Hemlock Essential Oil
Also known as Eastern Hemlock or Hemlock Spruce.
I adore the aroma of most conifers, and am particularly drawn to the fresh, crisp, needle aroma of Hemlock Essential Oil.
Aromatically, if you enjoy the aroma of fir and spruce oils, you should be pleased with the aroma of Hemlock Essential Oil. It's especially lovely to work with around Christmas and winter holidays, but its fresh aroma and therapeutic properties makes it wonderful to blend with throughout the year.
As a conifer, it's not surprising that Hemlock Oil is abundant in monoterpenes and also contains about 30-35% esters. Due to its monoterpene content, the oil will be more prone to oxidation. Therapeutically, Hemlock Oil is anti-microbial and is helpful as a decongestant and expectorant.
Emotionally, I personally find Hemlock Essential Oil to be energizing and stimulating when I feel lethargic, but I don't find it to be over stimulating. I find it beneficial to include in diffuser blends intended to help me remain focused, optimistic, calm and balanced.
Botanical Name
Tsuga canadensis / Pinus canadensis
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Needles and Twigs
Color
Clear
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Top
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium
Aromatic Description
Fresh, woody, earthy.
Hemlock Essential Oil Uses
Muscular aches, bronchitis, coughs, colds, flu, anxiety, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]
Major Constituents
Isobornyl acetate
B-Pinene
Gamma-3-Carene
(+)-Limonene
a-Pinene
See Essential Oil Safety for more complete list of constituents.
[Private Communication: Rondeau, 1999. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 430.]
Safety Information
Tisserand and Young warn that old and oxidized oils should not be used. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 429-430.]
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for educational purposes only. The references to safety information, constituents and percentages is generalized information. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Essential Oil Book Suggestions
Click on a book's title to view details and read a full review for the book. Visit AromaWeb's Books area to find details about many other essential oil and aromatherapy books.
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