Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Roman chamomile essential oil has its own unique properties which are, in some instances, different from the other types of chamomile like German or blue chamomile and Moroccan chamomile (or blue tansy).

So here we'll learn about the properties, uses and benefits of Roman chamomile essential oil.

Quick Glance at Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Pros: Roman chamomile essential oil has anti-anxiety, sedative, antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits.

Cons: -

Precautions: Always check with your doctor before using this essential oil.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Properties

If you're new to this oil, you may want to check out these properties of Roman chamomile essential oil.

Name

Just like German chamomile, Roman chamomile has several names.

It's sometimes called sweet chamomile and English chamomile. And it has a few botanical names like Chamaemelum nobile and Anthemis noblis. Be sure to check these names when buying Roman chamomile oil.

Keep in mind that German chamomile has the botanical names Matricaria chamomilla and Matricaria recutita.

Color & Scent

Roman chamomile essential oil has a light grey to pale blue color and a sweet, apple-like smell, similar to chamomile tea. So if you love the smell of chamomile tea, get this essential oil.

Compounds

The composition of Roman chamomile oil is very different to German chamomile. Roman chamomile actually contains isobutyl angelate, 2-methylbutyl angelate, isobutyl isobutyrate, methyl 2-methylbutyrate, prenyl acetate, 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutyrate and 2-methylbutyl acetate.

These compounds may have long and complicated names but they do add to the benefits of this oil.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Benefits

Here are a few proven benefits of Roman chamomile essential oil.

1. It may reduce anxiety

A 1999 study looked at the effects of Roman chamomile essential oil on anxiety. The researchers divided 103 cancer patients into two groups - an aromatherapy group and a massage group. The patients in the aromatherapy group were massaged with a blend of Roman chamomile essential oil and a carrier oil while the other group were massaged with only the carrier oil. The researchers then asked the patients to rate their levels of anxiety post-massage.

The results showed both groups felt significantly lower anxiety levels. However, there weren't major differences (about 1%) between the aromatherapy group and massage group; so the researchers couldn't conclusively say Roman chamomile oil reduces anxiety.

What they did suggest is the essential oil seemed to enhance the effect of the massage and the overall quality of life of the cancer patients. And that's not bad at all!

2. Roman chamomile can help you sleep

This essential oil is a proven sedative (just like chamomile tea).

A 2006 article explored the effects of the smell of Roman chamomile oil on the mood and cognitive function of 80 volunteers. The results showed the volunteers experienced lower alertness, memory, and accuracy; thus proving Roman chamomile has a calming, sedative nature.

So if you're having trouble sleeping or just want to get a great power nap, reach for Roman chamomile essential oil.

3. It is antioxidant

Here's another great benefit of Roman chamomile oil - it's antioxidant! And this 1993 study provides the proof.

The study tested eleven essential oils including sweet fennel, rosemary, Roman chamomile, lavender, sage, thyme and tarragon. And Roman chamomile was found to be the most antioxidant among the oils tested! Awesome, right?

So you can use Roman chamomile essential oil to neutralize those free radicals that can damage your skin cells' DNA, affect collagen, cause wrinkles and even cause skin cancer.

4. It is antibacterial

A 2009 study tested Roman chamomile essential oil against several types of bacteria including Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed the essential oil exhibited high antibacterial activity against all the strains tested.

The study also found Roman chamomile contained several antibacterial compounds like 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutyrate, 2-methylbutyl acetate and prenyl acetate. Way to go Roman chamomile!

5. It is anti-fungal too

The 2009 same study mentioned above also tested Roman chamomile essential oil on the fungi, Candida albicans. In fact, the study proved the oil was just as powerful against fungi. So use Roman chamomile oil to treat any fungi related skin care and beauty problems you may have.

6. It is a fumigant and insecticidal

Lastly, Roman chamomile has exhibited both fumigant and insecticidal benefits.

This 2014 study investigated the use of Roman chamomile on Japanese termites and proved the oil exhibited strong fumigant toxicity against the termites.

So keep bugs, flies, and termites away with Roman chamomile essential oil!

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Uses

You've already seen the many benefits of Roman chamomile oil. Now it's time to get into the uses of this essential oil.

Inhaling

Roman chamomile has proven calming and soothing benefits. So if you want to relax, ease your nerves and anxiety, calm hyperactivity, or have a great nap, add 1-2 drops of this essential oil to your diffuser.

You can also blend Roman chamomile with spicy, floral oils like bergamot, cinnamon, German chamomile (of course), jasmine, lemon, rose, sandalwood and ylang ylang essential oils.

Massaging

While Roman chamomile is a mild essential oil, you should still do a skin patch test to verify you're not allergic to it.

To do this, simply add 1-2 drops of the oil to 1 teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil (here's a great list to choose from). Dab a little of the blend on the inside of your elbow or the back of your ear.

Monitor the area for a few hours. If you find it's getting red, irritated or burns, wash the area immediately. You may be sensitive or allergic to the oil and shouldn't use it on your skin. If everything is fine and there's no redness, then you can use this mix on your body.

You can also blend Roman chamomile with some of the essential oils mentioned earlier like jasmine or ylang ylang for a wonderful, floral massage blend.

More Precautions

You should always check with your doctor before using Roman chamomile essential oil (or any other essential oil for that matter). This is especially important if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from any health complications.

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Photo credit (flower): Melanie Shaw

Understanding Vanilla as an aromatherapy perfume

With the onset of the fall season and return to school I get drawn into my kitchen to bake wholesome school snacks for the kids.  While my selection of baking varies from almond butter chocolate chip cookies (from the Oh She Glows cookbook, its excellent you have to try them!), to zucchini muffins (we grew lots of zucchini this year) and even to a pumpkin/kale smoothie there is one main ingredient that flows through all these things and that is vanilla.  I love this smell and the magic it brings to baking! 

Vanilla has been appearing in more places than my kitchen since at one of the last summer night markets I meet a woman who was asking about vanilla in an aromatherapy perfume.  Her request intrigued me and I took this curiosity into my lab and began playing with vanilla absolute oil in various carriers and with other oils.  Playing with vanilla in this setting was extremely fun and satisfying as I got to know Vanilla as more than a flavoring for baking but also as a scent for perfumes.  Wow!  The possibilities are endless.  At the time of writing this article there is not yet a completed product but I can say that I do anticipate a vanilla inspired aromatherapy perfume to grace the markets and website in the near future.  For now both my home and lab will be wafting wonderful vanilla smells as I enjoy Vanilla in all its heavenly forms!

To better understand Vanilla I gathered some information on growing, harvesting and how Vanilla is named that helped me to further appreciate this well used spice and perfume fragrance.  

Vanilla beans are actually the seeds from the orchid species Vanilla plantifolia.  This orchid is the only species of orchids out of 35,000 orchid species to have edible seedpods.  The Vanilla plantifolia orchid was originally only grown in the tropical rainforest of South Eastern Mexico and Central America.  Now however it is being grown in Indonesia, Tahiti, Reunion Islands and Madagascar.  I have also seen the vanilla orchid growing on a tree at a farm on Kauai, Hawaii.  The Vanilla orchid grows like a vine twining itself up trees reaching lengths of up to 30 feet.  In the regions where Vanilla is a native plant (South Eastern Mexico and Central America) it is pollinated by the Melipone bee that is only found in those regions.  All other Vanilla Orchids are hand pollinated.  The resulting bean pod takes up to 9 months to reach maturity. The Vanilla bean is odorless when harvested.  Then when cured in a 3-6 month long fermentation process the pods turn dark brown to black with reddish drops of crystal Vanillin lining the pod.  The crystal drops of Vanillin give the bean pod the familiar smell of Vanilla.

Vanilla is the most popular food flavor in the world.  It is the second most expensive spice flavoring (with saffron being the first) due to its labor intensive harvesting and curing process.

Vanilla can’t be steam distilled to extract its oil content like most other essential oils because of the delicate structure of the bean pods.  Instead there are 3 other extraction methods that are used:

1.  Vanilla CO2- uses carbon dioxide to pull the vanilla smell from the pod.

2. Vanilla absolute- uses solvents to extract the vanilla.  This method is preferred by perfumers.

3. Vanilla oleoresin- is another type of solvent extraction that uses the macerated beans.

Each of these methods produce slightly different smelling vanilla oil all of which are not considered to be a true essential oil.  When Vanilla in used in an aromatherapy blend it is usually considered a “fragrance” addition.

Vanilla is sold under many different names such as Mexican Vanilla (Mexico), Bourbon Vanilla (Madagascar), Tahitian Vanilla (French Polynesia) or West Indian Vanilla (Caribbean and Central/South America) all of which are named based on the geographical regions they are grown.

I hope that you enjoyed this article about Vanilla.  Please visit our website to view our product line.
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Spearmint Essential Oil

Spearmint essential oil is a milder version of peppermint oil. But it still has amazing properties. Let's check out the spearmint essential oil benefits, properties and uses.

Quick Glance at Spearmint Essential Oil

Pros: Spearmint essential oil is antiemetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial.

Cons: But it may irritate your skin and possibly the mucous membranes in your nose, throat and lungs.

Precautions: Like all essential oils, check with your doctor before using spearmint oil especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Properties of Spearmint Oil

It's always important to learn about the properties of essential oils. Here we'll see the properties of spearmint oil.

Name

The botanical name of spearmint is Mentha spicata. Be sure to check this name when buying spearmint essential oil. And, remember, the botanical name for peppermint is Mentha piperita.

Color & Scent

Spearmint essential oil typically has a clear to pale yellow color. And, as if it needs to be said, spearmint oil has a warm, minty scent which is not as sharp as peppermint oil.

Compounds

More than 60 compounds have been found in spearmint essential oil. The most notable compounds are carvone (which makes up between 40-78% of the oil) and limonene (11-20%).

Other chemicals in spearmint oil include: beta-bourbonene, cis-dihydrocarveol, trans-caryophyllene, menthone, menthol, eucalyptol, beta-pinene and terpinen-4-ol.

These compounds are responsible for spearmint's many benefits which we'll see below.

Spearmint Oil Benefits

As you've seen, spearmint is a bit milder and gentler than peppermint but it's just as good! So let's get into the proven benefits of spearmint essential oil.

1. Spearmint can help with nausea and vomiting

Spearmint essential oil is a natural remedy for nausea and vomiting. And that's according to several studies done recently.

One from 2013 looked at the use of peppermint and spearmint essential oils on the nausea and vomiting of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients were given a capsule containing 2 drops of either oil or a placebo in addition to their normal nausea medication. And they were asked to record the number of times they felt sick or threw up, how intense these feelings were and any side effects they experienced.

The findings of this study were interesting. Both oils showed a significant decrease in the number of times the patients felt ill and their feelings were less intense than before. Plus these findings happened within the first day of taking the capsules and no side effects were reported. Amazing right?

Now, another (unrelated) 2013 study used aromatherapy blends with ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom essential oils to treat the nausea of 300 post-op patients. The blends were given to the patients to inhale three times and, five minutes later, they were asked about their levels of nausea. The results were similar to the previous one! The patients felt a significant decrease in the nausea after inhaling the essential oils.

These studies prove spearmint does have antiemetic benefits. So when you're feeling nauseous or ill, take a whiff of spearmint oil!

2. It is antioxidant

Spearmint essential oil has antioxidant benefits which means it can neutralize any free radicals on your skin. Remember, free radicals are terrible compounds that can damage your cells' DNA, affect your skin's collagen production, and can even cause wrinkles and cancer.

Yikes! Not to worry though, like many essential oils, spearmint is antioxidant, as proven by this 2015 study. In fact, the study used four different tests to check the antioxidant potency of spearmint oil. And all showed excellent results!

Way to go spearmint!

3. Spearmint oil is anti-inflammatory

Besides being antiemetic and antioxidant, spearmint essential oil has also shown anti-inflammatory benefits. This 2008 animal study demonstrated these effects. So you can ease any rashes, dermatitis, acne, red, irritated skin, tired muscles, aching joints and more with spearmint essential oil.

4. It is antibacterial

Spearmint oil has shown good antibacterial benefits according to a very recent study.

The study tested spearmint on common food-related pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. And the results showed spearmint oil inhibited all the bacteria tested. It also found the combination of both carvone and limonene was responsible for the antibacterial nature. This is valid since carvone is considered one of the most efficient antimicrobial compounds that can be found in plants.

That being said, another 2015 study done on the Vibrio bacteria (which is responsible for illness due to under-cooked seafood) showed spearmint oil only had moderate antibacterial effects. The study did compare spearmint to some powerful antibacterial essential oils like cumin, thyme, rosemary, and clove. And, while spearmint did perform well and inhibited the bacteria, it just wasn't as potent as the others.

Still, spearmint oil is a moderate antibacterial oil that you can use for general cleaning.

5. It is also anti-fungal

There are several studies that validate spearmint's anti-fungal effects.

A 2009 study tested thyme, peppermint and spearmint essential oils on 17 different species of fungi. Now, spearmint oil was not as potent as thyme; probably because thyme is one of the best anti-fungal essential oils. Nevertheless, it still surpassed the anti-fungal effects of peppermint essential oil and the commercial fungicide, bifonazole. That means spearmint is very powerful, especially against fungi!

So you can use spearmint essential oil to deal with athlete's foot, nail infections, dandruff, and other fungi-related skin and beauty problems.

6. It repels and kills insects

There is tremendous literature proving these spearmint oil benefits. A 2013 study tested the repellency of 21 essential oils (including spearmint, geranium, citronella, Roman chamomile, and anise) on yellowjackets (wasps). And spearmint was one of 17 essential oils that showed significant repellency against the wasps. Furthermore, carvone and eugenol were identified as the compounds responsible for these benefits.

Another study, done in 2012, looked at the effects spearmint oil had on the larvae of three mosquito species. The results showed spearmint was a potent larvicidal agent and found that carvone and limonene were the compounds responsible for these spearmint oil benefits.

Isn't this oil awesome?

7. It repels ticks

Finally, spearmint is a powerful tick repellent. That is according to this 2012 study. Researchers of this study performed lab and field tests on the nymphs using rosemary, spearmint and marjoram essential oils. Spearmint provided a 93% repellency in the lab and a 60% repellency in the field.

Again, carvone and eucalyptol were identified as the tick repellent compounds. So use spearmint oil to keep ticks, mites, spiders and other arachnids away!

Spearmint Oil Uses

There are so many spearmint oil benefits! It really is an amazing oil. So now let's look at some ways to use spearmint essential oil.

Inhaling

You can simply add 1-2 drops of spearmint to your diffuser for a wonderful minty smell. And it is milder and gentler than peppermint essential oil, with somewhat similar benefits. So if you find peppermint is too aggressive, swap it for spearmint!

Don't forget you can use this oil to ease your nausea and vomiting. Just add a few drops of spearmint oil to a tissue and inhale deeply!

You can also blend spearmint with many other floral and spicy scents. You can use it with basil, eucalyptus, jasmine, lavender, lemon, peppermint, and rosemary essential oils.

Massaging

Before using spearmint oil on your skin, always (always, always, always!) do a skin patch test. Like with all essential oils, simply mix 1-2 drops of the oil with a carrier like jojoba or coconut oil. Then dab a little of the mix onto the inside of your elbow or behind your ear. If that area burns, gets red or irritated in any way, then you're allergic to the oil and shouldn't use it on your skin. If, however, you don't see these effects, then you can use it on your skin.

You can add 3-4 drops of spearmint oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil and use it to treat any inflammatory, bacterial, or fungal skin problems you may have.

More Precautions

Although there are many wonderful uses of spearmint oil, you should know that it can irritate your nose, throat, lungs and other mucous membranes. And it can also irritate your skin. That's why it is so important to test a little of the oil before using regular amounts.

So even though it is gentler than peppermint oil, it can still irritate your body.

Finally, like with all essential oils, check with your medical practitioner before using spearmint oil especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or suffer from any ailments.

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Is Your Coffee Giving You A Sugar Jolt?

 Photo Source:  Flickr, Kalense Kid

It’s no secret that sugary beverages are the No. 1 source of added sugars in the diets of Americans.  But if you dig a tad deeper into the research, you may be surprised to find out that the Café Mucamuclogalacka (I made this name up) at your favorite coffee shop can also be a big contributor to your sugar intake.

Here are the major sources of added sugars in the diets of Americans:

Source: DGAC

While soft drinks rank high on the list, coming in at 25 percent, those sugary coffee and tea beverages contribute seven percent of the added sugars that Americans are gulping daily, more than double the amount that is coming from sport and energy drinks.  Research shows that added sugars in the diet are associated with excess body weight in both children and adults.

According to the latest Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee (DGAC), added sugars should be limited to no more than 10 percent of your total calories daily.  If you are consuming 2,000 calories a day, this translates to no more than 200 calories, the equivalent of 50 grams of sugar, daily.  Americans, on average, are exceeding this level and are currently consuming over 13 percent of their calories from added sugars daily.

To help consumers become more sugar aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pondering a rule that would require food and beverages companies to list the grams of added sugars per serving on the food label of their products.  Until this rule becomes mandatory, you can visit the websites of many coffee shops before placing your order to hunt for the grams of sugar in each serving of your favorite beverage.

But be aware that on these websites, lactose, the sugar that is found naturally in milk, is lumped in along with the sweeteners that are added to the beverage.  For example, if you add a ½ cup of nonfat milk to your large morning java, you will be adding 6 grams of lactose (the natural sugar) to the beverage.  This naturally-occurring sugar in dairy foods is not a health concern; and more importantly, milk is a terrific way to add both vitamin D and calcium, two nutrients many Americans are falling short of daily, to your diet. 

After scouring the Internet, here are some examples of popular coffee and tea beverages that provide an added sugar jolt as well as some lower sugary alternatives:

If you want to consume any of these sweetened beverages, keep to a small and reduce the added sugars elsewhere in your diet.

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood essential oil is an exotic, amazing and expensive oil. And rightfully so! It has some incredible benefits which are actually backed up by scientific research. So let's learn more about the properties, uses, and benefits of sandalwood essential oil.

Quick Glance at Sandalwood Essential Oil

Pros: Sandalwood oil is anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and insecticidal.

Cons: There have been reports of irritation and sensitization after using sandalwood oil.

Precautions: The sandalwood essential oil price is pretty high so it is one of the most adulterated oils. Therefore, be wary of cheap sandalwood oil! Besides this, check with your doctor before using this oil particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or suffer from any health complications.

Sandalwood Essential Oil Properties

You should probably take note of some of these sandalwood essential oil properties.

Name

Sandalwood, itself, is sometimes referred to as East Indian sandalwood or Mysore sandalwood. And its botanical name is Santalum album.

Now, there are several varieties of sandalwood including the Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum), New Caledonian sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledonicum) and red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus). The oils from these varieties are different so they shouldn't be used as a substitute for Mysore sandalwood oil.

Color & Scent

Sandalwood essential oil has a very light yellow to pale golden color. And its smell is sweet, woody, and exotic. Many Indian shops actually smell like sandalwood oil!

Compounds

There are several unique compounds in sandalwood essential oil. They include alpha-santalol (which makes up 40% of the oil), beta-santalol, nuciferol, beta-sinensal, alpha-bergamotol, lanceol, beta-santalene, spirosantalol, beta-santalene, beta-santaldiol, and nerolidol.

These compounds have some incredible health, skin and beauty benefits which you'll see below.

Sandalwood Essential Oil Benefits

It's no surprise that there are many sandalwood essential oil benefits. I mean people have been using the oil for thousands of years! So here're just a few proven benefits of sandalwood oil.

1. It is relaxing

Aromatherapists have long believed that sandalwood is a great soothing and calming oil. And the Ancient Indians and modern-day Hindus use the oil in the rituals for this very reason. Now there is actually scientific support and proof for these sandalwood oil benefits.

In a 2004 study, researchers asked 36 volunteers to rub a sandalwood oil mix on their tummy while wearing a breathing mask to prevent them from breathing in the oil. The volunteers' eye blink rate, systolic blood pressure and other parameters were then measured.

The results showed that blink rate and systolic blood pressure decreased after application of the sandalwood oil. Medically, such decreases mean sandalwood has a calming, relaxing and sedating effect on the body.

So use sandalwood oil to calm your nerves, relax your body, ease your stress, and reduce your anxiety!

2. It improves focus and attention

Volunteers in the study mentioned above also found themselves more aware and attentive after using sandalwood oil. And some researchers believe sandalwood can help you relax without making you feel sleepy or drowsy, like lavender essential oil.

So reach for sandalwood oil to help you focus and concentrate while keeping you relaxed!

3. It is anti-cancer

There is extensive research showing the powerful anti-cancer benefits of sandalwood essential oil.

One 2015 study clearly demonstrated these benefits. It showed the oil and one of its main compounds, alpha-santalol, have chemopreventive effects against chemically-induced and UV-B-induced skin cancer as well as melanoma, non-melanoma, breast and prostate cancer. And these benefits of sandalwood oil had no other side effects.

The study went on to show sandalwood oil caused cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells. What that means is the oil simply and brilliantly caused cancer cells to commit suicide.

Another study also identified other compounds in sandalwood oil (like beta-santalol and beta-santaldiol) which also cause apoptosis in cancer cells.

And yet another study, from 2014, looked at the effects of both frankincense and sandalwood essential oils on human bladder cancer cells and normal cells. This study found that both oils showed similar potency but used different methods to achieve cancer cell death. However, the researchers found sandalwood oil caused cell death of both the cancer and normal cells.

So always use sandalwood essential oil in moderation.

4. It is antioxidant

Besides being anticancer, sandalwood oil has powerful antioxidant effects. Antioxidants are compounds that can neutralize free radicals. And free radicals are rogue chemicals that can affect your cells' DNA and cause, among other things, wrinkles and even cancer.

This 2012 study clearly proved sandalwood had antioxidant benefits by itself and when combined with vitamins A, C or E.

5. It is anti-inflammatory

There have also been reports of sandalwood oil being anti-inflammatory. In fact, animal studies have shown that sandalwood is able to reduce paw edema in rat models. So you can use sandalwood essential oil for your skin to reduce redness, calm irritation, and heal inflammation related skin conditions.

6. It is antibacterial

There are many studies that show the antibacterial benefits of sandalwood essential oil.

One from 2008 tested the oil (along with tea tree, eucalyptus, and clove bud) on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. A MRSA infection (which may occur after surgeries) can cause deep, painful abscesses and may lead to more life threatening problems.

The study actually showed all the essentials oils tested - including sandalwood oil - were very effective in killing the bacteria. The study further recommended essential oils as antiseptic, topical treatment options for dealing with MRSA and other multi-drug resistant bacterial strains.

7. It is antifungal

Sandalwood oil is an incredibly powerful antifungal agent. And a 1998 study proved these benefits.It tested 24 essential oils (including sandalwood, lemongrass, bay and tea tree) on Candida albicans, you know, the fungi that causes thrush and yeast infections.

The results showed sandalwood essential oil inhibited the fungi at concentrations of 0.06%. Interestingly, the oil was found to be more powerful than other potent antimicrobial oils like lemongrass, spearmint, oregano and bay essential oils which inhibited the fungi at 0.12% concentrations.

Note, however, that many other studies (like this 2009 study) have found sandalwood essential oil is not always as powerful as the other oils. That's why the purity of the oil is so important when conducting these studies. Nevertheless, most studies agree that sandalwood does have antifungal benefits against several fungi species.

8. It is antiviral

Here's one of the interesting sandalwood essential oil benefits - it is capable of inhibiting and killing viruses. That is according to these 2007 and 2008 studies.

They tested the oil (along with ginger and thyme) on the Herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2. The results showed sandalwood and the other oils were virucidal, meaning they were able to inhibit and kill the virus.

So you can clearly see sandalwood oil is a powerful antimicrobial oil and can be used for treating skin infections or for cleaning purposes.

9. It is a great insecticide

A 2006 study published in the Parasitology Research Journal showed the larvicidal benefits of sandalwood oil. The study tested essential oils from 13 plants (including camphor, black pepper, lemon and sandalwood) on the larvae of three mosquito species. The study noted all oils killed the larvae within 24 hours.

And several other studies also proved sandalwood essential oil has moderate repellent benefits against flies, termites and mosquitoes.

10. It kills mites and ticks too

Sandalwood essential oil has proven benefits against arachnids, namely ticks and mites.

A 2011 study actually tested 34 essential oils on the two-spotted spider mite. The results were impressive! Sandalwood essential oil was the most powerful mite killer of all the oils tested and caused the mites to lay up to 90% less eggs!

And the two main compounds - alpha- and beta-santalol - were responsible for these sandalwood essential oil benefits. The researchers also showed sandalwood oil had repellent effects against the mite in a follow-up study, published in 2012. In fact, they found sandalwood at a concentration of 0.1% repelled the mite for up to 5 hours!

So use sandalwood oil to repel and kill mites, ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs.

Summary: With these sandalwood essential oil benefits, it's no wonder the oil is so popular and widely used! Here's a simple graphic summarizing these benefits:

Sandalwood Essential Oil Uses

Sandalwood oil is truly amazing. But it comes from the sandalwood tree which grows very slowly and is mainly found in Mysore and Tamil Nadu in India. So it's basically a limited resource. That's why it is so expensive and why it is one of the most adulterated essential oils.

So be cautious when you find brands that sell cheap sandalwood oil. It will never be cheap unless it's diluted with carrier oils like coconut oil. So verify the purity or dilution before you buy sandalwood oil.

Back to sandalwood oil uses.

Inhaling

You can very simply add a few drops of the oil to your diffuser for a warm, exotic scent. And remember the sandalwood oil benefits - the oil is relaxing but keeps you focused and attentive. So use the oil when studying or before any activity that causes you anxiety.

Sandalwood also blends well with sweet citrus oils like bergamot and orange. Actually, it blends well with almost any essential oil but works really well with neroli, lavender, patchouli and rose.

Massaging

Before using sandalwood, or any other essential oil, always do a skin patch test first to make sure you are not sensitive to the oil. To do this, simply add 1-2 drops of sandalwood to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil like avocado or jojoba. Dab a bit of this mix on the inside of your elbow or the back of your ear.

Monitor the area for about 12 to 24 hours. If you notice any redness, burning or skin irritation in that area, wash with soap immediately because you may be sensitive to the oil and so shouldn't use it on your skin. If, however, you don't see any redness or irritation, then you can use the oil in any massage mix.

Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits, you can use sandalwood oil for skin problems like acne. You can add 2 drops of sandalwood oil and 2 drops of tea tree oil (which also has these three benefits) to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil that has a low comedogenic rating (like argan or safflower oil). Use this mix as a spot treatment for acne or inflamed comedones.

Precautions

Sandalwood oil has been used for thousands of years by Asian cultures. So it is considered a very mild, safe essential oil. However, there have been a few reported cases of skin irritation and sensitization due to sandalwood oil. That's why it is so important to patch test before using it liberally.

Also, as with all essential oils, check with your medical professional before using sandalwood essential oil, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or suffering from any health problems.

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Photo credit: "Mushroom" by Hayley Parke from the Noun Project