What is Vetiver Oil?
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Vetiver oil is an essential oil derived from the vetiver plant. Also called khus oil, vetiver oil has a scent that’s been referred to as earthy, woody, and smoky. It’s used for relieving stress & discomfort, treating arthritis, stings, & burns, and it’s also a common ingredient found in tick, lice, & insect repellent.
What is the vetiver plant?
Vetiver is a plant. It looks like very long blades of grass – it’s known as a perennial bunchgrass and it grows naturally in India. This type of grass can grow up to five feet high! In addition to vetiver essential oil, you can also produce other popular essential oils from the vetiver plant, including citronella and lemongrass.
How is vetiver oil made from the vetiver plant?
To create an essential oil, vetiver growers remove the roots of the plant and allow them to age prior to soaking the roots in distilled water. This process releases concentrated oil from the plant that the grower then is able to skim from the top of water. The main chemical compounds in vetiver oil include:
- Carvone: Carvone contains energizing properties that combine well with some of the beneficial chemical properties of vetiver. Carvone is a monoterpene belonging to the ketone functionals group.
- Isovalencenol and Khusimol: both of which are sesquiterpenes belonging to the alcohols functional group. Each of these chemicals contain grounding properties that help produce many of the effects people have come to expect from vetiver essential oil.
How to use vetiver oil
Many people use vetiver oil in a diffuser for aromatherapy. It can also be used as a topical application to your skin. If you decide to apply vetiver oil directly to your skin, be sure to dilute it first by following the instructions below. Or, check out our CBG balm which has a wonderful blend of vetiver and bergamot.
Is vetiver good for skin?
The roots of the vetiver plant contain antioxidants that can help reduce visible signs of aging on the skin. The way that antioxidants help to improve skin texture is by moving through your body in search of toxins known as free radicals. Left unchecked, free radicals interrupt the body’s natural self-protective processes and can contribute to the appearance of aging skin.
How to dilute vetiver oil
To dilute vetiver oil, mix it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba. Next, mix one or two drops of vetiver oil for every 10 drops of carrier oil before applying it to your skin. If you prefer a stronger concentration of vetiver oil after applying it, just mix a few more drops in with the coconut oil or jojoba.
Can you diffuse vetiver oil?
Yes, you can diffuse vetiver oil if you prefer an aromatic experience. Here are three simple suggestions.
- Dilute the vetiver with B-6 Vegetable Oil Complex and diffuse in the area where you spend the most time to help promote relaxation and focus.
- Mix vetiver oil with three drops of lavender and a pinch of B-6 to create a calming diffuser after an especially stressful day.
- Run hot bath water and then add up to 10 drops of vetiver oil to help you feel calmer and more relaxed before you go to bed.
These are just three of many options you have to diffuse vetiver oil. You also have flexibility to diffuse it in any environment to achieve the benefits you seek.
What does vetiver smell like?
The aroma of vetiver is quite distinctive. Manufacturers of men’s cologne use vetiver to create a fragrance many people describe as woodsy, earthy, sharp, eclectic, or exotic. Vetiver is also a popular ingredient in other fragrances, soap, and moisturizing cream.
What is vetiver good for?
Vetiver is a type of aromatherapy that you can use for many practical applications. Below are several examples.
- ADHD: People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder struggle to remain focused and to filter out unnecessary stimuli when attempting to concentrate. Use of vetiver oil can improve the ability to focus in some individuals with ADHD.
- Alertness and mental fatigue: Inhalation of vetiver oil can improve brain function and mental alertness. When you’re feeling tired, sluggish, or need to concentrate, vetiver is a natural alternative to reaching for coffee or soda to help you perk up.
- Anxiety: The fragrance of vetiver oil can have a calming effect on your brain, allowing you to feel less nervous about any situation you’re facing. The use of all types of essential oils to calm anxiety has grown significantly in just the past five years.
- Joint and muscle pain: Chronic joint and muscle pain have a tendency to really mess with your quality of life. Vetiver oil is useful as an additional therapy option to prescription medication and physical therapy.
- Protection from ticks: Vetiver oil is toxic to ticks when diluted with a carrier oil. Tick bites are not only a nuisance, but they can increase your likelihood of developing Lyme disease as well. To use vetiver oil as a tick repellant, rub several diluted drops on all areas of exposed skin before heading out to hike in the woods.
- Treatment for stings and burns: When applied as a diluted topical directly to the skin, vetiver oil can reduce the pain associated with stings and burns before you place protective bandages over the injury.
How to use vetiver for sleep
Diffused vetiver oil can improve sleep by changing your breathing patterns. Exposure to the strong aroma of vetiver while you sleep improves the quality of exhaled breaths while reducing the number of times you inhale. Diffused vetiver can be especially useful if you snore heavily or have sleep apnea, a condition that causes people to stop breathing temporarily during sleep.
Learn More About Vetiver Oil or View Our Products
Elmore Mountain Therapeutics offers numerous CBD body oils, including vetiver. Please contact us today with additional questions or to place an order.
