There’s no better time than the Holidays to break out your essential oils collection. Essential oils can enhance your holiday joy, warm you up on a cold day, and help you get closer to your faith. Not to mention that essential oils also have a number of health benefits, from boosting your immune system to helping you clear emotional trauma.
To help make this your best Holiday season yet, we’ve put together a list of 9 Christmas essential oils, as well as 3 great blends that will make these memorable days even more merry and bright.
Frankincense
Along with gold, the 3 wise men gifted the baby Jesus two other equally precious commodities at the time: frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense was not only a big deal during the time of Jesus, but was also used in religious ceremonies dating back to the ancient Egyptians.
In addition to being burned as incense for religious ceremonies, frankincense has long been used to treat a number of different ailments. Studies have shown that this oil stimulates the immune system1, making it ideal for helping prevent sickness during the holidays. Research also shows that frankincense can reduce anxiety and stress, which is something we often experience during the holiday season.
Myrrh
Like Frankincense, myrrh is derived from the Burseraceae plant family and was viewed as a valuable substance by many ancient civilizations. Myrrh was often burned with frankincense during religious ceremonies, and also has a number of medicinal uses.
One particular study found that myrrh normalized blood lipid profiles in mice and also decreased body weight gain.2 So if you tend to overeat during the holidays, this oil may prevent you from adding on those extra pounds. With myrrh, you also get similar immune system benefits as frankincense offers.
Also similar to frankincense, myrrh has an earthy, fruity, and slightly spicy aroma that’s sure to enhance your holiday spirit.
Pine
The scent of pine is associated with the holiday season for obvious reasons. Diffusing this oil will give your home that invigorating Christmas-tree smell. But in addition to the pleasant aroma, pine can provide more benefits for you throughout the season, including:
- Stimulating metabolism
- Reducing stress
- Treating respiratory problems
- Relieving pain3
So, make sure to add pine essential oil to your daily routine to help you better digest that delicious Christmas food, breathe easier, and reduce pain so you can have a more fulfilling Holiday experience.
Orange
The tradition of putting oranges in Christmas stockings is still observed by many families today. Legend has it that St. Nicholas dropped 3 sacks of gold down the chimney to pay the dowries for a poor man’s daughters. Oranges became a symbol of these sacks of gold that were generously given. And though an orange is anything but extravagant today, they were a great luxury to have previous to the 20th century.
Using an orange essential oil at Christmastime may remind you of the importance of this and other holiday traditions. But beyond that, orange is known as a mood booster and stress reducer. One particular study found that oranges can not only lower blood pressure, but also increase feelings of comfort.4
Oranges are also rich in Vitamin C and other antioxidants, which makes their essential oils potent immune-system boosters. And due to their antibacterial properties, they make for a fantastic home cleaner.
Cypress
The woody, spicy scent of cypress makes it a wonderful oil to diffuse during the holidays. The ancient Greeks loved this oil for its comforting smell and its ability to clear the mind and senses.
Cypress also helps you breathe easier, and can even be effective at treating respiratory conditions caused by bacterial growth.5 Additionally, cypress can also help you speed up the emotional healing process. So if you are dealing with grief from a loss during the holidays or have other past traumas, cypress can be used to help you purge those emotions.
Fir
Fir trees share many of the same characteristics as pine trees, including their woodsy, earthy smell. Some of the most popular Christmas trees are firs, including the silver, Fraser, Douglas, and balsam fir. Most fir essential oils are processed from the balsam and silver fir species.6
In addition to their invigorating Christmas-tree smell, fir essential oil offers several benefits for your health and wellness, including:
- Boosts the immune system
- Reduces fatigue
- Improves respiratory function
- Relieves pain
- Aids in detoxification 7
Like orange, fir also makes a great household cleaner because of its antibacterial properties, not to mention leaving behind a great smell!
Clove
Derived from the flower buds of evergreen trees, cloves have a long history of use dating back thousands of years. As recently as a couple hundred years ago, wars were fought in Europe to secure this extremely profitable spice.
Used in mulled wine and many holiday baked goods, clove has a unique flavor that is pungent and sweet. Similar to cinnamon, the warm, almost hot taste of clove can help keep you warm on those cold winter days.
Clove is often used for dental pain such as toothaches and sore gums. It’s also a powerful immune-system booster that can even protect against influenza.8 So if you want to help reduce your risk of getting sick during the holidays, make sure to use this powerful essential oil.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a key ingredient in two popular holiday beverages: eggnog and spiced cider. Whether you are a fan of these favorites or not, the scent of cinnamon is bound to add spice and cheer to your holiday season.
Known for its ability to trigger sensory memory, the earthy, spicy aroma of cinnamon has a strong connection to the Christmas season for many people. It also provides a warming feel, which is wonderful when you are dealing with the cold winter weather.
Cinnamon essential oil not only smells great, but has many beneficial health properties, including being an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial agent, and brain-function booster. It is also believed to elevate feelings of security and belongingness, and may even help in clearing out past emotional trauma.9
Nutmeg
Our last essential oil to enhance your holiday cheer is also used in many Christmas foods. Along with eggnog, nutmeg is a popular ingredient in candies, cookies, and other baked goods.
Nutmeg can help improve your well-being along with adding great flavor to your foods. Research shows that it can assist with respiratory, brain, and cardiovascular health.10 Nutmeg also has a sedative effect, so you may want to try diffusing a small amount to help your excited kids fall asleep on Christmas Eve!
Distilled from the nuts inside the fruit of a nutmeg tree, this spicy, sweet, and rich essential oil makes a wonderful addition to your Holiday season.
Try these 3 Christmas essential oil blends…
Any of these Christmas essential oils are great to diffuse on their own. Combining them into blends, however, can help you maximize their benefits and bring more comfort and joy into your home. Make sure to try these 3 awesome blends that incorporate the 9 oils listed above.
Gift of the Magi
This blend represents the 3 gifts the wise men gave to the baby Jesus. The classic frankincense and myrrh combination help you look inward and get closer to your faith, while the orange—which symbolizes the other gift of gold—adds a sweet aroma to help boost your mood.
- 3 drops frankincense
- 3 drops myrrh
- 2 drops orange
Holiday Cheer
The sweetness of orange and clove take center stage in this blend, while the cinnamon adds spice and heat. These 3 classic Christmas aromas will add cheer and warmth to your Holiday season.
- 3 drops orange
- 2 drops cinnamon
- 1 drop clove
Christmas Tree
No Holiday season is complete without the smell of Christmas trees. This blend adds the richness of nutmeg and the sweetness of orange to the woodsy fir/pine and cypress combo.
- 6 drops fir or pine
- 3 drops cypress
- 1 drop orange
- 1 drop nutmeg
About Seth Morris
Seth Morris is an experienced article writer with a background in marketing, Web content creation, and health research. In addition to writing and editing content for the ZYTO website and blog, he has written hundreds of articles for various websites on topics such as holistic wellness, health technology, and Internet marketing. Seth has earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management as well as Literary Studies.
Sources:
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2. Shalaby, M.A. & A.A. Hammouda. “Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of Commiphora molmol extract (Myrrh).” Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology 3, no. 2 (2014): 56-62.
3. Patil, Kiran. “9 Amazing Benefits of Pine Essential Oil.” Organic Information Services Pvt Ltd. Organicfacts.net.
4. Park, B.J., K. Ono, Y. Yoshinami, & Y. Miyazaki. “Psychological effects of orange essential oil inhalation in humans.” Advances in Horticultural Science 28, no. 4 (2014): 225-230.
5. Alma, M.H., S. Nitz, et al. “Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the gum of Turkish pistachio.” Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 52, no. 12 (2004): 3911-3914.
6. Price, Annie. “Fir Needle Essential Oil – Fight Cancer, Infections & Even Odor.” Dr. Axe. Draxe.com.
7. Staughton, John. “5 Amazing Benefits of Fir Needle Essential Oil.” Organic Information Services Pvt Ltd. Organicfacts.net.
8. Wu, S., K.B. Patel, et al. “Protective essential oil attenuates influenza virus infection: An in vitro study in MDCK cells.” BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine 10 (2010): 69.
9. Choudhary, Tanya. “40 Amazing Benefits And Uses Of Cinnamon Essential Oil.” Stylecraze. Stylecraze.com.
10. Agbogiti, O.M., & O.P Azagbaekwe. “Health and nutritional benefits of nut meg (mystica fragrans houtt.).” Scientia Agriculturae 1, no. 2 (2013): 40-44.