Zen

Balsam fir has both male and female flowers (or strobili) on the same tree. Flowers are receptive in late May to early June. The species is wind pollinated, and cones mature in a single season. At maturity, cones are 2 to 3 1/2 inches long with bracts shorter than scales. The presence of these short cone bracts is a distinguishing feature when balsam fir is compared Fraser fir. Upon ripening in September to November, cones fall apart leaving an erect central core.

Known for its warming and stimulating feelings, the ancient Greeks used Black Pepper to aid their athletes in performance. It has also been used for it’s energizing and invigorating characteristics.

A little-known essential oil, Buddha wood is also known as false sandalwood since it is sometimes used as a substitute for the more well-known and expensive sandalwood essential oil. The tree itself has extremely aromatic wood, similar to that of sandalwood. Even so, both the scent and properties differ. Although you may not yet be familiar with Buddha wood essential oil, it is a wonderful addition to your medicine cabinet. It has a delightful deep, woody aroma, and is often used to relieve stress and anxiety, soothe painful muscles and repel insects.

Clary sage essential oil is a very beneficial ingredient that is found in many aromatherapy and other natural health products. The essential oil is derived from the clary sage plant which has a long history of being used as a medicinal herb. Clary sage essential oil offers numerous benefits. These benefits can be attributed to the oil’s anti-inflammatory, astringent, antispasmodic, antiseptic, anti-infectious, antifungal, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant properties. The oil is also a sedative and nerve tonic with warming and soothing components.

Geranium oil is used to holistically improve one’s wellbeing. Geranium oil is derived through steam distillation of freshly ground parts of the geranium macrorrhizum. The plant is originally from South Africa and is also natively found in Egypt, Madagascar, and Morocco. There are several hundred varieties but only 10 are typically used for essential oil.

Gingergrass comes from the same genus and species as palmarosa, but the two plants are distinct varieties. The distillates yield quite different aromatic profiles that nonetheless compliment one another. Gingergrass essential oil is without the rosy notes of palmarosa but does offer a rich bouquet of ginger, wood, spice, and citrus, with a bright green sweetness.

Guaiacwood essential oil offers a honeyed, slightly smoky, woody base note that has been a natural perfumery ingredient for ages- especially in combination with rose. It has been employed in aromatherapy for meditation and stress, due to its calming, grounding aroma, and also topically for lymphatic issues.

A powerful anti-inflammatory with fragrant notes of honey, tea, and earth, helichrysum essential oil is highly valued as a perfumery ingredient, as well as for remedying pain and inflammation. Its regenerative and therapeutic activity works wonders, from mending bruises to remedying injuries of the body and mind.

With notes of citrus, honey, and flowers may chang essential oil is a sweet and sunny olfactory treat. It provides an excellent means to lift spirits and add cheerful notes. May Chang is useful in therapies targeted for mood enhancement, respiration, and skin care.

Neroli, the flowers from the bitter Seville orange, however, are as sweet as lemon blossoms. Their oil produces a blend of floral and citrus that is not only one of the most popular perfume ingredients but is also rich in health benefits, most notably in alleviating stress and anxiety. Neroli is precious among the essential oils. A pound of it is produced from about 1,000 handpicked blossoms—flowers so delicate that even slight bruising can release their oil.

Cheerful and sweet, uplifting, and calming, with notes of rose, citrus, and green grass, palmarosa essential oil is a versatile essential oil with many applications. An excellent choice for raising spirits, lessening anxiety, and restoring energy, palmarosa is also prized for skin care and antimicrobial purposes.

The bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium) generously provides three different essential oils: petitgrain bigarade, neroli, and bitter orange. Neroli essential oil is distilled from the flowers, bitter orange from the peel of the fruit, and petitgrain from the leaves and twigs. Petitgrain is often referred to as the “poor man’s neroli”, since it is more cost-effective yet provides many of the same health benefits.

Ravensara essential oil offers energizing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, respiratory-enhancing properties. The fresh aroma carries complex notes of spice, green herbs, citrus, and eucalyptus. This essential oil is documented to have a very potent anti-viral activity that benefits all manner of respiratory conditions as well as topical infections, such as shingles. Many aromatherapists recommend ravensara as a nerve tonic and immune system booster. In its native Madagascar, the essential oil is widely considered a traditional treatment for almost every condition, similar to the beloved tea tree of Australia.

Floral, green, and exotic, sacred rhododendron essential oil flows from the Nepalese Himalayan mountains; this species is not to be confused with the common variety grown for ornamental landscaping purposes in the United States. Buddhist monks in Southeast Asia traditionally use rhododendron in incense, and the most established uses fall under the spiritual and religious realm. Rhododendron’s psychological aspects are grounding, promoting creativity, calm centeredness, meditation, and expansion of the conscious mind. Tibetan traditional medicine employs rhododendron for respiratory, digestive, and renal issues, as well as relieving emotional and mental troubles.

This deep, rich resinous essence comes from the leaves and flowering tops of the rock rose, rather than the oleoresin that produces the solvent extract known as labdanum. The powerful aroma has been a component of perfumes and incense for centuries, much prized for its fixative properties and balsamic notes- evocative of amber and frankincense- as well as meditative and energetic qualities. Traditional Chinese Medicine valued the aromatic for its clarifying and introspective effects on the mind; other historical applications include its use as a spiritual and metaphysical aid for meditative practices.

Rose otto is a steam distillate of the flowers from Rosa damascena. This precious essence has been highly prized for perfumery and other aromatic uses throughout the ages. The honeyed floral aroma provides excellent benefits for the psyche; the mood-altering effects are euphoric, serene, soothing, uplifting, and joyful, with antidepressant and antianxiety. Rose otto is the ultimate essential oil to boost mood and well-being.

Siam Wood is commonly used as an aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, and meditative aid; to alleviate adrenal fatigue, impotence, low testosterone. It is also known to help combat negative feelings such as isolation and loneliness.

The sweetly woody, balsamic distillate has been a constituent of incense and perfumes since biblical times. Some claim that this is the myrrh to which the Song of Solomon referred. It has found aromatic applications outside of perfumery, in cases of stress, minor pain, inflammation, skin issues, and respiratory complaints. The effects are peaceful, calming, and deeply meditative.

Orange is known to uplift the spirit, provide additional energy, and clarify the mind. Some use it as an aid in detoxification, and studies indicate that it may lower the body’s response to stressful situations.

Another distilled Nepalese wonder, this bright and fresh essential oil is indicated for respiratory troubles, allergies, throat disorders, and symptoms of spasm, pain, and viral infections such as cold and flu. It has a reputation for improving vocal quality (especially when sick) and lifting spirits while providing peaceful calm. Of note, Xanthoxylum has also been reported to repel pesky bugs of the flying and crawling variety.