Carrot Oil: What’s in a name?
There is some confusion in Aromatherapy centered around the carrot. There are several different products based on Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) including an essential oil, a carbon dioxide extract, and […]
Category Archives: Essential Oil
The Safety Issues of Wintergreen Essential Oil
The essential oil of Wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima) or (G. procumbens) often comes with safety warnings, but sometimes not, making it confusing for the aromatherapy enthusiast. Should you stay away from […]
Is Pennyroyal Essential Oil Safe?
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) essential oil has gotten a bad reputation. Decades ago it was deemed unsafe, and many Aromatherapists have not changed their opinion of it. It is an often […]
The Summery Scent of Citronella
Most people are introduced to the smell of Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) in candles and tiki torches. The scent is often used at outdoor parties to repel mosquitoes and other insects. […]
Catnip: It’s Not Just for Felines
My funniest memory of Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is watching my cat suck on an herbal toy for about ten minutes with a crazed expression on his face. That type of […]
A Nice Day for Anise
If you enjoy the scent of black licorice, then it could be a good day for you to use Anise (Pimpinella anisum) essential oil. The oil, steam-distilled from Anise seed, […]
An Angelic Oil for Anxiety and Immunity
Recently in a class on essential oil safety, the oil of Angelica root came up in discussion. Its safety issue is phototoxicity, which means that irritation can occur when skin […]
Playing with Plai
Plai (Zingiber cassumunar) is a plant related to ginger. The essential oils from both are distilled from the roots of the plants and they have similar therapeutic properties. However, Plai […]
Coriander or Cilantro? Are they the same oil?
Did you know that Coriander seed and Cilantro leaf come from the same plant (Coriandrum sativum)? If you look in the produce section at the market you will find leafy […]
Vetiver Brings You Down to Earth
Although Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) essential oil has an earthy smell, the plant is a tropical grass. It offers a dense, rich scent that is hard to describe, so I usually […]
