Ingredient Spotlight: The 12 Essential oils for Christmas

To help you with some soap-making gift ideas this season, we have compiled a list of our 12 favourite essential oils for Christmas. Without pine, nutmeg, cinnamon to name a few, this special celebration just won’t be the same! There are plenty more oils to choose from to ignite the festivities with your loved ones.

1. Cinnamon

One of the classic essential oils reminiscent of Christmas is Cinnamon Oil. Grown in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and other Asian countries, people have been using cinnamon for various medicinal purposes for centuries. In ancient times, cinnamon was hailed for its amazing qualities and was often used to heal wounds and beautify skin as it has antiseptic, anti-ageing, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.

Image credit – Cinnamon Oil

2. Frankincense

Frankincense has a long history with Christmas, often burnt as incense in houses of worship and for various religious ceremonies/practices. Frankincense is great for boosting immune system health and relieving anxiety. Due to its antiseptic properties, frankincense oil is a great addition to any soap recipe.

Image credit – Frankincense Oil

3. Peppermint

The associations of Peppermint with Christmas started several centuries ago when candy canes were given to pacify crying babies. These peppermint flavoured canes took a similar guise to the canes used by shepherds to heard sheep hence why they have a curled end.

Peppermint Oil

4. Pine

Pine oil, also known as pine nut oil, is derived from the needles of the Pinus sylvestris tree. Detoxifying and a natural disinfectant, pine oil is commonly used in massage oil blends, household cleaning products and air fresheners. Pine oil can stimulate blood flow and help decrease swelling, tenderness and pain in sore muscles or joints associated with inflammation.

Image credit – Pine Oil

5. Myrrh

Myrrh is a resin, or sap-like substance, that comes from a tree called Commiphora myrrha, common in Africa and the Middle East. Myrrh oil has a sweet, smoky or sometimes bitter smell. Myrrh is commonly known as one of the gifts (along with gold and frankincense) the three Wise Men brought to Jesus in the New Testament. Myrrh was extremely important in biblical times as it was used as a spice, a natural remedy, or to purify the dead.

Image credit – Myrrh Oil

6. Clove

The essential oil obtained from the clove plant flower has fantastic purifying properties. It can aid the prevention of inflammation and sores whilst also getting rid of bacteria that increases the change of skin breakouts. None of the other essential oils is found to have such high antioxidant properties as clove essential oil. This particular essential oil is rich in minerals, such as potassium, sodium, phosphorus, iron and Vitamins A and C.

Image credit – Clove Oil

7. Mistletoe

Commonly used as a Christmas decoration above the door frame, mistletoe has been known as a valuable health tonic for thousands of years. It provides nourishment to the skin as it is full of anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties.

Mistletoe oil

8. Nutmeg

Nutmeg has antibacterial properties which makes it exceptionally good at treating acne. It will fight the bacteria that causes acne and works as an exfoliator, which will help to unclog your pores and lift any unwanted blackheads from your skin.

Image credit – Nutmeg Oil

9. Sweet orange

Orange oil, often referred as Sweet Orange Oil is derived from the outer peel of the common orange fruit. Sought after for centuries, this highly popular fruit was obtained for its immune-boosting effects.

Image credit – Mandarin Oil

10. Ginger

Containing around 40 antioxidant properties, Ginger can prevent free radical damage, protect your skin against ageing, improve elasticity and even skin tone.

Image credit – Photo by Jocelyn Morales on Unsplash
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11. Cedarwood

One of the biggest benefits of cedarwood essential oil is its anti-inflammatory properties relieving pain and discomfort from aching joints. It is also known for its antiseptic properties which can assist in treating minor wounds and skin damage plus it also prevents infection and toxins from entering the body.

Image credit – Cedarwood Oil

12. Cranberry

Full of moisturising antioxidants, cranberry essential oil can naturally protect the skin from environmental stressors. Cranberry seed oil is the only oil we know of so far that has a perfect ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, which means that it absorbs readily into the skin, giving you fantastic hydration. It also means your skin is more likely to absorb potent antioxidants, Vitamin E, and other nutrients in the oil.

Cranberry Oil

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