaWeb's Essential Oil Profilesarea to see if there are additional essential oils that you personally like for Summer.
I have included a few spicy essential oils like Ginger. Spicy essential oils are strong and quite warming. A little goes a long way with the spice oils. They shouldn't be heavily diffused into a room as they can irritate the mucous membranes. It's best to blend stronger spice oils into more gentle oils like Sweet Orange Essential Oil (see the Blending Spice Oils section below).
Seasonal Essential Oils for Summer:
Cooling/Floral/Energizing/Herbaceous/Sweet/Summery
Essential Oils and Absolutes
Atlas Cedarwood
Basil
Bay Laurel
Beeswax
Bergamot
Bergamot Mint
Blue Cypress
Bois-de-rose
Boronia
Cajeput
Cananga
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Catnip / Catmint
Chocolate Peppermint
Citronella
Clary Sage
Common Sage
Coriander
Cypress
Dill
Dalmation Sage
Fennel
Geranium
German Chamomile
Ginger
Grapefruit
Helichrysum
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Lavender
Lavendin
Lemon
Lemon Balm
Lemongrass
Lemon Myrtle
Lime
Linden Blossom
Mandarin
Manuka
Marjoram
Melissa
Neroli
Oakmoss
Orange
Palmarosa
Parsley
Patchouli
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Roman Chamomile
Rose
Rosemary
Rosewood
Sandalwood
Spanish Sage
Spearmint
Tagetes
Tangerine
Thyme
Tuberose
Violet Leaf
Virginian Cedarwood
Ylang Ylang
Yuzu
Cooling Essential Oils
Read Essential Oils That Help Cool You Down When You're Hot for a list of essential oils that are particularly cooling and that are useful to enjoy on hot summer days. The article includes suggested recipes and tips.
Summer Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Examples
Below are several example summertime diffuser blends. Create the blends by adding the proper amount of essential oils to a dark-colored glass bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Be sure and familiarize yourself using reputable sources for the safety and contraindications of all oils you choose to use. Make the smallest possible blend first to make sure you like the blend before doubling, tripling, etc. the recipe.
Please be responsible to find out the specific safety precautions and contraindications of the oils in the blends you choose to use.
Blend #1
14 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
2 drops Ginger Essential Oil
4 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
Blend #2
1 drop Jasmine Absolute
2 drops Rose Essential Oil
17 drops Yuzu Essential Oil
Blend #3
7 drops Lavender Essential Oil
7 drops Grapefruit Essential oil
4 drops Lemon Essential Oil
2 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
Blend #4
7 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil
6 drops Cypress Essential Oil
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Blend #5
10 drops Petitgrain
8 Drops Sweet Orange
2 drops Ylang Ylang
The above blends are only several of an infinite possiblity of combinations.
Citrus Essential Oils
Citrus oils, especially Sweet Orange Essential Oil is an inexpensive essential oil to include in diffuser blends all year round. See AromaWeb's Citrus Essential Oil article for descriptions of summery citrus essential oils.
Natural Insect Repellent Recipe
A number of essential oils also act as natural insect repellents. These oils include Citronella, Catnip, Lavender, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus. For a natural insect repellent recipe that uses commonly available essential oils, refer to AromaWeb's Aromatherapy Insect Repellent Recipe.
A Warning About Mint Essential Oils and Spice Oils Like Ginger
Mint oils, especially Peppermint Essential Oil and spice essential oils like Ginger Essential Oil can be quite strong. When I create a seasonal essential oil diffuser blend, I typically start with a single essential oil that I particularly enjoy and then complement it by adding spice oils in low proportion.
My focus within this article is in selecting oils for diffusion. When creating blends and topical products that you apply to your skin, remember that many of the spice oils can cause skin irritation and should be used as incredibly low dilutions, if at all.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
OUR SQUARE SEE THROUGH PACKAGING
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
OUR ROUND SEE THROUGH PACKAGING
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
OUR PURSE PACKAGING
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CLEAR SOAP PURSES
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
HEALTHY RELAXATION VIA AROMA THERAPY
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering a person's mind, mood, cognitive function or health.
Some essential oils such as tea tree have demonstrated anti-microbial effects, but there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy in treating medical conditions remains poor, with a particular lack of studies employing rigorous methodology, however some evidence exists that essential oils may have therapeutic potential.
HistoryAromatherapy may have origins in antiquity with the use of infused aromatic oils, made by macerating dried plant material in fatty oil, heating and then filtering. Many such oils are described by Dioscorides, along with beliefs of the time regarding their healing properties, in his De Materia Medica, written in the first century.Distilled essential oils have been employed as medicines since the invention of distillation in the eleventh century, when Avicenna isolated essential oils using steam distillation.
The concept of aromatherapy was first mooted by a small number of European scientists and doctors, in about[weasel words] 1907. In 1937, the word first appeared in print in a French book on the subject: Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales by René-Maurice Gattefossé, a chemist. An English version was published in 1993. In 1910, Gattefossé burned a hand very badly in a laboratory explosion. The hand developed gas gangrene, which he successfully, and intentionally, treated with lavender oil.
A French surgeon, Jean Valnet, pioneered the medicinal uses of essential oils, which he used as antiseptics in the treatment of wounded soldiers during World War II.
Modes of applicationThe modes of application of aromatherapy include:
MaterialsSome of the materials employed include:
TheoryAromatherapy is the treatment or prevention of disease by use of essential oils. Other stated uses include pain and anxiety reduction, enhancement of energy and short-term memory, relaxation, hair loss prevention, and reduction of eczema-induced itching.
Two basic mechanisms are offered to explain the purported effects. One is the influence of aroma on the brain, especially the limbic system through the olfactory system. The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the essential oils.While precise knowledge of the synergy between the body and aromatic oils is often claimed by aromatherapists, the efficacy of aromatherapy remains unproven. However, some preliminary clinical studies of aromatherapy in combination with other techniques show positive effects. Aromatherapy does not cure conditions, but helps the body to find a natural way to cure itself and improve immune response.
In the English-speaking world, practitioners tend to emphasize the use of oils in massage[citation needed]. Aromatherapy tends to be regarded[by whom?] as a complementary modality at best and a pseudoscientific fraud at worst.
Choice and purchaseOils with standardized content of components (marked FCC, for Food Chemical Codex) are required to contain a specified amount of certain aroma chemicals that normally occur in the oil[citation needed]. But there is no law that the chemicals cannot be added in synthetic form in order to meet the criteria established by the FCC for that oil[citation needed]. For instance, lemongrass essential oil must contain 75% aldehyde[citation needed] to meet the FCC profile for that oil, but that aldehyde can come from a chemical refinery instead of from lemongrass. To say that FCC oils are "food grade", then, makes them seem natural when, in fact, they are not necessarily so.
Undiluted essential oils suitable for aromatherapy are termed therapeutic grade, but in countries where the industry is unregulated, therapeutic grade is based on industry consensus and is not a regulatory category. Some aromatherapists take advantage of this situation to make misleading claims about the origin and even content of the oils they use. Likewise, claims that an oil's purity is vetted by mass spectrometry or gas chromatography have limited value, since all such testing can do is show that various chemicals occur in the oil. Many of the chemicals that occur naturally in essential oils are manufactured by the perfume industry and adulterate essential oils because they are cheaper. There is no way to distinguish between these synthetic additives and the naturally occurring chemicals.
The best instrument for determining whether or not an essential oil is adulterated is an educated nose. Many people can distinguish between natural and synthetic scents, but it takes experience.
Popular uses
EfficacySome benefits that have been linked to aromatherapy, such as relaxation and clarity of mind, may arise from the placebo effect rather than from any actual physiological effect. The consensus among most medical professionals is that while some aromas have demonstrated effects on mood and relaxation and may have related benefits for patients, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the claims made for aromatherapy. Scientific research on the cause and effects of aromatherapy is limited, although in vitro testing has revealed some antibacterial and antiviral effects. There is no evidence of any long-term results from an aromatherapy massage other than the pleasure achieved from a pleasant-smelling massage. A few double blind studies in the field of clinical psychology relating to the treatment of severe dementia have been published. Essential oils have a demonstrated efficacy in dental mouthwash products.
Skeptical literature suggests that aromatherapy is based on the anecdotal evidence of its benefits rather than proof that aromatherapy can cure diseases. Scientists and medical professionals acknowledge that aromatherapy has limited scientific support, but critics argue that the claims of most aromatherapy practitioners go beyond the data, and/or that the studies are neither adequately controlled nor peer reviewed.
Some proponents of aromatherapy believe that the claimed effect of each type of oil is not caused by the chemicals in the oil interacting with the senses, but because the oil contains a distillation of the "life force" of the plant from which it is derived that will "balance the energies" of the body and promote healing or well-being by purging negative vibrations from the body's energy field. Arguing that there is no scientific evidence that healing can be achieved, and that the claimed "energies" even exist, many skeptics reject this form of aromatherapy as pseudoscience.
[edit]Safety concernsIn addition, there are potential safety concerns. Because essential oils are highly concentrated they can irritate the skin when used neat, that is undiluted. Therefore, they are normally diluted with a carrier oil for topical application. Phototoxic reactions may occur with citrus peel oils such as lemon or lime. Also, many essential oils have chemical components that are sensitisers (meaning that they will after a number of uses cause reactions on the skin, and more so in the rest of the body). Some of the chemical allergies could even be caused by pesticides, if the original plants are cultivated. Some oils can be toxic to some domestic animals, with cats being particularly prone.
Two common oils, lavender and tea tree, have been implicated in causing gynaecomastia, an abnormal breast tissue growth, in prepubescent boys, although the report which cites this potential issue is based on observations of only three boys (and so is not a scientific study), and two of those boys were significantly above average in weight for their age, thus already prone to gynaecomastia. A child hormone specialist at the University of Cambridge claimed "... these oils can mimic estrogens" and "people should be a little bit careful about using these products." The study has been criticised on many different levels by many authorities. The Aromatherapy Trade Council of the UK has issued a rebuttal The Australian Tea Tree Association, a group that promotes the interests of Australian tea tree oil producers, exporters and manufacturers issued a letter that questioned the study and called on the New England Journal of Medicine for a retraction (ATTIA). The New England Journal of Medicine has so far not replied and has not retracted the study.
As with any bioactive substance, an essential oil that may be safe for the general public could still pose hazards for pregnant and lactating women.
While some advocate the ingestion of essential oils for therapeutic purposes, licensed aromatherapy professionals do not recommend self prescription due the highly toxic nature of some essential oil. Some very common oils like Eucalyptus are extremely toxic when taken internally. Doses as low as one teaspoon have been reported to cause clinically significant symptoms and severe poisoning can occur after ingestion of 4 to 5 ml. A few reported cases of toxic reactions like liver damage and seizures have occurred after ingestion of sage, hyssop, thuja, and cedar. Accidental ingestion may happen when oils are not kept out of reach of children.
Oils both ingested and applied to the skin can potentially have negative interaction with conventional medicine. For example, the topical use of methyl salicylate heavy oils likeSweet Birch and Wintergreen may cause hemorrhaging in users taking the anticoagulant Warfarin.
Adulterated oils may also pose problems depending on the type of substance used.
Some essential oils such as tea tree have demonstrated anti-microbial effects, but there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy in treating medical conditions remains poor, with a particular lack of studies employing rigorous methodology, however some evidence exists that essential oils may have therapeutic potential.
HistoryAromatherapy may have origins in antiquity with the use of infused aromatic oils, made by macerating dried plant material in fatty oil, heating and then filtering. Many such oils are described by Dioscorides, along with beliefs of the time regarding their healing properties, in his De Materia Medica, written in the first century.Distilled essential oils have been employed as medicines since the invention of distillation in the eleventh century, when Avicenna isolated essential oils using steam distillation.
The concept of aromatherapy was first mooted by a small number of European scientists and doctors, in about[weasel words] 1907. In 1937, the word first appeared in print in a French book on the subject: Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales by René-Maurice Gattefossé, a chemist. An English version was published in 1993. In 1910, Gattefossé burned a hand very badly in a laboratory explosion. The hand developed gas gangrene, which he successfully, and intentionally, treated with lavender oil.
A French surgeon, Jean Valnet, pioneered the medicinal uses of essential oils, which he used as antiseptics in the treatment of wounded soldiers during World War II.
Modes of applicationThe modes of application of aromatherapy include:
- Aerial diffusion: for environmental fragrancing or aerial disinfection
- Direct inhalation: for respiratory disinfection, decongestion, expectoration as well as psychological effects
- Topical applications: for general massage, baths, compresses, therapeutic skin care
MaterialsSome of the materials employed include:
- Absolutes: Fragrant oils extracted primarily from flowers or delicate plant tissues through solvent or supercritical fluid extraction (e.g., rose absolute). The term is also used to describe oils extracted from fragrant butters, concretes, and enfleurage pommades using ethanol.
- Carrier oils: Typically oily plant base triacylglycerides that dilute essential oils for use on the skin (e.g., sweet almond oil).
- Essential oils: Fragrant oils extracted from plants chiefly through steam distillation (e.g., eucalyptus oil) or expression (grapefruit oil). However, the term is also occasionally used to describe fragrant oils extracted from plant material by any solvent extraction.
- Herbal distillates or hydrosols: The aqueous by-products of the distillation process (e.g., rosewater). There are many herbs that make herbal distillates and they have culinary uses, medicinal uses and skin care uses[citation needed]. Common herbal distillates are chamomile, rose, and lemon balm.
- Infusions: Aqueous extracts of various plant material (e.g., infusion of chamomile).
- Phytoncides: Various volatile organic compounds from plants that kill microbes[citation needed]. Many terpene-based fragrant oils and sulfuric compounds from plants in the genus "Allium" are phytoncides[citation needed], though the latter are likely less commonly used in aromatherapy due to their disagreeable odors.
- Vaporizer (Volatized) Raw Herbs: Typically higher oil content plant based materials dried, crushed, and heated to extract and inhale the aromatic oil vapors in a direct inhalation modality.
TheoryAromatherapy is the treatment or prevention of disease by use of essential oils. Other stated uses include pain and anxiety reduction, enhancement of energy and short-term memory, relaxation, hair loss prevention, and reduction of eczema-induced itching.
Two basic mechanisms are offered to explain the purported effects. One is the influence of aroma on the brain, especially the limbic system through the olfactory system. The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the essential oils.While precise knowledge of the synergy between the body and aromatic oils is often claimed by aromatherapists, the efficacy of aromatherapy remains unproven. However, some preliminary clinical studies of aromatherapy in combination with other techniques show positive effects. Aromatherapy does not cure conditions, but helps the body to find a natural way to cure itself and improve immune response.
In the English-speaking world, practitioners tend to emphasize the use of oils in massage[citation needed]. Aromatherapy tends to be regarded[by whom?] as a complementary modality at best and a pseudoscientific fraud at worst.
Choice and purchaseOils with standardized content of components (marked FCC, for Food Chemical Codex) are required to contain a specified amount of certain aroma chemicals that normally occur in the oil[citation needed]. But there is no law that the chemicals cannot be added in synthetic form in order to meet the criteria established by the FCC for that oil[citation needed]. For instance, lemongrass essential oil must contain 75% aldehyde[citation needed] to meet the FCC profile for that oil, but that aldehyde can come from a chemical refinery instead of from lemongrass. To say that FCC oils are "food grade", then, makes them seem natural when, in fact, they are not necessarily so.
Undiluted essential oils suitable for aromatherapy are termed therapeutic grade, but in countries where the industry is unregulated, therapeutic grade is based on industry consensus and is not a regulatory category. Some aromatherapists take advantage of this situation to make misleading claims about the origin and even content of the oils they use. Likewise, claims that an oil's purity is vetted by mass spectrometry or gas chromatography have limited value, since all such testing can do is show that various chemicals occur in the oil. Many of the chemicals that occur naturally in essential oils are manufactured by the perfume industry and adulterate essential oils because they are cheaper. There is no way to distinguish between these synthetic additives and the naturally occurring chemicals.
The best instrument for determining whether or not an essential oil is adulterated is an educated nose. Many people can distinguish between natural and synthetic scents, but it takes experience.
Popular uses
- Lemon oil is uplifting and anti-stress/anti-depressant. In a Japanese study, lemon essential oil in vapour form has been found to reduce stress in mice. Research at The Ohio State University indicates that Lemon oil aroma may enhance one's mood, and help with relaxation.
- Thyme oil
- Peppermint oil is often used to deter ants, by applying a few drops on their trail.
- Both lavender and tea tree oil are used as antiseptics, sometimes in lotions or soaps. Lavender oil is said to help heal wounds and burns.
EfficacySome benefits that have been linked to aromatherapy, such as relaxation and clarity of mind, may arise from the placebo effect rather than from any actual physiological effect. The consensus among most medical professionals is that while some aromas have demonstrated effects on mood and relaxation and may have related benefits for patients, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the claims made for aromatherapy. Scientific research on the cause and effects of aromatherapy is limited, although in vitro testing has revealed some antibacterial and antiviral effects. There is no evidence of any long-term results from an aromatherapy massage other than the pleasure achieved from a pleasant-smelling massage. A few double blind studies in the field of clinical psychology relating to the treatment of severe dementia have been published. Essential oils have a demonstrated efficacy in dental mouthwash products.
Skeptical literature suggests that aromatherapy is based on the anecdotal evidence of its benefits rather than proof that aromatherapy can cure diseases. Scientists and medical professionals acknowledge that aromatherapy has limited scientific support, but critics argue that the claims of most aromatherapy practitioners go beyond the data, and/or that the studies are neither adequately controlled nor peer reviewed.
Some proponents of aromatherapy believe that the claimed effect of each type of oil is not caused by the chemicals in the oil interacting with the senses, but because the oil contains a distillation of the "life force" of the plant from which it is derived that will "balance the energies" of the body and promote healing or well-being by purging negative vibrations from the body's energy field. Arguing that there is no scientific evidence that healing can be achieved, and that the claimed "energies" even exist, many skeptics reject this form of aromatherapy as pseudoscience.
[edit]Safety concernsIn addition, there are potential safety concerns. Because essential oils are highly concentrated they can irritate the skin when used neat, that is undiluted. Therefore, they are normally diluted with a carrier oil for topical application. Phototoxic reactions may occur with citrus peel oils such as lemon or lime. Also, many essential oils have chemical components that are sensitisers (meaning that they will after a number of uses cause reactions on the skin, and more so in the rest of the body). Some of the chemical allergies could even be caused by pesticides, if the original plants are cultivated. Some oils can be toxic to some domestic animals, with cats being particularly prone.
Two common oils, lavender and tea tree, have been implicated in causing gynaecomastia, an abnormal breast tissue growth, in prepubescent boys, although the report which cites this potential issue is based on observations of only three boys (and so is not a scientific study), and two of those boys were significantly above average in weight for their age, thus already prone to gynaecomastia. A child hormone specialist at the University of Cambridge claimed "... these oils can mimic estrogens" and "people should be a little bit careful about using these products." The study has been criticised on many different levels by many authorities. The Aromatherapy Trade Council of the UK has issued a rebuttal The Australian Tea Tree Association, a group that promotes the interests of Australian tea tree oil producers, exporters and manufacturers issued a letter that questioned the study and called on the New England Journal of Medicine for a retraction (ATTIA). The New England Journal of Medicine has so far not replied and has not retracted the study.
As with any bioactive substance, an essential oil that may be safe for the general public could still pose hazards for pregnant and lactating women.
While some advocate the ingestion of essential oils for therapeutic purposes, licensed aromatherapy professionals do not recommend self prescription due the highly toxic nature of some essential oil. Some very common oils like Eucalyptus are extremely toxic when taken internally. Doses as low as one teaspoon have been reported to cause clinically significant symptoms and severe poisoning can occur after ingestion of 4 to 5 ml. A few reported cases of toxic reactions like liver damage and seizures have occurred after ingestion of sage, hyssop, thuja, and cedar. Accidental ingestion may happen when oils are not kept out of reach of children.
Oils both ingested and applied to the skin can potentially have negative interaction with conventional medicine. For example, the topical use of methyl salicylate heavy oils likeSweet Birch and Wintergreen may cause hemorrhaging in users taking the anticoagulant Warfarin.
Adulterated oils may also pose problems depending on the type of substance used.
HEALTHY BATHS AND SHOWERS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
FRUITS
OUR FRUITS
OUR APPEARANCE AND PACKAGING
Our Packaging