Bergamot(Citrus bergamia) is a wonderfully uplifting and refreshing essential oil with a fresh sweet-citrus, floral scent. It's considered a tonic for frazzled nerves and can help soothe anxiety and lift melancholy. Bergamot can be supportive to healthy digestive and upper respiratory systems, and is great for oily or blemish-prone skin. Often used as an air freshener to combat odors.
Grapefruit(Citrus paradisi) has a fresh, sweet citrus aroma that is cheerful and uplifting. Great for mental exhaustion and to help recover from jet lag. Often used to combat odors and freshen your environment. It is stimulating to the lymphatic and digestive systems. Grapefruit is one of the best essential oils for skin care as it is a natural astringent and can help improve skin tone, elasticity, blemish-prone and congested or oily skin. It’s also good for muscle fatigue and stiffness as well as immune support.
Lemon(Citrus limon) has a light, fresh citrus scent that’s uplifting, energizing, and promotes optimism. Lemon is great to add to household cleaners, soaps, and air fresheners or diffusers. It helps support healthy immune, respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. Lemon is one of the best essential oils for skin care because of its natural astringent properties - it can be used as a skin toner, to balance oily skin, and brighten dull skin. Commonly used to ease stress, combat fatigue, and insomnia. Lemon blends well with Lavender, Lavandin, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Chamomile, Fennel, Eucalyptus, Juniper Berry, other citruses, and floral oils like Neroli, Ylang Ylang, Rose, and Geranium.
Lavender has a light, sweet floral scent. The variety from France (Lavandula. angustifolium) has a softer, more complex scent than the one from Bulgaria (Lavandula vera), but shares many of the same properties. Undeniably the most popular essential oil for all age groups, it is therapeutically superior for a wide variety of conditions and definitely the number one choice for first aid. Lavender can be used for minor wounds like bruises, burns, cuts and scrapes, bug bites, and sunburn. Supportive to healthy reproductive, respiratory, lymphatic, circulatory, muscular, and immune systems. Lavender is great for skin care as its anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties help soothe irritated and sensitive skin. Of course, it is widely known as the best essential oil for relaxation as it helps calm stress and anxiety, eases headaches, and promotes restful sleep.
Orange (Citrus sinensis) is sweet, fresh and fruity smelling. This uplifting essential oil helps alleviate tension and stress, fight fatigue, boost mental clarity, and encourage a positive outlook. It is considered a tonic, strengthening and regulating bodily systems and boosting immunity. Orange can be used to improve dull and oily complexions, tone the skin, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Orange promotes better digestion, relieves indigestion and cramping, and helps rid the body of toxins and fluid accumulation. It is commonly used in disinfecting household cleansers and air fresheners.
Patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli) has a deep, rich, earthy aroma that is mentally grounding and balancing. Patchouli is one of the best essential oils for skin care due to its versatility - it can help moisturize dry and cracked skin, regulate oily and blemish-prone skin, and overall keep skin looking healthy, young, and vibrant. Patchouli is considered a tonic, having an overall toning effect to help optimize metabolic function and strengthen the immune system. It stimulates blood circulation, digestion, and the elimination of toxins and excess water. Historically believed to be a prophylactic, helping prevent the spread of disease and infection. Patchouli blends well with Bergamot, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Geranium, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver, and Myrrh.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) has a penetrating grassy, mint scent that's mentally stimulating and energy boosting. It helps increase focus, mental clarity, memory, alertness, and concentration while soothing nervous stress. One of the best essential oils for your first aid kit, Peppermint is believed to help relieve headache symptoms and provide relief from nasal and respiratory congestion caused by allergies or the common cold. Widely known as a digestive aid, Peppermint can be used to alleviate common digestive complaints like bloating, cramping, nausea, motion sickness, and upset stomach. It nourishes dry skin and be used in hair care to relieve scalp irritation and dryness, stimulate hair growth, and give hair a shiny, fresh look. Peppermint is also known to deter mice, ants, and spiders. Peppermint blends well with Rosemary, Lavender, Marjoram, Lemon, Eucalyptus, and other mints.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has a strong, fresh, herbaceous aroma. It has a stimulating effect on the brain, improving cognitive function by increasing concentration, focus, clarity, and memory retention. Rosemary essential oil is commonly seen in hair care products that relieve dryness and flakiness associated with dandruff. It also stimulates the hair follicles which may promote hair growth and overall health. When used for skin care, Rosemary can improve skin hydration and elasticity while reducing irritation and excessive oil production. It also helps soothe tired muscles, fortifies healthy immune and respiratory systems, and stimulates circulation. Rosemary blends well with Basil, Cedarwood, Citronella, Lavender, Lavandin, Peppermint, Pine Needle, Frankincense, Thyme, Oregano, and citruses.
Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) has a pleasing, woody aroma and has been used for centuries in perfumery and as a preservative. It can help combat oily or dry skin, improve skin tone, and soothe inflammation, and is a wonderful addition to skin and hair care regimes. Cedarwood essential oil helps calm nervous tension and anxiety, lessen hyperactivity, enhance concentration, and relax the body, aiding meditation. Additionally it is supportive for a healthy upper respiratory system and a great addition to home cleaning solutions. Cedarwood blends well with Bergamot, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Rosemary, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Vetiver, and florals like Jasmine, Neroli, and Ylang Ylang.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) has a sweet minty-fresh aroma which is mentally stimulating. It is restorative and invigorating, can help relieve stress and nervous tension, aid concentration, and fight fatigue and jet lag. Wonderful for its cooling properties, Spearmint essential oil can provide relief from headaches as well as digestive complaints like nausea, cramping, and indigestion. Its properties are similar to Peppermint but more gentle, making it suitable for use with children. Spearmint blends well with Basil, Rosemary, Peppermint, Grapefruit, Lime, Tangerine, and Lavender.
Litsea Cubeba is not a citrus, it has a distinctly citrusy aroma. Sweet, fruity, and fresh, Litsea’s scent is often compared to that of lemons. Litsea essential oil offers many powerful health benefits when taken internally. Its main chemical constituent is citral, which is actually comprised of geranial and neral together. Citral may support healthy cellular function, immune health, and nervous system function.* It also helps calm and soothe muscles.
Litsea’s natural cleansing properties make it a great addition to a natural surface cleanser or even to your skin care routine. It can be added to a facial cleanser to help promote a clear, healthy-looking complexion.