Essential Oil of the Week: Vetiver

    Many of the essential oils we know of today have been used in the past as perfumes and colognes.  A few popular base notes are rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang, cinnamon and frankincense.  These are all very heavy and solid making for a nice aroma to build upon.  One of my personal favorite essential oils for perfumery is Vetiver.  This long green grass has incredibly strong roots and a woodsy scent.  It is native to Asia where many were planted on hillsides to ease erosion.  Vetiver is a great insect repellant known to rid homes of moths.  The essential oil is a great tonic for the digestive system while easing nervous tension and promoting restful sleep so make sure to use it in the bath before bed.  Vetiver is also known to heal the skin, uplift the mood and strengthen the body making it a wonderful addition to your early morning routine as well.  Vetiver may be a bit masculine in aroma due to the woodsy quality but the smell is more fresh than heavy.  In my opinion, there is a strong connection between the smell of fresh laundry and Vetiver essential oil.  Always remember that an essential oil will smell far different on your body than out of the bottle.  Once the oil hits your skin it begins to react with your personal chemistry so it will smell different on each person.  I really enjoy combining Vetiver with Vanilla and using those two as my daily perfume.  Explore different synergies between oils because you never know when you will make a new and beautiful scent.  Enjoy applying oils as you get the instinct to do so because the body typically subconsciously knows what it needs.  If you are interested in learning the properties of certain oils just ask our team, most everyone is very knowledgeable on the healing power of essential oils!      
By: Sarah McCallum
Massage Therapist @ NLMSC