25 Days of Essential Oils – Day 19

Day 19 discusses vetiver. This is one of my favorite essential oils.

Vetiver is an essential oil that blends well with a lot of other essential oils. My favorite blend with vetiver is adding lime essential oil. The scent is amazing and a little goes a long way. Vetiver is a sticky oil. So, make sure to wipe the tops before putting the cap back on, or it may be difficult to open your cap. Also, if you choose to use vetiver in your diffuser, clean it out right away when done. I read some discussions where people have gotten clogged diffusers from using thicker oils such as vetiver. This is just something to keep in the back of your mind. You can choose to make a personal inhaler instead of using a diffuser. Vetiver is also good for the skin. Try adding it to your nighttime skin cream before bed. This essential oil is another good one to use if making a bug spray. Vetiver has a similar scent to patchouli but is a little less intense. So, if you don’t like the scent of patchouli, give vetiver a try.

Essential Oil Common Name: Vetiver

Latin Name: Vetiveria zizanoides

Family: Poaceae

Part of Plant Used: Roots

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled

Notes (Scent and Staying Power): Base

Safe for Ages: Safe for all ages, but there are some general guidelines when it comes to children and essential oils. But still, use caution when using topically for children under the age of 2. Sensitivities can still occur. Read here on how to do skin patch testing. If you create a blend for yourself, use a quarter of the amount of essential oil for children as a safe guideline.

Safe for Pregnancy: Yes

Safe for Breastfeeding: Yes

Topical Max: The topical max for this essential oil is 15%. Using any more than this can cause skin irritation. There really is no need to ever go over 15% on your skin.

Shelf Life: 8 Years

Key Therapeutic Properties/Actions: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Antiviral, Insecticidal/Larvicidal, Sedative, Skin regenerative

Contraindications: This essential oil has no known contraindications.

Where to purchase: Vetiver here

Thank you for reading!

Love and Nature,

Nicole

Remember: The contents of this blog post are intended for educational and informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. Click here to read more about my medical/FDA disclaimers.

References:

Tisserand, R., & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety. (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.

Petersen, D. (2016). Aromatherapy Materia Medica. American College of Healthcare Sciences.

Aromahead Institute. (n.d.). Aromatherapy Certification Program. [Courses]. Aromahead Institute. https://courses.aromahead.com/aromatherapy-certification-program