Black Pepper - rejuvenating
Relieves muscle aches; improves circulation; mental stimulant;...

Black Pepper - rejuvenating

Relieves muscle aches; improves circulation; mental stimulant; increases alertness

Bay Laurel - rejuvenating
Balances nervous system; mental stimulant; antidepressant; warms...

Bay Laurel - rejuvenating

Balances nervous system; mental stimulant; antidepressant; warms emotions; heightens awareness; builds confidence

Chamomile - relaxing
Helps relieve dry patches, eczema, and itchy skin; has natural calming...

Chamomile - relaxing

Helps relieve dry patches, eczema, and itchy skin; has natural calming agents that soothe nerves and anxiety

Cinnamon - aphrodisiac
Used as an antiseptic; eases exhaustion and tension

Cinnamon - aphrodisiac

Used as an antiseptic; eases exhaustion and tension

Clary Sage - relaxing
Used as an antibacterial, antiviral; dispels depression, fatigue, stress,...

Clary Sage - relaxing

Used as an antibacterial, antiviral; dispels depression, fatigue, stress, fear; stimulates creativity, dreams

Cypress - relaxing
Increases circulation; relieves muscle cramps; reduces nervous tension and...

Cypress - relaxing

Increases circulation; relieves muscle cramps; reduces nervous tension and other stress-related problems

Eucalyptus - rejuvenating
Helps with odors; assists with arthritis; refreshing; used as an...

Eucalyptus - rejuvenating

Helps with odors; assists with arthritis; refreshing; used as an astringent, antiseptic

Geranium - relaxing
Balancing; antidepressant; relieves fatigue and tension; used as an...

Geranium - relaxing

Balancing; antidepressant; relieves fatigue and tension; used as an astringent, antiseptic

Grapefruit - energizing
Dispels melancholy, depression, headache, performance stress; relieves...

Grapefruit - energizing

Dispels melancholy, depression, headache, performance stress; relieves muscle fatigue; energizes; detoxifies

Ginger - aphrodisiac
Relieves aching muscles and joints; helps with circulatory problems,...

Ginger - aphrodisiac

Relieves aching muscles and joints; helps with circulatory problems, nervous exhaustion; sharpens senses

Jasmine - aphrodisiac
Lifts depression; calms nerves; promotes relaxation

Jasmine - aphrodisiac

Lifts depression; calms nerves; promotes relaxation

Juniper - energizing
Energizes; relieves exhaustion; improves mental clarity; purifies the...

Juniper - energizing

Energizes; relieves exhaustion; improves mental clarity; purifies the body; general stimulant

Lavender - relaxing
Relaxes the body; lifts moods; calms anxiety; soothes nerves

Lavender - relaxing

Relaxes the body; lifts moods; calms anxiety; soothes nerves

Lemon - energizing
Refreshes and uplifts; disinfects; boosts the immune system; relieves...

Lemon - energizing

Refreshes and uplifts; disinfects; boosts the immune system; relieves anxiety and depression

Lemongrass - energizing
Used as an antiseptic, skin toner; balances the nervous system; stress...

Lemongrass - energizing

Used as an antiseptic, skin toner; balances the nervous system; stress reliever; relieves muscle aches; increases circulation

Lime - energizing
Relieves fatigue; refreshing; energizing; mood lifting

Lime - energizing

Relieves fatigue; refreshing; energizing; mood lifting

Mandarin - energizing
Used as an antiseptic; helps alleviate stress; digestive; diuretic;...

Mandarin - energizing

Used as an antiseptic; helps alleviate stress; digestive; diuretic; laxative; sedative

Marjoram - relaxing
Sedative; relieves headache, migraine, stress, depression, anxiety

Marjoram - relaxing

Sedative; relieves headache, migraine, stress, depression, anxiety

Orange - energizing
Cheers; comforting and warming; dispels tension, stress; revives when...

Orange - energizing

Cheers; comforting and warming; dispels tension, stress; revives when feeling bored or lacking energy

Oregano - rejuvenating
Muscle relaxant; stimulant; energizes mind and body; relieves headaches

Oregano - rejuvenating

Muscle relaxant; stimulant; energizes mind and body; relieves headaches

Peppermint - rejuvenating and aphrodisiac
Stimulates the mind; acts as an antiseptic and deodorizer

Peppermint - rejuvenating and aphrodisiac

Stimulates the mind; acts as an antiseptic and deodorizer

Rosemary - rejuvenating
Promotes self-confidence, courage; stimulates mental clarity, memory,...

Rosemary - rejuvenating

Promotes self-confidence, courage; stimulates mental clarity, memory, and creativity; rejuvenates skin cells; stimulates hair growth

Sweet Basil - rejuvenating
Clears the mind; improves memory and concentration; builds courage...

Sweet Basil - rejuvenating

Clears the mind; improves memory and concentration; builds courage and confidence; lifts depression

Thyme - aphrodisiac
Aids memory and concentration; relieves fatigue; relieves muscle aches and...

Thyme - aphrodisiac

Aids memory and concentration; relieves fatigue; relieves muscle aches and pains

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Black Pepper - rejuvenating
Relieves muscle aches; improves circulation; mental stimulant;...
1/24
 
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Black Pepper - rejuvenating

Relieves muscle aches; improves circulation; mental stimulant; increases alertness

Bay Laurel - rejuvenating
Balances nervous system; mental stimulant; antidepressant; warms...
2/24
 
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Bay Laurel - rejuvenating

Balances nervous system; mental stimulant; antidepressant; warms emotions; heightens awareness; builds confidence

Chamomile - relaxing
Helps relieve dry patches, eczema, and itchy skin; has natural calming...
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Chamomile - relaxing

Helps relieve dry patches, eczema, and itchy skin; has natural calming agents that soothe nerves and anxiety

Cinnamon - aphrodisiac
Used as an antiseptic; eases exhaustion and tension
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Cinnamon - aphrodisiac

Used as an antiseptic; eases exhaustion and tension

Clary Sage - relaxing
Used as an antibacterial, antiviral; dispels depression, fatigue, stress,...
5/24
 
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Clary Sage - relaxing

Used as an antibacterial, antiviral; dispels depression, fatigue, stress, fear; stimulates creativity, dreams

Cypress - relaxing
Increases circulation; relieves muscle cramps; reduces nervous tension and...
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Cypress - relaxing

Increases circulation; relieves muscle cramps; reduces nervous tension and other stress-related problems

Eucalyptus - rejuvenating
Helps with odors; assists with arthritis; refreshing; used as an...
7/24
 
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Eucalyptus - rejuvenating

Helps with odors; assists with arthritis; refreshing; used as an astringent, antiseptic

Geranium - relaxing
Balancing; antidepressant; relieves fatigue and tension; used as an...
8/24
 
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Geranium - relaxing

Balancing; antidepressant; relieves fatigue and tension; used as an astringent, antiseptic

Grapefruit - energizing
Dispels melancholy, depression, headache, performance stress; relieves...
9/24
 
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Grapefruit - energizing

Dispels melancholy, depression, headache, performance stress; relieves muscle fatigue; energizes; detoxifies

Ginger - aphrodisiac
Relieves aching muscles and joints; helps with circulatory problems,...
10/24
 
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Ginger - aphrodisiac

Relieves aching muscles and joints; helps with circulatory problems, nervous exhaustion; sharpens senses

Jasmine - aphrodisiac
Lifts depression; calms nerves; promotes relaxation
11/24
 
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Jasmine - aphrodisiac

Lifts depression; calms nerves; promotes relaxation

Juniper - energizing
Energizes; relieves exhaustion; improves mental clarity; purifies the...
12/24
 
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Juniper - energizing

Energizes; relieves exhaustion; improves mental clarity; purifies the body; general stimulant

Lavender - relaxing
Relaxes the body; lifts moods; calms anxiety; soothes nerves
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Lavender - relaxing

Relaxes the body; lifts moods; calms anxiety; soothes nerves

Lemon - energizing
Refreshes and uplifts; disinfects; boosts the immune system; relieves...
14/24
 
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Lemon - energizing

Refreshes and uplifts; disinfects; boosts the immune system; relieves anxiety and depression

Lemongrass - energizing
Used as an antiseptic, skin toner; balances the nervous system; stress...
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Lemongrass - energizing

Used as an antiseptic, skin toner; balances the nervous system; stress reliever; relieves muscle aches; increases circulation

Lime - energizing
Relieves fatigue; refreshing; energizing; mood lifting
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Lime - energizing

Relieves fatigue; refreshing; energizing; mood lifting

Mandarin - energizing
Used as an antiseptic; helps alleviate stress; digestive; diuretic;...
17/24
 
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Mandarin - energizing

Used as an antiseptic; helps alleviate stress; digestive; diuretic; laxative; sedative

Marjoram - relaxing
Sedative; relieves headache, migraine, stress, depression, anxiety
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Marjoram - relaxing

Sedative; relieves headache, migraine, stress, depression, anxiety

Orange - energizing
Cheers; comforting and warming; dispels tension, stress; revives when...
19/24
 
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Orange - energizing

Cheers; comforting and warming; dispels tension, stress; revives when feeling bored or lacking energy

Oregano - rejuvenating
Muscle relaxant; stimulant; energizes mind and body; relieves headaches
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Oregano - rejuvenating

Muscle relaxant; stimulant; energizes mind and body; relieves headaches

Peppermint - rejuvenating and aphrodisiac
Stimulates the mind; acts as an antiseptic and deodorizer
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Peppermint - rejuvenating and aphrodisiac

Stimulates the mind; acts as an antiseptic and deodorizer

Rosemary - rejuvenating
Promotes self-confidence, courage; stimulates mental clarity, memory,...
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Rosemary - rejuvenating

Promotes self-confidence, courage; stimulates mental clarity, memory, and creativity; rejuvenates skin cells; stimulates hair growth

Sweet Basil - rejuvenating
Clears the mind; improves memory and concentration; builds courage...
23/24
 
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Sweet Basil - rejuvenating

Clears the mind; improves memory and concentration; builds courage and confidence; lifts depression

Thyme - aphrodisiac
Aids memory and concentration; relieves fatigue; relieves muscle aches and...
24/24
 
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Thyme - aphrodisiac

Aids memory and concentration; relieves fatigue; relieves muscle aches and pains

What is an Essential Oil? 

A natural, volatile, aromatic substance that can be extracted (mainly by distillation or expression) from a plant. Among other uses, the scents are employed in aromatherapy and perfume making.

Use this photo gallery to learn about some of the most popular essential oils.  A description of the oils' properties and a category for use are included.

Click here to read The Essence of Essential Oils for a more in-depth look at essential oils and how to use them for maximum benefit.

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