Essential Oil Directory

Learn about herbs, aromatherapy essential oils, and their aromatherapy benefits. Discover the power of oil of oregano, juniper berries from the juniper tree, Hyssop, and Eucalyptus oil from eucalyptus trees. Find out which oils are used as a natural insect repellent. See which oils are used as a deodorizer and which replenish. Enjoy the refreshing scent of Neroli (Citrus aurantium), orange oil, and lemon oil and the spicy aroma of clove oil, Allspice, and Cinnamon oil from Ceylon cinnamon. Get questions answered like: What is benzaldehyde? What oils are good natural skin care oils? Which oil is made from apricot kernels besides apricot kernel oil? Discover the diversity of peppermint oil, cedar oil, Fennel Seed, and sweet basil. Rose oil is used in perfumes and rose oil is added to massage oils. Clary Sage is centering and clary sage is euphoric. Benzoin, lavender oil, patchouli oil, and pine oil have a variety of attributes. Find out what they are.

Following the common name of each aromatherapy essential oils is the botanical name, place of origin, and the part of the plant from which the oil is produced. * Indicates the oil is available in organic form.

Allspice - Pimenta dioica/Jamaica/Fruit. The warm, spicy-sweet aroma of allspice berry oil is often used in spicy or masculine scents. It combines well with ginger, orange oil, patchouli oil, and all spice oils including cinnamon oil, cassia oil, and clove. Allspice berry oil aromatherapy benefits are warming, cheering, comforting, and nurturing. Find out more.

Almond, Bitter (FFPA) - Prunus species/United States/Kernel. Bitter almond oil may be made from bitter almond, peach, or apricot kernels. The two main harsh constituents of the essential oil, benzaldehyde and prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid), are formed after extraction. When prussic acid is removed, benzaldehyde is left behind. Bitter almond oil sold as FFPA (free from prussic acid) has a strong almond/cherry aroma. Bitter almond aromatherapy benefits are comforting and nurturing.

Amyris - Amyris balsamifera/Haiti/Wood. Amyris is called West Indian sandalwood, even though not related to true Indian sandalwood. Its scent is woody, slightly sweet, and balsamic similar to sandalwood essential oil. Because amyris slows down the evaporation of oils to which it is added, it is often used as a fixative. It blends well with cedar oil, jasmine, and rose oil scents. The aromatherapy benefits are strengthening and centering.

Anise - Pimpinella anisum/Spain, France, Italy, Morocco/Seed. Due to similar scents and chemical makeup, anise and star anise oils are frequently used and sold interchangeably. Anethole is the main component in both oils. This sweet component is solid at room temperature. To return it to a liquid state, warm the bottle in a warm water bath. Aromatherapy benefits are cheering and slightly euphoric. Learn more about anise.

Balsam of Peru - See Peru Balsam below

*Basil, Sweet - Ocimum basilicum/France, United States/Leaf. Linalool basil, exotic basil, and sweet basil are three types of basil. The scent of linalool basil is green, floral-sweet, and is most usually used in expensive perfumes. Exotic basil has a stronger fragrance with a slight camphor aroma. Frontier's sweet basil oil has both qualities that is a floral-spicy aroma with a tenacious herbal sweetness. Bergamot oil, clary sage, and lime oil blend well with basil oil. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to be clarifying, energizing, refreshing, and uplifting. Learn more about sweet basil.

Bay - Pimenta racemosa/Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominica/Leaf. The leaves and small twigs of bay rum tree are distilled to produce bay oil. The oil is powerful, spicy, and sweet with a distinguishable clove note, frequently being used to make bay rum fragrance and as part of fresh, spicy scents. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to be clarifying and warming. Learn more about bay essential oil.

Benzoin Absolute Resin - Styrax tonkinensis/Thailand/Oleoresin. Benzoin oleoresin is extracted using hot alcohol. After extraction, the alcohol is eliminated resulting in a concentrated tincture or resin absolute. Benzoin resin absolute is viscous with a brownish-yellow color and a sweet, balsamic aroma with a slight hint vanilla fragrance. For thousands of years, benzoin’s sweet scent has been used in incense blends. Rose oil and benzoin together make a pleasant, soothing aroma. The aromatherapy benefits are comforting, soothing, and warming.

*Bergamot and Bergamot BF - Citrus bergamia/Italy/Fruit Peel. Almost ripe fruit peel is cold-pressed to produce bergamot oil. Bergamot oil’s scent is fresh, fruity, lively, and sweet, making it an excellent deodorizer. Bergaptene, which heightens the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, is one of its components. Bergamot BF is "bergaptene free" essential oil in which almost all of the bergaptene is distilled out, even though traces may remain. Avoid using bergamot and bergamot BF on the skin if sunlight exposure is possible. The aromatherapy benefits include its ability to be confidence-building, inspiring and uplifting. Find out more about bergomot.

Cajeput - Melaleuca minor/Indonesia/Leaf and Twig. Cajeput is used mostly to scent soaps and detergents with its powerful, fresh, eucalyptus-like aroma. Its major components are the same as in eucalyptus oil. The aromatherapy benefits include its ability to invigorate and purify.

Camphor, White - Cinnamomum camphora/China, Japan/Wood. The wood of camphor trees is distilled to produce crude essential oil containing 35 to 40% camphor and the potentially carcinogenic safrol. Re-distilling the crude camphor oil removes the safrol to produce white camphor. White camphor is best for scenting deodorants, detergents, disinfectants, soaps, room sprays, and other household products. The aromatherapy benefits include its ability to clarify, energize, and purify.

Cardamom Seed - Elettaria cardamomum/India, Guatemala, Sri Lanka/Seed. Cardamom oil has a spicy, camphor-like aroma with floral undertones that gives a warm note to masculine scents and floral perfumes. This oil blends well with bergamot oil, cedar oil, coriander oil, frankincense, and ylang ylang. Aromatherapy benefits are alluring, comforting, and warming.

Carrot Seed - Daucus carota/France/Seed. Seeds from the common carrot are distilled to produce this oil, creating a dry-woody, somewhat sweet and earthy aroma. Fantasy, nature-scents, and Oriental perfumes often include carrot seed oil in their formulas for their interesting fatty-woody note. Carrot seed oil is excellent to use in natural skin care oils. The aromatherapy benefits of carrot seed oil are its ability to nourish, replenish, and restore.

Cassia Bark - Cinnamomum casia/China/Bark. Cinnamon sold in the United States is cassia or Chinese cinnamon. True cinnamon is considered by the majority of the remainder of the word to be Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum - see Cinnamon Bark below). Both cinnamons have a similar taste, but Ceylon cinnamon is sweeter with a more delicate aroma. Cassia has a greater quantity of the main constituent of both oils, cinnamic aldehyde. Caution: Handle carefully. Cassia oil is a strong skin irritant. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to comfort, energize, and warm.

*Cedar, Atlas - Cedrus atlantica/Morocco, Algeria/Wood. The Atlas cedar tree is indigenous to the Moroccan and Algerian Atlas Mountains. Unlike the red cedar (see below) that grows in America that is really a species of juniper, the Atlas cedar is a true cedar. Atlas cedar’s scent is woody, oily, and a little animal-like. This tree is a close relative to the ancient biblical cedars in Lebanon protected by law from being destroyed. Perfumes and soaps take advantage of Atlas cedar’s aroma and fixative abilities. Atlas cedar oil blends well with floral, woody aromas. Aromatherapy benefits are its ability to center, stabilize, and strengthen.

Cedarwood, Red - Juniperus virginiana/United States/Wood. Red cedar oil is usually distilled from sawdust. Cedarwood is known for being used for cabinets, chests, lining closets, and pencils. The balsamic, oily aroma is reminiscent of freshly cut green wood. Red cedar oil adds body and warmth to scents. It blends well with vetiver essential oil and sandalwood essential oil. It is used to disinfect, as a natural insect repellant, to scent room sprays, and in soaps. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to center, strengthen, and support. Learn more about red cedarwood.

Chamomile, German - Matricaria recutita/Hungary, France/Flower. German chamomile essential oil is known as blue chamomile. The oil is a deep blue color that changes to green and later to brown as aging and light exposure occur. The apple-like, fruity, sweet, tobacco-like aroma contributes warm, enduring, rich undertones in perfumes. This mild, soothing oil is used in massage oil blends and other herbal formulas. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to calm, relax, and soothe.

*Chamomile, Roman - Chamaemelum nobile/Hungary, Belgium, France/Flower. The constituent azulene in German chamomile that gives it the intense blue color is found in only tiny amounts in Roman chamomile. Used in perfumery extensively, this oil blends well with bergamot oil, clary sage, jasmine, and neroli giving a warm, fresh note if added in small amounts. This mild, soothing oil does not have an enduring aroma like German chamomile. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to calm and relax. Learn more about Roman chamomile.

Chamomile, Wild - Ormenis multicaulis/Morocco/Flowering Top. Wild or Moroccan chamomile is related to Roman chamomile with similar, yet distinctive scents. Wild chamomile is often used in perfumery with its enduring fresh, herbal note and rich, balsamic, sweet undertone. It blends well with woody aromas like cypress, as well as citrus oils and musk scents like angelica. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to nurture and soothe.

*Cinnamon Bark - Cinnamomum zeylanicum/Indonesia, Sri Lanka/Inner Bark. Cinnamon bark is the true cinnamon traded globally, which is also known as Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon’s fragrance is similar to cassia or Chinese cinnamon, but is preferred in perfumery for its floral-enhancing, warm effect. Cinnamon oil blends well with oriental-woody notes, frequently being mixed with frankincense. This skin irritant should be handled carefully. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to comfort and warm.

*Cinnamon Leaf - Cinnamomum zeylanicum/Indonesia, Sri Lanka/Leaf. Cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil are distilled from different plant parts of the same tree. Frequently used in oriental scents, the distilled leaves of cinnamon leaf have a scent more like cloves than cinnamon because of the high quantity of eugenol in the oil. Use this skin irritant with care. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to refresh and vitalize. Learn more about cinnamon leaf.

*Citronella - Cymbopogon nardus/Sri Lanka/Herb. Java and Ceylon are the two kinds of citronella. Hope for Health offers the Ceylon type. Even though the grass from which Java oil is made is grown tropically in many areas, Sri Lanka is the region the Ceylon type is cultivated. The two oil types are different in aroma, composition, and flavor. Ceylon citronella’s fresh, grassy, and warm-woody aroma is preferable to Java for outdoor sprays, room sprays, and other household products. Used more in perfumery, Java oil is sweeter with a more floral scent. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to purify and vitalize. Learn more.

Clary Sage - Salvia sclarea/France/Flowering Top, Herb. The bittersweet, hay-like, spicy, scent of clary sage oil mixes well with cardamom, cedar oil, citrus oils, coriander, geranium, lavandin, and sandalwood. The enduring aroma of clary sage oil is valued for fixative abilities with other scents. The aromatherapy benefits of centering, euphoria, and visualizing characterize clary sage oil. Find out more about clary sage.

*Clove Bud - Syzygium aromaticum/Madagascar/Flower Bud. The highest quality clove oil is distilled from whole dried flower buds. Oil distilled from the leaves and stems, sold as clove oil without the source being disclosed, is inferior. Clove oil has a powerful, spicy-fruity, sweet, warm aroma. Caution: handle clove oil carefully because it is very irritating to the skin. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to comfort and warm. Learn more about clove bud.

Coriander Seed - Coriandrum sativum/France, Holland, Russia/Fruit. Coriander oil has a delightful aromatic scent that is pleasantly sweet and spicy with similarities to bergamot orange. It blends well with bergamot, cinnamon bark, clary sage, jasmine, and frankincense for spicy, masculine scents or lightly, floral colognes. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to nurture and support. Learn more about coriander seed.

*Cypress - Cupressus sempervirens/France/Leaf and Twig. The spicy, refreshing, juniper and pine needle-like aroma of cypress is frequently used to modify pine blends. It blends well with angelica, citrus, clary sage, and lavender. The aromatherapy benefits are balancing and purifying. Learn more about cypress.

*Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus globulus/Spain, Portugal, Australia, France, China/Leaf. There are 300 species of eucalyptus trees globally, of which Eucalyptus globulus is the most well known. Eucalyptus oil is used frequently in topical liniments and salves. Cineole is the main component in eucalyptus oil contributing to its aromatherapy benefits of invigorating, and purifying. Learm more about eucalyptus.

*Fennel Seed - Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare/Spain/Fruit. There are two varieties of fennel that produce essential oil - sweet fennel and bitter or common fennel. Bitter fennel's scent is similar to sweet fennel, but with an earthy camphor-like note. Aromatherapy benefits include the oil's ability nurture, restore, and support.

Fennel, Sweet - Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce/Spain/Fruit. The main component in sweet fennel oil is anethole, which is found in higher amounts in sweet fennel than in bitter. This component is also responsible for the oil's sweet, earthy anise-like fragrance. The aromatherapy benefits are nurturing, restorative, and supportive.

Fir Needle, Siberian - Abies sibirica/Russia, Austria/Needle and Twig. The fresh, balsamic scent of Siberian fir needle reminds one of the woodsy scent of a pine forest. This scent is used in masculine perfumery frequently. Siberian fir needle essential oil blends well with citrus, oil from juniper berries, lavender, pine, rosemary, and spruce. The aromatherapy benefits are elevating and refreshing.

Frankincense - Boswellia carteri/Somalia, Ethiopia/Gum Resin. Numerous frankincense tree species grow naturally in Western India, Northeastern Africa and Southern Saudi Arabia. When a frankincense tree bark is cut, gum resin oozes from the cut. This resin is distilled to produce the balsamic, peppery, spicy, green-lemon-like scented oil. It buffers the sweetness of citrus oils like orange and bergamot. Frankincense is used as the base for floral, incense, masculine, Oriental, and spice scents. Aromatherapy benefits include its ability to help with calming, meditating, and visualizing. Learn more about frankincense.

Geranium (Bourbon) - Pelargonium graveolens/Reunion/Leaf. Bourbon geranium is a very significant oil used in perfumery as well as all types of scents. It has a strong, leafy-rose fragrance with fruity, mint undertones. Bourbon oil comes from Reunion island, is considered the best type, and has the greatest endurance. Many skin care products contain Bourbon geranium due to its pleasant scent and its toning, cleansing attributes. Aromatherapy benefits are balancing, mood-lifting, and soothing. Learn more about geranium.

Ginger - Zingiber officinale/China, Jamaica/Rhizome. The warm, spicy-woody scent of ginger oil blends well with citrus and spice oils. Aromatherapy benefits help anchor, strengthen, and warm. Learn more about ginger.

*Grapefruit - Citrus paradisi/Israel, Italy/Peel. Grapefruit oil is cold-pressed from grapefruit peel producing a bitter, citrus, fresh, sweet scent. This essential oil often is used in blends to scent citrus colognes and perfumes, creams, lotions, and soaps. Aromatherapy benefits of grapefruit oil are cheering and refreshing. Learn more about grapefruit.

Hyssop - Hyssopus officinalis/France, Italy/Herb. In the past, hyssop has been considered a sacred plant used as incense to purify holy places as well as to be strewn about. The aroma of hyssop oil is potent, spicy, sweet, and woody. It blends well with citrus, clary sage, clove oil, lavender oil, myrtle, rosemary oil, and sage oil. Hyssop has the aromatherapy benefits of being purifying and refreshing. Learn more about hyssop.

Jasmine Absolute - Jasminum grandiflorum/Morocco, France, Italy/Flower. Many perfumes contain jasmine essential oil in them. Synthetically produced jasmine does not begin to compare with the full, rich, honey-like sweetness of true jasmine, much to perfume chemists' dismay. It is very expensive to make true jasmine oil because the flowers must be hand-picked before sunrise to retain the maximum quality and quantity and because so many flowers are necessary to make even small quantity of oil. Aromatherapy benefits of jasmine include its ability to arouse sensual romance, calm, and relax.

*Juniper Berry - Juniperus communis/Bulgaria, France/Fruit. The dried ripe berries of the juniper tree are distilled to produce oil from juniper berries. The woody-pine needle aroma of juniper berries is balsamic, fresh, and warm. Oil from juniper berries can be found in room sprays with citrus oils, masculine and outdoor perfume blends, and in after shaves and spicy colognes. Aromatherapy benefits of juniper berries are its restoring, supportive effects. Learn more about juniper berry.

*Lavandin - Lavandula intermedia/Spain, France/Flowering Top. Lavandin results from the natural cross-pollination of true lavender and spike lavender. The camphor, spicy-green, woody, scent is used in herbaceous colognes. Lavandin blends well with cinnamon leaf, citronella, clove, cypress, geranium, patchouli, pine, thyme, and more. The aroma does not last long, so it needs a fixative to get it to last longer than several hours. Aromatherapy benefits of lavandin are its balancing, clarifying, and purifying effects. Learn more about lavandin.

*Lavender Flower - Lavandula angustifolia/Bulgaria, France/Flowering Top. The balsamic, floral, sweet scent of lavender flower oil combines well with citrus, clary sage, clove, patchouli, pine, and rosemary oils to mention a few. Lavender oil is valued for its role in a multitude of products, including bath oils, colognes, massage oils, perfumes, room sprays, sachets, salves, skin lotions and oils, and toilet waters. Aromatherapy benefits of balancing, calming, healing, normalizing, relaxing, and soothing are some of the reasons for this oil's popularity. Learn more about lavender.

*Lavender Spike - Lavandula latifolia/Spain/Flowering Top. The essential oil from flowering spike lavender is fresh and similar to a blend of eucalyptus and lavender. It is often used in deodorants, disinfectants, insect repellents, room sprays, and soaps. Spike lavender mixes well with eucalyptus oil, lavandin, lavender oil, petitgrain, pine oil, rosemary oil, and rosewood oil. The oil from spike lavender has purifying aromatherapy benefits.

*Lemon - Citrus limon/United States, Israel/Peel. Lemon oil from Hope for Health is cold-pressed, making it higher quality than distilled. The aroma is like fresh ripe lemon peel. Bath or massage oils containing lemon oil should be diluted to avoid skin irritation. Warning: avoid using skin care products containing lemon oil if exposure to sunlight is likely since this oil can cause burning and redness of the skin. Lemon oil's aromatherapy benefits include its ability to cheer, refresh, and uplift. Learn more.

Lemon Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus citriodora/Brazil/Leaf. Lemon eucalyptus has a fragrance much like that of citronella, which contains citronellal as a main constituent as does lemon eucalyptus. Lemon eucalyptus has a fresh, grass-like, rosy scent that combines well with eucalyptus globulus, softening the medicinal odor. Eucalyptus citriodora has the aromatherapy benefits of invigorating and purifying. Learn more about lemon eucalyptus.

*Lemongrass - Cymbopogon citratus/Guatemala, Haiti, Sri Lanka/Leaf. Lemongrass is a tropical grass indigenous to Asia that is distilled to produce oil. The grassy, lemony, and powerful scent is used in detergents, natural insect repellent, room sprays, and soaps. Lemongrass has the aromatherapy benefits of cleansing and vitalizing. Learn more about lemongrass.

Lime - Citrus aurantifolia/United States, Mexico/Peel. Lime oil may be obtained cold-pressed or distilled. The color of pressed oil offered at Hope for Health is yellowish to green and has a fresh, rich lime peel scent. Even though less pressed lime oil is produced and cost more than distilled, it is the best kind to use because the healing benefits are superior to distilled oil. Distilled lime oil is pale yellow to clear with limeade, perfumey-fruity fragrance. Skin can react to lime oil if the oil is applied to the skin and the skin is exposed to sunlight. The aromatherapy benefits of lime oil are cheering and refreshing. Learn more about lime.

*Marjoram, Sweet - Majorana hortensis/France/Herb. The leaves and flowering tops of the culinary herb sweet marjoram are distilled to produce the spicy, warm scent of the essential oil that hat has a slight nutmeg fragrance. This essential oil is often used in herbal-spicy, masculine and Oriental perfumes and colognes. Even though wild marjoram (see below) is frequently substituted for sweet marjoram, the two oils do not have the same characteristics or effects and are therefore not interchangeable. In aromatherapy sweet marjoram has balancing and warming benefits. Learn more about sweet marjoram.

*Marjoram, Wild - Thymus mastichina/Spain/Herb. Wild marjoram oil is actually not a marjoram at all, but is distilled from a wild thyme indigenous to Spain. This essential oil has a strong, eucalyptus-like, sweet-spicy scent often found in small quantities in massage oils used to invigorate. Wild marjoram oil has clarifying and purifying benefits in aromatherapy.

Myrrh - Commiphora species/Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia/Gum Resin. Myrrh resin is one of the first known substances used in perfumery and was also used as incense and in embalming in ancient Egypt. Today, it is used in ointments and other skin care products. The balsamic, spicy, warm scent of myrrh oil combines well in foresty, Oriental, and woody perfumes. The aromatherapy benefits are centering, meditative, and visualizing. Learn more about myrrh.

Myrtle - Myrtus communis/Tunisia/Leaf and Twig. Myrtle is an evergreen shrub that is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. The distinctive, spicy, camphor-like fragrance of myrtle oil is used to contribute an herbal, spicy element to outdoor and natural colognes. Higher quality myrtle oils have a fresher, sweeter aroma and combine well with bergamot oil, clary sage, lavandin, lavender oil, lime oil, and rosemary oil. Myrtle essential oil has clarifying and cleansing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about myrtle.

Neroli - Citrus aurantium/Morocco, France, Italy, Tunisia/Flower. Distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree, neroli oil has a refreshing, robust, spicy floral scent. As one of the most widely used floral oils in perfumery, it is often found in colognes and mixes well with citrus and floral oils. Neroli is also used in premium natural cosmetic products like bath and massage oils and skin creams. Neroli essential oil has calming, sensual, soothing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about neroli.

Nutmeg - Myristica fragrans/Indonesia, East Indies/Fruit. Nutmeg oil is distilled from small pieces of dried nutmegs that have been pressed to remove the fixed oil, which is called nutmeg butter. This essential oil has the spicy scent of whole nutmegs and is often found as an ingredient in men's fragrances and spicy perfumes. Nutmeg has energizing, rejuvenating, and uplifting aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about nutmeg.

Orange, Mandarin - Citrus reticulata/Italy, United States/Peel. Even though the differences in mandarin and tangerine are minor, their essential oils have different scents and are not interchangeable in aromatherapy. Mandarin orange oil with its floral, sensual, neroli-like undertones is used with other citrus oils in colognes and fantasy-type perfumes. (See Tangerine below.) Aromatherapy benefits of mandarin orange oil are cheering, sensual, and uplifting.

*Orange, Sweet - Citrus sinensis/United States, Brazil/Peel. Of all the citrus oils, more sweet orange oil is made than the others. It is produced distilled or expressed. The distilled oil is a byproduct of juicing and has a low quality scent, frequently being used as an adulterant in expressed oil. Sweet orange oil from Hope for Health is pressed from ripe, sweet orange peels. Its fruity, lively, sweet scent is used to scent colognes. Since citrus oils break down rapidly, store in a cool, dry, dark place in containers that are full. The aromatherapy benefits of sweet orange oil are cheering, refreshing, and uplifting. Learn more about sweet orange.

Oregano - Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an herbaceous perennial, which is a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family. Historically, oregano has been used to treat poisoning, convulsions, spider and scorpion bites, and as an aphrodisiac. The oil of oregano is used medicinally as well. This aromatic, camphoraceous spice is irreplaceable in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Learn more about oregano.

Palmarosa - Cymbopogon martinii/India, Brazil/Top. The floral-rose grassy scent of palmarosa essential oil is distilled from a grass that is a close relative of citronella and lemongrass. This oil is used to a great extent in perfumes and soaps to contribute or intensify a rose aroma. Palmarosa adds an astringent, cleansing effect to skin care products like bath and massage oils. Palmarosa has refreshing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about palmarosa.

*Patchouli - Pogostemon cablin/Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia/Leaf. Patchouli is used in many perfumes and colognes for its enduring scent and fixative ability. It has a dark, rich color and intriguing, exotic scent. The scent of patchouli oil is balsamic, earthy, intense, rich, spicy, sweet, and woody. It is one of only a few essential oils whose scent and effects improves as it ages. Patchouli oil has romantic, sensual, and soothing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about patchouli.

*Peppermint - Mentha piperita/United States/Herb. The sweet, menthol aroma of peppermint oil is so powerful that it can make eyes water and sinuses tingle when inhaled undiluted. Peppermint oil has cooling, refreshing, and vitalizing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about peppermint.

Peru Balsam - Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae/El Salvador/Oleoresin. Peru balsam oleoresin is comes from wild trees on the "Balsam Coast" of El Salvador. Peru balsam oil has a balsamic, richly sweet, vanilla-like fragrance. It has excellent endurance and is one of the best fixatives, blending well with balsamic, floral, spicy, and Oriental aromas. Peru balsam has anchoring and strengthening aromatherapy benefits.

Petitgrain - Citrus aurantium/France, Italy, Morocco, South America/Leaf and Twig. Petitgrain oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree. The flowers are distilled to produce neroli essential oil. Petitgrain’s aroma is sweet, woody-floral, and similar to orange flowers, but a little less floral-sweet. It blends well with bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, lavender, and rosemary. Petitgrain has inspiring and refreshing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about petitgrain.

*Pine - Pinus sylvestris/Russia, Austria/Twig and Needle. Pine oil distilled from twigs and needles of the Scotch pine, is indigenous to Europe and Asia. This fresh, resinous, pine needle scent is used in household and personal care products - detergents, cold and cough formulas, male perfumes, room sprays, and vaporizer liquids. Skin care formulas with pine oil should be well diluted to avoid irritating sensitive skin. Pine oil has invigorating and refreshing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about pine.

Rose Absolute - Rosa centifolia/Morocco, France/Flower. Rose absolute is a high-quality, economical replacement to distilled rose essential oils (rose otto). The deep-rosy, long-lasting, sweet aroma of rose absolute works well to scent, but for optimum aromatherapy benefits, rose otto is best. It is used in perfumes for its scent and fixative attributes. Rose absolute has romantic and uplifting aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about rose.

Rose Otto - Rosa damascena/Bulgaria, Russia, Turkey/Flower. Rose oil was one of the first essential oils and is also one of the best known. The intensely rich, rosy, and warm aroma of rose oil is associated with love. It is used in perfumes for beauty and depth and is also used in skin creams, lotions, and powders. Use a drop or two for a luxurious and soothing bath, facial, or massage oil. Rose otto has romantic, supportive, and gently uplifting aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about rose.

Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis/France, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia/Flowering Top. Rosemary is known as the herb of remembrance. The plant produces an almost colorless essential oil with a strong, fresh camphor aroma. It's used in many citrus colognes, forest, and Oriental perfumes and eau de cologne. Rinses for dark hair often contain rosemary, as do room deodorants, household sprays, disinfectants, and soaps. Rosemary essential oil has clarifying and invigorating aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about rosemary.

*Rosewood - Aniba rosaeodora/Brazil/Wood. Rosewood, also called bois de rose, is a tropical tree that grows wild in the Amazon basin. It has a floral-nutmeg, sweet-woody scent that is used extensively in fantasy-type colognes and perfumes. It is also used to scent bath oils, creams, lotions, massage oils, and soaps. Rosewood has calming and mildly strengthening aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about rosewood.

Sage - see Clary Sage above

Sandalwood - Santalum spicatum/Australia/Heart Wood and Root. Sandalwood oil’s balsamic, sweet-woody, warm, scent improves as it ages. The essential oil blends very well with most oils, especially bergamot, lavender, neroli, and rose. Sandalwood oil is excellent for using as an astringent to cleanse in aftershaves and bath, facial, and massage oils, lotions, and creams. Sandalwood has centering, relaxing, and sensual aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about sandalwood.

*Spearmint - Mentha spicata/United States, China/Flowering Herb. Spearmint is used to energize the mind and body. Use a few drops in bath water for a refreshing bath or try a facial steam using spearmint oil to help cleanse and tighten pores. Spearmint oil has cooling, refreshing, and vitalizing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about spearmint.

Spruce - Picea, Tsuga species/Canada/Leaf and Twig. A number of evergreen conifer tree species are used to make this pleasant, balsamic, evergreen-scented, sweet essential oil. Spruce oil is used separately to scent household products or blended with other pine needle oils for a fresh pine scent. It is used in air fresheners, detergents, disinfectants, room sprays, and soaps. Cedar oil, galbanum, pine oil, and rosemary oil all blend well with spruce oil. Spruce essential oil has clarifying and vitalizing aromatherapy benefits.

Tangerine - Citrus reticulata/United States, Brazil/Peel. Tangerine oil from Hope for Health is pressed from ripe fruit peel. This essential oil is orange in color and has a potent aroma of fresh tangerines. The oil is used in colognes and sometimes in perfumes. (See Mandarin Orange above.) The aromatherapy benefits of tangerine oil are cheering and uplifting. Learn more about tangerine.

*Tea Tree - Melaleuca alternifolia/Australia/Leaf. Tea tree leaves had a long history of use by native Australians before being found by James Cook, a famous English explorer. Tea tree oil is very volatile and its scent is medicinal, spicy, and warm. It is sometimes used in aftershaves and spicy colognes. It blends well with lavandin, nutmeg oil, and rosemary oil. Tea tree oil has cleansing, purifying, and uplifting aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about tea tree.

*Thyme, Red - Thymus vulgaris/Spain/Herb. Red thyme essential oil is distilled from wild thyme and has a strong, herbal, spicy-medicinal, sweet scent. Red and white thyme oil are both used as fragrance in aftershave lotions, colognes, and soaps. Caution: Because thyme oil can be a skin irritant, it should be used carefully. Red thyme aromatherapy benefits are cleansing, energizing, and purifying.

*Thyme, White - Thymus vulgaris/Spain/Herb. During the re-distillation of red thyme oil, the components that cause the red color are removed, which is why it is called white thyme. The effects and scent of white thyme oil are a little milder than red thyme. They are both used as a fragrance in aftershave lotions, colognes, and soaps. Caution: Because thyme oil can be a skin irritant, it should be used carefully. White thyme has cleansing, energizing, and purifying aromatherapy benefits.

Vanilla - Vanilla planifolia Jacks. The scent is lingering sweet balsamic. The aromatherapy benefits are balancing, calming, and comforting.

Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanioides/Indonesia/Root. The earthy, rich, sweet, and woody scent of vetiver oil improves as it ages. It is often used in perfumery due to its fixative effects and aroma. Vetiver essential oil exhibits grounding and supportive aromatherapy benefits. Learn more about vetiver.

Wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens/China/Leaf. In the past, wintergreen oil was used extensively in perfumery and flavoring, but today methyl salicylate, a less expensive and more reliable synthetic has replaced much of its use. Wintergreen is often used in toothpaste and mouthwash. Wintergreen has bracing, invigorating, and refreshing aromatherapy benefits. Learn more.

*Ylang Ylang Extra - Cananga odorata/Comoro Islands/Flower. Ylang ylang oil is derived from cananga tree flowers that are freshly picked early in the morning. Distilled oil is removed at several points with the first oil drawn being the highest quality grade termed extra. Ylang ylang extra is intensely floral, jasmine and narcotic-like, and sweet. Ylang ylang has euphoric and sensual aromatherapy benefits. Learn more ab out ylang ylang.