Winter blends of aromatherapy essential oils made with oil from juniper berries from the Juniperus communis juniper tree as well as other oils such as cedar oil, sandalwood essential oil, pine oil, bergamot essential oil, and cypress essential oil provide wonderful uplifting therapeutic effects. The astringent nature of the oil from the limonene containing juniper berries is beneficial to oily skin and is clarifying. Make essential oil blends adding refreshing bergamot oil to the oil of juniper berries in a holiday fragrance and to aromatherapy massage oils using the aromatherapy diffuser of your choice. Select from the wide variety of aromatherapy diffusers available.

Aromatherapy essential oils provide aromatic energy from living plants when humans become restless and depressed from decreased light, life, and the other emotionally debilitating effects of winter.

The bracing, sweet foresty aroma of juniper essential oil from the purple, ripe berry of the juniper tree, Juniperus communis, rejuvenates and restores life with its refreshing and uplifting effect. The colorless to slightly greenish yellow oil is steam distilled from the partially dried juniper berries.

Juniperus communis often grows in rocky areas throughout Europe and Asia. Almost all juniper berries are harvested in the wild after two seasons of ripening into plump, bluish-purple fruits around 1/4 inch in diameter. The finest, largest juniper berries composed of high resin and sugar come from northern Italy and Yugoslavia. The largest Italian juniper berries are sold at a high price for sauces and preserves, while much of the crop is used to produce gin. The fermented, used juniper berries from gin distillation are re-distilled to yield an essential oil that has a more harsh-woody, less sweet, and delicate aroma.

Juniper berry essential oil consists mostly of pinene, myrcene, sabinene, and limonene. These components are found in other winter oils as well, including cypress essential oil, fir needle, and pine oil, all of which blend well with juniper. Juniper oil is not only refreshing, clarifying, and uplifting, but also is cleansing, toning, and good for oily complexions due to its astringency.

A winter blend with juniper oil may also be use as an invigorating massage oil or a holiday fragrance. The following recipe yields approximately 1 teaspoon of concentrated essential oil blend, which may be diluted in vegetable oil for aromatherapy massage oils or diffused for scenting a room. As a massage oil, dilute 12 drops of the blend in 3 ounces of vegetable oil. To diffuse into the air, use a candle diffuser or terra cotta ornament style diffuser.

Winter Blend
Combine these oils:
* 25 drops of bergamot essential oil 
* 10 drops of cedar oil
* 15 drops of fir needle
* 30 drops of oil from juniper berries
* 20 drops of sandalwood essential oil

The sweet, fruity, fresh evergreen scent of juniper berry oil has a supportive, therapeutic effect. It combines well with other winter oils such as pine oil and fir needle and can be sweetened with a fruity citrus oil like bergamot oil.

To learn more about aromatherapy, click Learn and view topics under Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, & Lavender. Click to view other Aromatherapy Articles.

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