A slightly lighter post for you today, all about one of my most favourite essential oils. A little goes a REALLY long way with this as it is so potent and a tiny drop smells gorgeous. I have been using a couple of drops of neroli absolute in my face cream, or a blend of neroli in jojoba oil as a serum or, one of my all-time fave ways to use it – using a spritz of neroli flower water/hydrosol as a toner/refresher in hot weather!
Neroli is made from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree in China, America, Morocco, Egypt and all round the Mediterranean. There are different types but I use Citrus aurantium var. amara essential oil, which I think is the best. It’s not cheap because it takes (literally) a ton of blossoms to make 1kg of the oil.
But it’s worth it, and you only ever use 2 drops or so of the absolute, essential oil or it already blended in a carrier oil or cream. It is very calming and soothing, used to relieve anxiety, but it’s also mood-lifting and used in blends for depression and grief, actually. It’s very deep and floral but also quite refreshing and citrusy.
It’s known to soothe digestion mainly by releasing gut tension which restricts gastric secretions. People use it to help them sleep. It’s a very gentle oil and can be used for children in low amounts.
It is fantastic for skincare, especially if you have sensitive, allergy-prone, dry or mature skin. It has a high antioxidant content so is anti-aging and cell-regenerating and improves elasticity, so it’s often used in blends especially for older skin, wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. If you added frankincense with it, actually, that would be fabulous as that is really well-known for healing skin and scar tissue. Neroli helps reduce redness so you get a more balanced and toned complexion.
Natural Dispensary have several neroli products here – blends and pure. To use the pure oil or an absolute, I would say 1 drop per 10ml of oil/cream/whatever you are using is plenty for the face. Maybe 2 drops if using on the body. For floral waters or hydrosols, use a little spritz on your face – try keeping it in your fridge – deliciously cold!
I’ve been inventing a range of essential oil skincare for myself – very pure and grain/dairy free of course! – as I just enjoy the blending and mixing process and I’ve not really found anything that suits my skin fully. Inlight comes closest, but there are still several ingredients in them that don’t suit me and some can be heavy on my Italian skin! Anyway, I’ve got all my glass sticks, glass funnels, jars, mini whisks, butters, oils, waxes etc out again to play with. Maybe I’ll stick some on the shop for you once I’ve perfected it if that would be useful!
Meantime, enjoy trying neroli – it really is a beautiful oil and never fails to make me feel happy!
Retiring, but loads of help still here!
I have now retired from Purehealth, but I have left my site, books, newsletters etc all up so that you can still access all this lovely info from the last 30 years! I won’t be updating it now, but there is a LOT of really good info here still. Check My Favourites page for where to find info, supplements, tests, practitioners, courses and more. Anything I think could help. And Start Here if you’re not sure where to start with your symptom or condition.
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Bless your cotton socks from me. Thanks for all your love, support and fun over the past 30-odd years. I will miss you, Micki x