Eucalyptus essential oil

Eucalyptus is a strong scent and so rarely makes it into my oil burner. If I was going to use it, it’d probably be very cautiously in a steam inhalation when I was utterly congested with the cold!

Today I decided to try out a ‘wake me up’ blend after a rubbish night’s sleep. Mixed with some sharp citruses, it really does – but still, with just one drop – likely to be clearing out your sinuses while it’s at it! I’ve been sneezing a fair bit, just to warn you!

As well as a decongestant, eucalyptus is also used for aches and pains, as an insect repellent, for enhancing concentration, and possibly calming nerves. It’s noted as being uplifting. There is some suggestion that the scent might lower the perception of pain after surgery, but not sure it’d be my first thing to try in that scenario!

Blends well with chamomile, cedarwood, frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, peppermint, pine, rosemary

Blends I’ve tried:

• 3 grapefruit, 3 lime, 1 eucalyptus – ‘wake up’ blend

Suggested blends include:

• eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender
• eucalyptus, lemongrass, lemon
• peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary – headache relief

Lemongrass essential oil

A strong citrus with undertones of herb, lemongrass might be more familiar from Asian cooking. It’s not one that gets used often in my collection, but that was half the point of these posts – look at what I have, use more of them! It can feel quite powerful, so use sparingly.

Like most citruses, lemongrass is uplifting and energising. It has cleansing properties, and is a naturally bug repellent. It may help with headaches and migraine, digestion, and mental clarity.

Blends well with geranium, ginger, grapefruit, peppermint, pine, rosemary, tea tree, thyme.

Blends I’ve tried:

• lemongrass, tangerine, spearmint – energising blend

Suggested blends include:

• grapefruit, lemongrass – ‘wake up’
• lemongrass, lavender, peppermint
• rosemary, lemongrass, lavender, spearmint
• lemongrass, sandalwood – contemplative
• lemongrass, clary sage, patchouli – meditate
• lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender

Pine essential oil

Pine is a rarely used oil out of my collection, mainly around Christmas time to get that tree scent. It’s a clean, refreshing scent, often found in air fresheners and household cleaners – which if not used carefully, it will end up reminding me of.

Pine can be used to help clear your head and nose – you can use it in a steam inhalation. It’s described as reviving, stimulating and invigorating, helping to relieve fatigue, increase alertness, and lift moods.

There is a difference between pine needle oil and pine oil from twigs/buds, not always made clear in the description until you look closely. There are also things like ‘fir oil’ which will be used in much the same way.

Blends well with cedarwood, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon, marjoram, and rosemary.

Blends I’ve tried:

• pine, bergamot, grapefruit, lime – based on a blend called ‘stay sane’ which tickled me 🙂 Adds a bit of depth to the citruses, narrowly avoiding that ‘household cleaner’ smell

Suggested blends include:

• Christmas blend: orange, pine, cinnamon
• Winter blend: pine, peppermint, cinnamon
• 2 tangerine, 1 ginger, 1 pine
• 2 bergamot, 1 cedarwood, 1 pine for an outdoorsy scent
• bergamot, frankincense, pine

Rose essential oil

I’m not a huge fan of floral scents, but I am a bit of a completionist with things like my essential oils collection, so of course there’s some rose oil. Well, some blended rose oil – it’s cheaper, still smells nice, and works fine for my purposes. I’m not sure if it’s the rose or the sweet almond base that reminds me strongly of every spa I’ve been to.

Rose is balancing and uplifting, said to help with decreasing anxiety and stress. It has been credited with increasing confidence and a sense of well-being. It’s also associated with putting people ‘in the mood’ 😉 so use with a little care lol! When used in e.g. face creams (which I don’t; I’m oil burner only with this stuff), it has moisturising properties.

Blends well with bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, mandarin, neroli, patchouli, vetiver, ylang ylang.

Blends I’ve tried:

• rose, black pepper, neroli
• orange, rose, patchouli – latter overwhelms everything a bit, as ever!

Suggested blends include:

• lavender, geranium, rose – ‘restful’
• rose, geranium, vetiver
• orange, lavender, ylang ylang, rose
• rose, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli

Black Pepper essential oil

My first experience with essentials oils was a blend of bergamot and black pepper, so both have always had a firm place in my heart.

Black pepper is a warming oil, used in massage for achy muscles and improving circulation. In the oil burner, it’s a spicy middle note that works well with a range of things. It is said to help increase alertness and stamina, reduce anxiety, and generally soothe the emotions. It is also suggested that inhaling the aroma of black pepper can help reduce cravings – I think they meant smoking, but wondering how it’d work on chocolate 😉

Blends well with cedarwood, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, may chang, orange, patchouli, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, vetiver, ylang ylang

Blends I’ve tried:

• bergamot and black pepper
• 2 drops rosemary, 2 drops bergamot, 1 drop black pepper – a perk me up and help me focus mix
• 2 bergamot, 2 grapefruit, 1 cedarwood, 1 black pepper – sweet and spicy, nice mix

Suggested blends include:

• black pepper, orange, ylang ylang
• black pepper, lime, frankincense – for motiviation
• 2 lavender, 1 peppermint, 1 lemon, 1 black pepper
• bergamot, black pepper, clary sage

Tangerine essential oil

The orange scents are probably my favourite in aromatherapy, as I find them very uplifting. As a result, I have orange, sweet orange, mandarin AND tangerine – and am still trying to fix the differences in my mind! Tangerine is perhaps sweeter and lighter than orange, I’d say.

The benefits of tangerine aren’t dissimilar to other varieties of orange, particularly in being uplifting and soothing. It has been linked to creativity and playfulness as well as soothing nervous irritability (hah, I need that!), bringing a ‘sense of security’.

Tangerine blends well with the other citruses – grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange – and also bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, lavender, neroli, spearmint, and ylang ylang.

Blends I’ve tried:

• 2 drops tangerine, 2 drops grapefruit, 1 drop ginger – loved this! Uplifting, energising, and the ginger just adds a depth of spice against the sweetness
• for energy: equal amounts of tangerine, spearmint, and lemongrass

Suggested blends include:

• mood lift: 4 tangerine, 3 clary sage, 3 lavender, 1 bergamot, 1 ylang ylang

Patchouli essential oil

Continuing to work my way through my essential oils collection, as having the oil burner in my home office is one of the minor pluses of lockdown!

Patchouli feels very ‘Aromatherapy’ with a capital A. It has that association with hippy-ness and the 60s. I had to look up what it actually is, however, as it’s not something I knew. Turns out it’s actually a herb (related to both lavender and peppermint, among others) with pink and white flowers. The extract is a base note, earthy and sweet and musky.

The benefits of patchouli included emotional balancing and a grounding effect. It can be energising

Patchouli is said to blend well with bergamot, black pepper, clary sage, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, orange, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.

Blends I’ve tried:

• patchouli, lavender, and bergamot – kind, self-care blend
• patchouli, lavender, and cinnamon
• 3 rosewood, 2 geranium, 2 mandarin, 1 patchouli – nice depth of scent, with almost a little of everything

Suggested blends include:

• Get your head out of the clouds: patchouli, rosewood, lemongrass
• ‘Kindness’ – 1 patchouli, 4 rose
• Sleep blend: patchouli, lavender, marjoram
• upbeat: 2 rosewood, 2 mandarin, 1 geranium, 1 patchouli
• nerve calming: 1 patchouli, 4 lemon, 2 lime, 2 cedarwood
• anti-procrastination: 3 bergamot, 1 rosemary, 1 juniper, 1 patchouli
• stress relieving: patchouli and peppermint
• de-frazzle: patchouli and vetiver

Vanilla essential oil

Okay, first point: this isn’t actually an essential oil, even though it’s sold as one. It’s more or less vanilla bean extract mixed with e.g. jojoba oil. Still, I’m here for the scent, so I’ll run with it!

Vanilla is a sweet, comforting scent, generally considered soothing. It is often used to promote relaxation or to uplift the mood.

Blends well with: chamomile, lavender, lemon, neroli, orange, and sandalwood.

Combos tried:

• vanilla and lemon – was after that lemon dessert smell, wasn’t far off, if subtle
• vanilla, lemon, tangerine – bit more like it 🙂

Suggestions:

• lemon, vetiver, vanilla, lavender
• vanilla, orange, cinnamon
• vanilla, rose
• lemon, vanilla, cedarwood

 

Ginger essential oil

Ginger is an earthy, warming spice, used as an aid to digestion and to combat nausea. In an oil burner, this base-mid note can add grounding and a sense of balance, perk up energy levels, and give an emotional boost.

Blends well with: cinnamon, frankincense, orange, rosemary, ylang ylang

Combos tried:

• 2 ginger, 2 tangerine, 1 geranium
• 2 ginger, 2 tangerine, 1 geranium, 2 lime
• 4 bergamot, 2 geranium, 1 ginger

Suggestions:

• ginger, bergamot, patchouli
• ginger, lime, cedarwood

 

Spearmint essential oil

Spearmint is less intense than peppermint, containing much less menthol. It has a softer, sweeter minty scent. It’s still used for digestive benefits, and to help with colds, headaches, and respiratory issues. It can also aid concentration and energy, uplifting the mood and calming nerves and anxiety.

Spearmint is said to blend well with eucalyptus, jasmine, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree oils.

Blends I’ve tried:

• 1 drop spearmint, 2 drops may chang, 3 drops sweet orange – really liking this, it’s fresh and cheery
• spearmint, bergamot, grapefruit – very fresh!
• grapefruit, orange, spearmint (‘mojito’) – like this
• lime, orange, spearmint – thought it was more ‘mojito’, but don’t think I like it as much
• lemon, rosemary, spearmint – surprisingly nice, very refreshing
• lemongrass, tangerine, spearmint – energising

Suggestions:

• spearmint, grapefruit, tangerine, bergamot
• grapefruit, lavender, spearmint, clary sage