Spring Cleaning

Allspice has a spicy and warm aroma. It is mainly used externally in massage to help relieve aching joints and muscles. It is a warming oil that helps improve circulation, digestion, reduces cellulite, and is calming for nerves, and promotes sleep. It is also a stimulant and aphrodisiac and is used internally for bacterial and viral infections, colds, and flatulence.

Caraway has an herbaceous, sweet, spicy aroma. The seeds are often used in cooking and the oil is commonly used to help with digestive issues such as heartburn and loss of appetite, constipation, menstrual cramps, and respiratory problems like excess phlegm. It is also helpful for skincare formulations to help stimulate the complexion and mouthwashes to stimulate local blood flow.

Typically used for its aroma in perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics, Cardamom offers a warm, spicy, and almost floral aroma. It is a stimulating yet soothing oil and is great for helping to refresh and uplift the mind and spirit when diffused. Cardamom has antibacterial, antiparasite and anti-infectious properties but it most well known as a spice used in cooking.

Carrot Seed has a rich earthy and woody aroma. It is used primarily for its healing properties and effects on the skin. It can help stimulate circulation, repair and tone the skin, increase elasticity, and reduce the formation of wrinkles and scars. Carrot seed oil is a good addition to facial formulations as it can help balance oily and dry skin and naturally contains beneficial vitamins such as A, B, and C. It is also said to help remove toxins, water build-up in the skin, digestive disorders.

Celery Seed is a sweet, spicy, musky, and slightly vegetable in aroma. Celery Seed oil is indicated for anxiety and inhaled for the respiratory system.

Cistus has a rich, warm and spicy aroma. It has been used as a skin rejuvenator, for treating infected wounds, skin ulcers, bronchitis, coughs, colds, as a fumigant when the infectious illness is around, and as an ambient aroma to facilitate meditation.

Sage has a woody, green, and herbaceous aroma. It is best known for reducing emotional stress, depression, and pre-menstrual tension. It has estrogen-like properties making it useful for remedies for menopause, hot flashes, and as an aphrodisiac.

Coriander has a warm, sweet, and spicy aroma. It is most well known for culinary but is effective for digestive issues, arthritis, fatigue, exhaustion, stiffness, and stomach cramps. This oil has a warming effect that is helpful for alleviating muscle aches and pain related to rheumatism, arthritis, and muscle spasms and strains. When diffused, it is said to help with stress, anxiety, and insomnia. It can also be a beneficial addition to skin formulations as it helps balance oily skin and clear blackheads.

Cumin has a spicy, musky, and nutty aroma. It is used in formulations for a massage to assist with poor circulation and lymphatic congestion. In Ayurvedic medicine, Cumin is used for digestive issues such as gas, spasms, and indigestion and for the nervous system to help with headaches, migraines, nervous exhaustion, and insomnia. Its properties include antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, aphrodisiac, bactericidal, and digestive.

Davana has an interesting aroma in that is it is sweet, fruity, woody, and rich but has an adaptive smell when combined with other essential oils or on the skin. Because of this adaptive aroma, it is commonly used in blends and perfume formulations. Its properties include antiseptic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, disinfectant, emmenagogue, expectorant, nervine, and sedative.

Dill has a fresh, grassy, warm, and herbaceous aroma. It is used in aromatherapy work to aid the digestive system, promote relaxation and sleep, and repel insects. It is very similar to Caraway in smell and the two are often substituted for each other in blends and in culinary preparations.

Elemi has a soft, floral, lemony aroma. Used by the Egyptians in embalming, Elemi is indicated to help with diarrhea, bronchitis, and ulcers. It is used within aromatherapy work to stimulate the immune system and treat respiratory problems. It can cause skin irritation and is, therefore, most commonly used in inhalation and other non-topical formulations. Its properties include analgesic, antiseptic, antiviral, expectorant, fungicidal, regulatory, stimulant, and tonic.

Cedarwood oil benefits the skin by its sedating ability to relieve itching. It has a woody and fruity aroma with honey overtones. Its astringent action is good for acne, oily skin, eczema, and dandruff and is also a good insect and vermin repellent. It can help with chest and urinary infections and acts as a general tonic. It makes a great addition to massage oils as it aids in reducing cellulite and removal of body fat. Its properties include anti-fungal, anti-putrefactive, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, insecticide, regenerative, sedative, and tonic.

Fennel has a sweet, distinctive licorice-like aroma and is known to ease stress, aid in digestion and bruises, relieve gas and indigestion, and has a mild sedative effect while still uplifting. In skincare, Fennel is used to help with dull and oily complexions and is good for mature skin. It is known to be analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aperitif, carminative, depurative, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactagogue, laxative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, and vermifuge.

Fir Needle has a crisp, clean, woody, evergreen aroma that is uplifting, warming, and calming. It is commonly used in aromatherapy and natural product formulations to treat bronchial congestion/infection and arthritis as well as other respiratory issues such as coughs, colds, fevers, and flus. Fir Needle is also commonly used in formulations for perfume, shaving creams and air fresheners.

Fragonia has a light, cineolic, floral, spicy aroma with hints of citrus. It is said to be very emotionally balancing and uplifting, commonly being used for people with signs of depression. It is also said to be used for respiratory infections, pain relief, excess candida, and muscle and joint pain, and immune support due to its very effective antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Many aromatherapists use it as a replacement for Tea Tree as it has similar if not more effective properties.