well with bergamot, geranium, lavender, marjo-
ram, rosemary, sandalwood
- Petitgrain: citrus; Citrus aurantium, C. bigaradia
(family, Rutaceae); from same trees as
neroli/orange blossom, but distilled from the
leaves and stems, instead of petals; Europe;
relaxes, restores, cleanses, elevates mood; simi-
lar properties to neroli’s, has deodorant proper-
ties and helps relieve anxiety and stress; also
used as hair rinse; production method: steam
distillation; blends well with rosemary, gera-
nium, lavender and bergamot, orange, neroli
- Pine: Pinus sylvestris (family, Pinaceae); from
needles, young twigs, and cones of pine tree;
stimulates, refreshes, cleanses; strong antiseptic
and deodorant properties; may irritate skin
- Ravensara anisata (and R. aromatica): Cinna-
monum camphora, Ravensara anisata, R. aromatica
(family, Lauraceae); R. anisatafrom tree bark, R.
aromaticafrom leaves; both used for clearing
sinuses and airways, relaxing tight muscles, and
relieving menstrual discomfort, aches, and pains
- Rose absolute: floral; Rosa damascena (family,
Rosaceae); known as “queen of oils,” soothing,
cleansing, sensual, aphrodisiac, feminine prop-
erties; used as skin-care oil; becomes sticky at
room temperature and solid at relatively high
temperatures; expensive and seldom used in
commercial products; not for use during first
four months of pregnancy; from flowers, Bul-
garia and Morocco; production method: solvent
extraction
- Rose Otto: floral; Rosa damascena (family,
Rosaceae); warm, intense, astringent; one of
oldest and best known essential oils; used in all
types of perfumes, for skin creams, powders,
and lotions; not for use during first four months
of pregnancy; from flowers, Morocco and
Turkey; production method: steam distillation;
blends well with floral oils, especially jasmine
- Rosemary: camphoraceous; Rosmarinus officinalis,
R. coronarium (family, Lamiaceae [Labiatae]);
warms, stimulates, revitalizes, and restores tired
muscles, feet; said to promote concentration;
used also as antiseptic, hair tonic, before- and
after-sports rub; helps fight water retention,
fatigue, stuffy room, and cellulite; not for use by
pregnant women and individuals with hyperten-
sion or epilepsy; may irritate skin; from leaves,
Tunisia; production method: steam distillation;
blends well with olibanum, lavender, lavandin,
citronella, thyme, basil, peppermint, labdanum,
elemi, cedarwood, petitgrain, cinnamon
- Rosewood: Aniba rosaeodora(family, Lauraceae);
also known as Bois de Rose; relaxing, deodoriz-
ing; used in massage oil for tired muscles, for
nerve balance, as antidepressant; may fight
migraine and ward off general malaise; use oil
from Waste Plantation–grown wood to save
hardwood rain forests
- Sage: camphoraceous; Salvia officinalis (family,
Lamiaceae [Labiatae]); regulates central nervous
system; used for menstrual and digestive disor-
ders; not for use by pregnant women or individ-
uals with epilepsy; from leaves, Spain;
production method: steam distillation; blends
well with lavandin, rosemary, citrus oils
- Sandalwood Mysore: woodsy; Santalum album
(family, Santalaceae); calming, grounding,
musky, rich; traditionally burned during medita-
tion and in religious ceremonies; sensual, aphro-
disiac, astringent, antiseptic properties; for skin
and hair care and as insect repellent and fra-
grance; from wood, East India; production
method: steam distillation; blends well with
rose, violet, clove, lavender, black pepper, berg-
amot, geranium, labdanum, vetiver, patchouli,
mimosa, myrrh, jasmine
- Spearmint: minty; Mentha spicata, M. viridis (fam-
ily, Lamiaceae [Labiatae]); energizing, cooling;
for use in bath water, facial steam, and as insect
repellent, astringent, emollient; from flowering
tops, United States; production method: steam
distillation; blends well with bergamot, jasmine,
lavender, sandalwood
- Spikenard: Nardostachys jatamansi(family, Valeri-
anaceae); promotes restful sleep, stress reduc-
tion, and relaxation; may help reduce
inflammation
- St. John’s wort: Hypericum perforatum (family,
Guttiferae); antidepressant, calming, stress-
reducing, mood-elevating; reduced aches, pains,
oils, essential 117
