- Angelica root: earthy, musky; Angelica archangel-
ica, A. officinalis, A. glauca (family, Apiaceae
[Umbelleferae]); for depression, anxiety; pro-
duction method: steam distillation; from the
root, France, India, Germany, Hungary; blends
well with patchouli, clary sage, citrus oils, frank-
incense; avoid during pregnancy and in sunlight - Aniseed: sweet; Illicium verum (family, Illici-
aceae); for indigestion, cramping, spasmodic
cough; production method: steam distillation;
from India, China, Spain; blends well with
lavender, orange, pine, bay; should be avoided
by pregnant women - Anise: sweet; Pimpinella anisum, Anisum officinalis
(family, Apiaceae [Umbelliferae]); for relax-
ation, deodorant; from China; production
method: steam distillation; blends well with
amyris, bay, cardamon, caraway, cedarwood,
coriander, fennel, galbanum, mandarin; may
cause slight dermal toxicity; use recommended
dilution or less - Apricot kernel: nut oil; Armeniaca vulgaris,
Prunus armeniaca(family, Rosaceae); for improv-
ing skin - Arjowan: Trachyspermum ammi, T. copticum (fam-
ily, Apiaceae [Umbelliferae]); for circulatory and
muscular problems; may irritate sensitive skin - Armoise: aromatic; Artemisia vulgaris; from
France; production method: steam distillation;
used as an emollient, soothing agent, muscle
relaxant; blends well with patchouli, rosemary,
lavandin, sage, clary sage, cedarwood, cedar
leaf; should be avoided by pregnant women - Avocado: oil; Persea americana, P. gratissima (fam-
ily, Lauraceae); added to carrier oils, up to 20
percent as an aid to skin moisturizing; may be
toxic in large amounts - Babassu: nut oil; Orbignya barbosiana(family,
Arecaceae); from the Amazon; used for stretch
marks - Balsam Peru: earthy aroma; Myroxylon balsamum
or pererae(family, Fabaceae [Legumunosae]); to
soothe chafed skin; added to perfumes - Basil: licorice-like aroma; Osimum basilicum
(family, Labiatae); used to refresh concentration,
counteract fatigue and stress; blends well with
lavender, bergamot, clary sage, and geranium;
not for use during pregnancy; can irritate skin;
also East Indian basil (O. gratissimum) and hairy
basil (O. canum); from Madagascar, France; pro-
duction method: steam distillation; used as
deodorant, insect repellent, muscle relaxant;
blends well with bergamot, black pepper, clary
sage, geranium, hyssop, lavender, marjoram,
neroli; use recommended dilution or less; con-
tains citronella- Bay leaf: spicy; Pimenta racemosa(family, Myr-
taceae); hair and scalp tonic, aphrodisiac, stimu-
lant to memory, and for depression and
respiratory problems; also known as West Indian
bay and laurel sweet bay; Laurus nobilisis also a
bay; from the West Indies; production method:
steam distillation; blends well with coriander,
eucalyptus, ginger, juniper berry, lavender,
lemon, marjoram, orange, rose, rosemary, thyme,
ylang ylang; may irritate skin; use half of recom-
mended dilution or less; can cause skin irritation - Beechnut: nut oil; Fagus grandifolia, F. sylvatica
(family, Fagaceae [Legumunosac]) - Ben: seed oil; Moringa oleifera, M. pterygosperma
(family, Moringaceae); for skin care - Benzoin tincture: oil; Styrax benzoin, S. tonkinen-
sis(family, Styracaceae); for soothing, stimulat-
ing, and warming chapped skin; also known as
friars balsam - Bergamot: citrus, calming; Citrus bergamia (family,
Rutaceae); for flavoring in Earl Grey tea; for oily
and blemished skin and in vaporizer as room
deodorizer; increases susceptibility to sunburn;
do not apply to the skin before sun exposure;
bergapten-free bergamot reduces photosensitiv-
ity; from fruit peel, Italy, Ivory Coast; production
method: expression; for use as antiseptic, deodor-
ant, perfume, soothing agent, skin conditioner;
blends well with chamomile, coriander, cypress,
geranium, juniper, lavender, lemon, neroli, ylang
ylang; may be phototoxic - Birch, Sweet: sweet, bracing; Betula lenta, B. cap-
inefolia(family, Betulaceae); stimulates circula-
tion and used for arthritic and muscular pain;
may be toxic
108 oils, essential