Articles

For centuries, the Maori people of New Zealand have been relying on a particular tree for therapeutic purposes. It is called the Manuka tree and its oil is useful in treating a wide variety of illnesses – from fevers to skin disorders. Manuka oil is extracted from the leaves, seeds, and branches of this medicinal tree....

Once an ancient beauty secret of the Ovambo women of Namibia, marula oil benefits the skin in numerous ways.  For generations, marula oil has been used by African women as a moisturizing body lotion. Instead of water, they would use the oil to clean themselves. Despite its effectiveness, its very gentle. So much so, marula...

Extracted from the blooms of bitter orange trees (Citrus aurantium), neroli essential oil has a beautiful sweet citrus fragrance. Bitter orange trees are indigenous to China and Central Asia although these can now be found in other parts of the world including Algeria, Bulgaria, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Tunisia. It is useful in treating depression,...

Palmarosa essential oil is extracted from Cymbopogon martinii, a species of grass that is indigenous to India. Due to its rose-like aroma (similar to rose geranium essential oil), this oil is a common ingredient in soaps, perfumes, and other cosmetic products. However, don’t be fooled by its delicate floral scent, which belies its fever, infectious disease, rheumatism and nerve-related pain...

The Patchouli plant is known as the Pogostemon cablin. Mostly you will find this plant in the tropical areas of the world like Asia and Hawaii in the U.S. The plant is bushy with large, soft, and furry leaves. The oil that is extracted from the leaves and can range from a light golden-brown to a...

Cedar oil is also known as Cedarwood Oil and is an essential oil distilled mostly from the foliage of the Ceder tree. Some of the oil is distilled, pressed or chemically extracted in small quantities from the roots and actual wood. The wood extraction is done by steam distillation extracted from wood chips and sawdust. There are...

Pine nut oil is extracted from a number of sources. In Asia, Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) are the most widely harvested. Four other species, Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica), Siberian dwarf pine (Pinus pumila), Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) and lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) are also popular. The oil is extracted by cold pressing the nuts and is golden colour. Cold pressing allows the oil...

Chamomile Essential oil has a history of use that spans all the way back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it in dedication to the stars and moon. It is commonly used as a gentle and soothing mood-boositng and sleep inducing essential oil, and two distinct varieties exits; Roman and German.  The Roman Chamomile plant...

crisp lemony aroma and thus bearing the name Citronella. The oil of citronella is extracted from two varieties of citronella, Ceylon and Java. With both varieties, the essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the plant. However, the oil obtained from the Java variety is considered to be of higher quality. The main producers...

Dubbed “nature’s power fruit”, Pomegranate seed oil comes from the seed of the fruit of the Punica granatum,  a deciduous shrub or small tree growing between 5–8 meters tall. The leaves and outer peeling of this early fruit have been used for centuries to soften the skin and reduce the signs of aging. New studies are just now showing how powerful an anti-aging agent pomegranate truly is....