By Alison Angold CIDESCO ITEC
Neroli is a light, top note essential oil, so it blends well with many other essential oils, from different family’s; citrus, floral, herb and woods.
Neroli essential oil blends particularly well with;
- Bergamot
- Chamomile
- Clary sage
- Cypress
- Frankincense
- Fennel
- Geranium
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Mandarin
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Ylang Ylang
Neroli essential oil is one of the more expensive oils. Expect to pay around £20 for 2ml. The reason for this, is that the oil is extracted from the fragile flowers that must be harvested at particular times. It also take a lot of the blossom flowers to yield just a small amount of essential oil. If you find Neroli oil much cheaper than this, or larger quantities for a cheaper price, be suspicious about its purity – it may not be true neroli oil or it may be already diluted. To get the best benefits from neroli, especially for the skin, the purest oil is necessary.
What does Neroli essential oil smell like?
Neroli essential oil is extracted from the blossom of the orange tree. This gives it a very light delicate orange citrus aroma – a beautiful fragrance that is added to many skincare preparations and perfumes and light enough that it pairs well with many other different essential oils and aromas.
Neroli oil, as you might imagine, originates from warm Mediterranean countries, such as France, Spain, Italy and parts of North Africa.
Neroli is a wonderful oil with a lovely aroma and many benefits. It’s only downside is that it is one of the more expensive oils! Because production is lengthy and so much of the blossom flowers are needed to make even a small amount of oil, this makes it more expensive to buy.
For skin application I always suggest buying the pure oil, so you are getting the therapeutic benefits. For diffuser or burner blending, purely for aroma, you could get away with a diluted neroli oil, however be aware, that while the aroma will still be good, you will not be benefitting as much from its properties.
What is neroli oil good for?
Each essential oil is made up of a unique chemical complex, which gives it a range of therapeutic benefits – meaning the actions it can have on the skin and the body. The therapeutic benefits of Neroli oil are;
- Antidepressant – lifts and relives the feelings and symptoms of depression
- Anti-spasmodic – calms and slows muscles spasms
- Anti-viral – prevents viral infections
- Cell regeneration – encourages new skin cells to develop and multiply
- Detoxifying – has a purifying effect, ridding of waste and toxins
- Relaxing – has a relaxing effect on the body and mind
- Sedative – calms and relaxes the nervous system
- Tonic – invigorates and gives strength to the body and mind
- Uplifting – lifts the mood
Neroli’s main benefits are to the mind and to the skin. However, it can be very effective at helping other issues associated with the body.
Neroli benefits for the mind
Neroli is known as a positive thinker. It helps to boost confidence and self-esteem and reduces negative emotions. It helps to rejuvenate both the body and the mind, so useful for clearing the mind, when focus is needed or to invigorate the brain and clear brain fog.
In contrast, neroli is also a relaxing and sedating oil, it is also useful to calm the body and the mind in the evening, thus preparing the body for sleep. Its sedating properties will help to calm the nervous system, and soothe nerve endings, so the brain and body have a chance to rest, relax and reduce activity.
Anxiety and stress related conditions can also be relieved by the use of Neroli, including insomnia.
Petitgrain essential oil is a good alternative, if you cannot get Neroli, or if Neroli is too expensive. Petitgrain essential oil is extracted from the wood of the orange blossom tree, so has a slightly heavier citrus scent than neroli. Petitgrain is also excellent at treating stress and anxiety.
Neroli benefits for the skin
Due to its ability to encourage new cell production, neroli is excellent for the skin, especially dry or mature skin. It can help to promote cell regeneration which means that new cells will migrate to the skins surface more effectively leaving skin brighter, fresher, clearer and potentially younger looking.
The cell renewal effects also mean that neroli is beneficial for treating scars and stretch marks, as the skin will heal more quickly and the appearance of the scar or stretch mark reduced.
Neroli is also useful for soothing skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
For more essential oils for skin conditions READ HERE.
Neroli benefits for PMT
Neroli is also considered a good oil to help with issues such as PMT or menopausal symptoms. Mood swings, related anxiety, depression, low mood and heightened emotions can all be helped by the use of neroli.
You might also like; Essential Oils to Balance Hormones.
How to use neroli essential oil
The best way to use neroli oil, is either in a diffuser or burner, or to blend into a facial or body massage oil to apply topically. You could try the following;
A facial oil with supreme anti-ageing benefits
A simple nourishing facial oil
A body oil for balancing hormones
Precautions of neroli oil
Neroli is not known to have any precautions, however as with any oil, if you suffer with sensitive skin, do a patch test with one drop of neroli diluted in some carrier oil.
| About the Author Alison Angold is a fully qualified (certified) beauty therapist, massage therapist, and aromatherapist from the UK. She has over 25 years of experience in this industry and has worked in a variety of beauty salons, spa’s as well as running her own successful beauty and massage business. Her career has allowed her to treat many, many clients, with skincare concerns, medical conditions, and a whole variety of other ailments and issues, which has enabled her to work closely with essential oils, prescribing specific blends for these clients to help with these conditions. Her qualifications in the use of essential oils and aromatherapy, allow her to share this knowledge with others, in a safe, reliable way. |