Uses of Neroli Oil
During the ancient times, neroli oil was essential in helping combat the plague, relieve fever, and banish nervousness. The ancient Egyptian priests and priestesses also used this oil to heal their body, mind, and spirit.
Neroli oil is also widely used in the perfume and fragrance industry. In fact, Eau-de-Cologne, the famous perfume from Cologne, Germany, used this oil as its main ingredient. Today, neroli oil is added to various fragrances and perfumes. Not only does it complement other citrusy notes, but it also acts as a natural fixative that helps maintain the original composition of the oils without losing its true fragrance.
Neroli can be applied topically or diffused or inhaled. It helps improve skin health by regenerating and keeping your skin elastic, preventing the appearance of stretch marks, banishing acne, reducing the appearance of scars, and helping heal broken capillaries.
In aromatherapy, neroli oil is valued for its calming and relaxing scent, which acts as a tranquilizer that can help alleviate anxiety and heart palpitations, relieve insomnia, and even prevent or treat stress-related depression. Its fragrance can also help alleviate digestive issues, such as intestinal spasms, colitis, dyspepsia, and diarrhea.
Here are some ways to use neroli oil:
- Wet a cotton ball, add a drop of neroli oil, and lightly dab it on your skin to help treat acne.
- Mix with your favorite skin cream to help regenerate your skin.
- Put a few drops in a diffuser to help fight lethargy, depression, anxiety, stress, and digestive problems.
- Mix a few drops with a carrier oil and massage all over your body to help improve circulation.
- Apply a few drops to a hot or cold compress to alleviate headaches and neuralgia.
- Ease premenstrual discomfort by mixing a few drops in your bath water.
Neroli oil's pleasant aroma can also work as a deodorant to drive away foul odors. When used on the body as a perfume, or sprayed as an air freshener or diffused via a vaporizer in a room, the oil not only eliminates the odor, but also helps kill germs and toxins.
Composition of Neroli Oil
Neroli oil's therapeutic properties come from its many beneficial components, such as alpha pinene, beta pinene, alpha terpinene, farnesol, camphene, geraniol, indole nerol, linalyl acetate, linalool, methyl anthranilate, neryl acetate, and nerolidol.
Benefits of Neroli Oil
Neroli oil has many beneficial and health-promoting properties. It acts as an antiseptic, disinfectant, antispasmodic, bactericidal, antidepressant, and sedative. These useful benefits make it efficient for:
- Treating cuts and wounds. It can be a substitute for anti-tetanus in emergency cases. Simply dab a diluted solution on the wound – this will keep your wound safe from infections until you can go to a doctor for a proper anti-tetanus injection.
- Killing bacteria that can cause diseases like typhoid, cholera, and food poisoning. It can also relieve skin conditions that are caused by bacteria.
- Maintaining normal blood pressure levels. A small 2012 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicinefound that neroli oil may aid in blood pressure control. The researchers found that participants who inhaled an aromatherapy blend of neroli, lavender, ylang-ylang, and marjoram had a significant decrease in their blood pressure and stress hormone cortisol levels within 24 hours.
Neroli oil is also a tonic that can help promote proper circulation, healthy metabolism, and immune system support.
How to Make Neroli Oil
Neroli oil is made from the freshly picked flowers of the bitter orange tree, which then go through a lengthy absolute extraction process, traditionally via hydrodistillation or steam distillation.24 It's very expensive to produce neroli oil, which is why some manufacturers infuse it with other natural essential oils. This does not reduce neroli oil's benefits, though.
How Does Neroli Oil Work?
Neroli oil can be inhaled, diffused, or massaged or applied directly to your skin to acquire its benefits. It can also be taken orally, but I strongly advise doing this under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner.
When used topically or inhaled, neroli oil works an antidepressant that has a soothing and calming effect on your mind and body. It eases tension and anxiety and uplifts your mood. It can also relax your nervous system and digestive tract.
Neroli oil can help stimulate the growth of new cells, supporting your skin's renewal process. It's said to work for all skin types and conditions, but I still advise doing a skin patch test before applying this oil liberally all over your skin.
Is Neroli Oil Safe?
Yes it is, as long as it's used in moderation. Neroli oil is not known to be toxic, but as with other essential oils, I advise caution when using it. You can use it undiluted, but if you prefer a milder formulation, you can also infused it with other carrier oils like, geranium, lavender, jasmine, lemon, rose, and sandalwood oil.
As a precaution, do a spot test before using neroli oil by applying an undiluted form on the inside of your arm. If any allergic reaction occurs, don't use it. When ingesting neroli oil, make sure to consult a healthcare provider who can recommend a safe dosage.
I advise against using neroli oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use this oil for very young children, too.
