Essential Oil Benefits

Benefits of Essential Oils

 

We take a lot of care to craft products that are nourishing and safe for all types of skin! One way we boost the therapeutic properties of our four-ingredient bars of soap is by adding essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated liquids that contain aroma compounds from plants. “Essentially”, they are the essence of the plant from which they are derived. Essential oils need to be diluted before applying them to the skin and we think our goat milk soap is the perfect way to do that! The essential oils used in our goat milk soaps are chosen and added for their specific aromatherapeutic properties.

These oils have been used for centuries and are generally extracted through the process of distillation, often by using steam. From health and beauty products such as perfumes, cosmetics, and soaps to flavoring food and drinks to simply adding a burst of all-natural scent to household cleaning products, essential oils have recently become more widely utilized.

We use many different essential oils in our soaps. Here’s a list of the more common essential oils we add to our goat milk soap and other skincare products, the beneficial properties they offer the skin, and how we use them.  

#1: Spearmint

Spearmint has a fresh, minty scent when inhaled and a relaxing effect on the mind. This calming effect extends to the digestive system as spearmint is also known for helping with indigestion and nausea. It can also soothe headaches and has been said to provide pain relief when applied topically. Spearmint oil contains menthol which creates a cooling sensation when applied to the skin that often helps with muscle relaxation. Furthermore, it nourishes dull skin and improves the texture of oily skin. All in all, it's a refreshing and invigorating oil!

You can find spearmint essential oil in the following products:

#2: Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a wonderfully bright essential oil. We find it to be a refreshing and nutrient-rich addition to our soaps. When inhaled, grapefruit essential oil can be a great stress reliever and has been known to lessen symptoms of depression. When applied to the skin, it provides a refreshing sensation and is also good for treating oily skin and acne. When used in a massage oil or similar product, it can be beneficial for treating stiffness and cramps in the muscles.

You can find grapefruit essential oil in the following products:

#3: Orange

We love the zesty smell of a freshly squeezed orange! This sweet citrus essential oil is harvested from the skin of the fruit and offers a variety of therapeutic properties. According to some studies, orange essential oil can provide effective relief from internal and external inflammation. This makes it a reliable agent in combating acne and dermatitis. It has also been shown to help relax muscle spasms. In recent studies, just inhaling orange essential oil has been shown to relieve symptoms of PTSD and anxiety. While also invigorating, orange essential oil is a powerful relaxant.   

You can find orange essential oil in the following products:

#4: Lemon

Lemon essential oil has a revitalizing effect that has been shown to dramatically reduce stress. Similar to the orange essential oil, it has a refreshing quality that can ease or calm anxiety. The astringent properties of lemon help balance oil glands and minimize oil production. Studies have also shown that lemon oil is capable of inhibiting free radicals making it an essential element in anti-aging products. Additionally, lemon essential oil is a known hair strengthener, helping to nourish the scalp and combat dandruff. It’s also an effective disinfectant and antiseptic that is often used to kill bacteria. This makes lemon essential oil one of our favorites to use in our goat milk soap products!  

You can find lemon essential oil in the following products:

#5: Rosemary

Rosemary is a useful aid in helping with a wide variety of common skin issues. It has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties that have been known to help soothe eczema, dermatitis, oily skin, and acne. In some cases, continued use of rosemary essential oil has been known to strengthen hair by stimulating the hair follicles. Rosemary essential oil can also act as one of nature's best relaxers. Getting a refreshing sniff of rosemary decreases the levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your body and stimulates mental activity and energy.

You can find rosemary essential oil in the following products:

#6: Geranium

Geranium essential oil is steam-extracted primarily from the leaves and stems of the geranium plant. The oil contains enzymes that help regulate the production of skin oils. This makes it versatile for all types of skin, particularly dry skin. However, its astringent abilities help to balance the production of sebum in the skin, making it an ideal essential oil to use on oily and dry skin as well.

Geranium oil is non-irritating and non-toxic making it an ideal essential oil to use on eczema and dermatitis. One study has shown that geranium oil has anti-inflammatory properties. This, combined with its pleasant and uplifting aroma, make it a perfect addition to natural skincare products.

You can find geranium essential oil in the following products:

#7: Lavender

Lavender is a staple of the essential oil universe. Its ability to calm and relax has been known for centuries. The soothing scent of lavender can quickly ease stress, anxiety and even reduce headaches. It can almost guarantee a good night’s sleep.

Lavender is beneficial for the skin, too. According to one 2016 study, lavender essential oil is a collagen booster and aids in healing skin tissues. It also has antibacterial properties which make it helpful in fighting acne. Additionally, terpenoids, such as linalool and linalyl acetate, are present in lavender essential oil and have powerful antioxidant qualities. We love lavender essential oil which is why you’ll find it in a variety of the skincare products we make!

You can find lavender essential oil in the following products:

#8: Tea Tree

Tea tree oil has long been recognized for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. It is now known to be an effective acne fighting agent with fewer toxic side effects than benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree essential oil also has the ability to fight off yeasts and fungi that commonly afflict the body. These unique qualities allow tea tree to foster healthy hair as well.

In addition, tea tree oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that work to calm excess inflammation. Tea tree essential oil smells clean and fresh making it an invigorating additive for bath products.

Tea tree essential oil can be found in the following products:

#9: Eucalyptus

Breathing in the cooling vapors of eucalyptus oil has been a respiratory remedy for centuries. Its potent antimicrobial properties have secured eucalyptus essential oil a spot on the ingredient list for many over the counter medicinal products. Eucalyptus essential oil has the ability viruses and bacteria that cause fever, flu and sinus infections.

Studies have shown that eucalyptus oil is a potentially powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory as well. This makes it a perfect companion oil to our milk bath. Soaking in our Eucalyptus Spearmint Milk Bath after a long day is an ideal way to melt away stress.

Eucalyptus Spearmint essential oil can be found in the following products:

#10 Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a tall grass native to India and parts of Asia. It has long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Lemongrass has a sweet, citrusy scent that is pleasing, uplifting and possesses diverse therapeutic properties.

Lemongrass essential oil has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties which make it an excellent essential oil for use in skin care products. By calming inflammation and strengthening elastin, lemongrass can potentially assist in combating aging or sagging skin. 

Lemongrass is also known to have antibacterial properties which can fight against a number of common bacterial infections. This, in combination with its antifungal and antiseptic qualities, makes lemongrass a simple but powerful ingredient for health and body products. With all of this therapeutic power, it’s no wonder we’ve chosen to include lemongrass among our selection of essential oil products.

You can find lemongrass essential oil in the following products:

#11 Rose

Who knew that the fragrant and beautiful rose contained powerful therapeutic properties? Well, we did! The prettiest flower in the garden has widespread pharmacological effects that are of great benefit to human health. The floral scent of rose can be uplifting and mood balancing. A recent study shows that rose essential oil can even help mothers by reducing anxiety associated with labor and delivery.

Rose essential oil is a crucial ingredient in a well-rounded skincare regimen. Rose helps protect the skin by being a strong antibacterial. In fact, the oils extracted from the petals of the rose have been found to help control skin texture and balance keratinocyte differentiation. Keratinocytes are our most common type of skin cell and they provide a protective physical barrier for our skin. They keep moisture in and environmental damage such as UV rays, heat, bacteria and viruses out.

Rose oil is also a potent antioxidant to be a lethal weapon in the fight against bacteria that causes acne. With all of these amazing benefits, rose oil is an indispensable addition to our soaps and milk baths.

Rose essential oil can be found in the following products:

#12 Lime

A hint of lime added to food or drinks is always refreshing and it can have the same effect on your skin and body. Lime essential oil is extracted from the peels in a cold-press or steam distillation process. It has a refreshing scent that can ease anxiety and it contains many other beneficial properties.

Lime essential oil has a tonic effect on the skin, leaving it bright and balanced. Just like many of our other essential oils, lime essential oil has antioxidant, astringent and antiseptic properties which help to promote skin rejuvenation. Combining lime with other skin-bolstering essential oils can have a deep-cleansing effect. This cleansing effect can remove excess oil from the skin without causing too much dryness.

Thanks to the anti-inflammatory benefits of lime essential oil, it has a variety of pain management applications. From troubling arthritis to general muscle soreness, adding lime to a warm bath is an easy way to help soothe away the pain.   

Lime essential oil can be found in the following products:

#13 Clary Sage

Clary sage is an herb closely related to common garden sage. Its essential oil is steam distilled and has been used medicinally in Europe for centuries. Research has shown that clary sage essential oil has the potential to be a powerful antidepressant in addition to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory qualities. Its antiviral properties have been studied and prove to have anti-influenza effects, making it effective in protecting against seasonal flu viruses.  

When inhaled, clary sage can have a calming effect. One study showed a consistent reduction in blood pressure in a group of women who inhaled clary sage essential oil before undergoing surgery. When topically applied, it is a strong antibacterial making it a natural enemy of common skin infections. Ongoing research is being conducted to further explore the many therapeutic uses of this dynamic essential oil.  

We love clary sage because it blends well with other earthy essential oils such as patchouli and rosemary. We’ve blended these with other natural ingredients to create a cleansing scent that will bring you back to nature.

Clary sage essential oil can be found in the following products:

#14 Patchouli

Thanks to the hippie movement of the 1960’s, the woody, earthy scent of patchouli essential oil may be one of the most familiar aromatic essential oils. This close relative of lavender and sage is commonly found blended with other essential oils, but can also be used as a single-note fragrance. It is a versatile oil, showing stimulating effects at a higher inhalation dose and relaxing effects with a lower dose.

Functioning as an antioxidant, patchouli essential oil is a superb tissue regenerator which makes it an ideal ingredient in skincare products. It works as an antibacterial when topically applied and its antiseptic properties can help alleviate dandruff, athlete’s foot and acne.

Patchouli oil has tonic properties that help to balance the skin and the digestive system. It also contains natural deodorizing properties, which is why we thought it would be a wonderful ingredient for our natural deodorant, The Woodsman.

We’ve blended patchouli essential oil with other woody essential oils to create a bar soap with a hearty scent, reminiscent of the mountains.

Patchouli essential oil can be found in the following products:

#15 Bergamot

You may be familiar with the particular scent and flavor of Earl Grey tea. Its notable taste is created by blending Bergamot essential oil with black tea. This calming and familiar scent is from a lesser-known member of the citrus family and has some amazing therapeutic benefits.

Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the rinds of the fruit and has been shown to possess analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant and sedative characteristics.

One study shows that when inhaled or topically applied, the bright scent of bergamot can have mood-lifting effects. Yet another study found that bergamot essential oil is responsible for increases in skin collagen content and the promotion of hair growth. Promising research is ongoing concerning bergamot and its analgesic effect on chronic pain.

Studies have shown that bergamot essential oil may possess strong chemopreventive abilities as its compounds promote apoptosis. Apoptosis is the body’s natural and vital process of dead cell turnover. This makes bergamot a potentially powerful cancer-fighter.

Bergamot brings all of its therapeutic potential when we blend it with sweet orange essential oil to bring you a fresh and bright scent profile.

You can find bergamot essential oil in the following products:

#16 Fir

Reminiscent of Christmas, fir essential oil is derived from the needles of the fragrant fir tree. The needles, from a variety of evergreens, hold the majority of the beneficial compounds associated with essential oils harvested from these beautiful trees. This less well-known essential oil is commonly blended with other woody essential oils to create a robust, outdoorsy scent. Even though it may not be well known, fir essential oil is plentiful and reasonably priced due to its proliferation in many areas of the world. While the earthy smell of fir essential oil can evoke fond memories, its steam-distilled essential oil also has notable therapeutic properties.

Fir essential oil fights against free radicals, classifying it with other essential oils containing strong antioxidant characteristics. Additionally, fir essential oil has potential as an antifungal, making it a useful aid in fighting fungal skin conditions.   

Further research is being conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory strength of fir essential oil. It is thought to have potential benefit to those suffering from arthritic conditions due to its high content of linalool, pinene, and bornyl acetate. Bornyl acetate has been shown to have anti-inflammatory abilities in trials with patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Continued research into fir essential oil may prove its ability to relieve anxiety and depression.

We’ve added fir essential oil to deepen the scent of the forest in our blend that’s perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors!

You can find fir essential oil in the following products:

#17 Ylang Ylang

Ylang ylang essential oil is extracted from the bark and flowers of the ylang-ylang tree which is common in the rainforests of Asia and in the islands of the Indian Ocean. In its native environment, the medicinal properties of the ylang ylang tree have long been known and used to treat a wide variety of ailments. There are many active components in this fragrant essential oil which make it a potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and insect repellent.

Inhaling the delicate, floral scent of ylang-ylang has a harmonizing and sedative effect. It has been shown to lower blood pressure and has an overall relaxing effect on the mind and body. These studies applied ylang ylang essential oil transdermally, or via the skin, making it a perfect therapeutic additive for soaps and other body products.  

Ylang Ylang is referred to as a skin-preserver for a variety of reasons. Researchers have found that ylang-ylang oil contains antioxidants that promote skin rejuvenation by repairing the proteins and lipids in the skin. Additionally, the antioxidants in the oil have free radical-scavenging capacities that help prevent signs of aging.

Ylang ylang (pronounced EE-lang-EE-lang) adds the perfect floral note when blended with citrus essential oils. It can balance out a stronger scent with a hint of sweetness.

You’ll find ylang ylang essential oil in the following products:

#18 Clove

Clove essential oil is harvested from the flower buds of the evergreen clove tree. This aromatic oil has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine and in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities. Its pain-relieving ability has also been noted in the texts of these ancient medical practices.

Recent studies have given credence to claims of clove oils’ use as an effective antibacterial. It has been shown to fight bacteria commonly associated with acne, making it a useful addition to skincare products. It has been shown to have potential antifungal properties, exhibiting a strong response against Candida albicans. Clove oil is frequently used in anti-aging skin care products due to its high content of Eugenol, a compound found in clove essential oil that is responsible for its antioxidant properties.

Clove oil has been proven to fight against common viral infections and is thought to be a protector of the digestive system. Further studies have shown evidence that clove oil works to activate tissue remodeling (or the reorganization and remodeling of existing skin cells) in human dermal fibroblasts. Dermal fibroblasts are cells found within the second skin layer and are responsible for generating connective tissue and supporting the skin while recovering from injury. Simply stated, clove essential oil is a great choice for supporting healthy, balanced skin!

The spicy aroma of clove oil has long been touted as an aphrodisiac and modern studies are providing efficacy to that claim. It has also been found to be an effective regulator of blood pressure, giving it relaxing benefits.

Clove essential oil can be found in the following products:

#19 Tangerine

Tangerines are remarkably similar to Mandarin oranges and even share a common botanical name, Citrus reticulata. Like essential oils from other citrus fruits, tangerine essential oil is extracted from the peels with a cold compression process. It has a light, sweet and cheerful aroma. Just like the other fragrant members of the citrus family, tangerine essential oil can boost your mood, making it a perfect scent for your morning routine.   

In ancient medicinal traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, it has long been thought to have anti-inflammatory properties but it has recently been discovered that the oil extracted from tangerine peels may have anti-neuroinflammatory properties. Neuroinflammation is inflammation related to the Central Nervous System and is thought to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

Tangerine essential oil has antifungal and antiseptic properties and is known to be particularly effective in fighting Staphylococcus Aureus, the bacteria responsible for Sepsis. More research is needed to fully discover all of the amazing therapeutic benefits contained in tangerine essential oil.

We’ve blended this vibrant essential oil with a more earthy oil to create a sweet and spicy scent combination.

Tangerine essential oil can be found in the following products:

Which Essential Oil is Your Favorite?

As you can see, the benefits of essential oils are vast. Since we use these oils in many of our products, your skin will reap these benefits every time you use them. Many of our goat milk soaps have added essential oils that are potent skin balancing ingredients. They can help you maintain healthy skin from head to toe. The essential oils added to our natural deodorant, luxurious milk baths, and hydrating lotions give our products an extra therapeutic boost we know you’ll love! They are a key ingredient for a healthy, nourished lifestyle.