- Linden blossom: floral absolute; Tilia europaea. T.
vulgaris (family, Tiliaceae); for stress reduction
and as tonic for nervous system; not for use over
long period
- Litsea cubeba: Litsea citrata, L. cubeba (family,
Lauraceae); cooling oil; for digestion and restful
sleep; may irritate skin
- Lovage: Angelica levisticum, Levisticum officinale,
Ligusticum levisticum(family, Apiaceae [Umbellif-
erae]); known in Europe as “love parsley”;
aphrodisiac, purification properties, and aid in
reducing cellulite
- Lovage root: earthy; Levisticum officinalis(family,
Umbelliferae); rare on commercial market; from
root, Europe; production method: steam distilla-
tion CO 2 ; may be irritating or allergenic
- Mandarin: citrus; Citrus noiblis (family,
Rutaceae); fruits once traditional gifts to Chi-
nese mandarins; calming, for oily skin; known
in France as “the children’s remedy” because of
gentleness; for digestive system and, like laven-
der, as massage oil to help prevent stretch
marks; not for use in direct sunlight; from fruit
peel, India; production method: expression;
blends well with basil, bergamot, camomil, clary
sage, olibanum, geranium, grapefruit, lavender,
lemon, lime, neroli, orange, rose
- Manuka (leptospermum or New Zealand tea
tree): Leptospermum scoparium, L. ericoides
(Kanuka) L. petersonii, L. coparium (Manuka)
(family, Myrtaceae); used by the Maoris; proper-
ties similar to tea tree oil’s; reduces stress and
muscular tension; relieves aches and pains,
healing to skin; from leaf and branch, New
Zealand; production method: steam distilled
- Marigold (tagetes): Tagetes glandulifera(or T. min-
utaor T. putuh) [family, Asteraceae (Composi-
tae)]; antifungal, especially for foot odor
- Marjoram (Spanish and sweet): herbaceous; Ori-
ganum majorana, Majorana hortensis (sweet), Thy-
mus mastichina (Spanish) [family, Lamiaceae
(Labiatae)]; used by ancient Greeks; soothes
tired muscles; for massaging on abdomen during
menstruation, to regulate nervous system, treat
insomnia, as after-sports rub and as hot bath;
not for use during pregnancy; sedating proper-
ties; from flowering tops, Spain; production
method: steam distillation; blends well with
cedarwood, chamomile, cypress, lavender, man-
darin, orange, nutmeg, rosemary, ylang ylang,
eucalyptus, thyme
- Marjoram, wild: Thymus masticina(family, Lami-
acea; [Labiatae]); massage oil for sensitive skin;
(Marjoram hortensis, or sweet marjoram, used for
cooking; not for use during pregnancy)
- Massoia bark: Cryptocarya massoia(family, Lau-
raceae); for circulation; aphrodisiac properties;
may irritate skin
- Melissa: Melissa officinalis (family, Labiatae); gar-
den herb known also as “Lemon balm”; calming,
warming, mood-elevating effect; not for use in
direct sunlight; lemony aroma and sharp, floral-
lemon flavor
- Mimosa: floral; Acacia dealbata, A. decurrens (fam-
ily, Mimosaceae); antidepressant and anti-
inflammatory; skin moisturizer; from flowering
tops, India; production method: solvent extrac-
tion; blends well with lavandin, lavender, ylang
ylang, violet, citronella
- Monarda: Monarda fistulosa(family, Lamiaceae
[Labiatae]); for stress reduction and promotion
of breathing comfort; leaves used as a substitute
for black tea during Boston Tea Party era; may
irritate skin
- Menthe pouliot: minty; Mentha pulegium (family,
Labiatae, also called Pennyroyal); from aerial
parts, Africa; production method: steam distilla-
tion; for toning and stimulating; not for use dur-
ing pregnancy
- Mugwort (Armoise): Artemisa vulgaris (family,
Asteraceae [Compositae]); thought to cause
vivid dreams and psychic ability; for regulating
female cycles
- Myrrh: smoky, balsamic; Commiphora abyssinica,
C. molmol, Balsamodendrom myrrha(family, Burs-
eraceae); not a true essential oil but sap or resin
from a tree; centering, meditative properties;
one of oldest perfumes; for chafing and chap-
ping caused by cold; also for use as gargle,
mouthwash, insect repellent, antiseptic, fixative
in perfume; from resin, Somalia; production
method: steam distillation; use in moderation,
oils, essential 115
