She smells so good…
Produced from the bitter orange flower Citrus aurantium, neroli essential oil is a must-have at home. It has several benefits (see below). The only downside: its price. It costs 50 euros for 2 or 3 ml of neroli essential oil. Also, Françoise Couic-Marinier, Doctor of Pharmacy, specialist in aromatherapy and phytotherapy, suggests using bitter orange essential oil, which comes from the same citrus fruit, but from orange leaves and not from flowers like neroli. This is effective for the same indications as neroli essential oil. There are also mixtures of neroli essential oil and bitter orange essential oil, less expensive than pure neroli essential oil.
The number 1 benefit of neroli essential oil is its calming effect. “The orange blossom scent of neroli essential oil is strongly associated with purity, childhood” comments Dr Françoise Couic-Marinier, Doctor of Pharmacy, specialist in aromatherapy and phytotherapy. It is this olfactory notion which gives it a calming, anti-stress effect.”It is also effective in cases of depressive state.“. To use it, simply diffuse 2 drops of neroli essential oil in a water vapor diffuser. “The ideal is to use it with Sweet Orange essential oil, the effects of which are synergistic with those of Neroli essential oil.” recommends our specialist. You can also put 2 drops on the inside of your wrists and breathe in.
Neroli oil is also effective in aiding digestion.”It is useful in cases of digestive problems linked to stress, in adults and children.” informs Dr. Couic-Marinier. Put 1 or 2 drops of neroli essential oil on a neutral tablet, a small biscuit or in a teaspoon of vegetable oil. It is also possible to massage the stomach in a circular manner with neroli essential oil diluted in 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. On the beauty side, “This essential oil relaxes the features if you have expression lines. It is also a good skin regenerator and moisturizer” explains Dr. Couic-Marinier. “For daily care, dilute this neroli EO to 1% (i.e. approximately 15 drops for 30 ml of vegetable oil) in Jojoba vegetable oil if you have combination skin, in Argan oil if your skin is dry.” recommends Dr. Couic-Marinier.
An oil that comforts in difficult times
“In olfactotherapy, this essential oil is also effective in helping to overcome grief (children who lose a loved one, parents who lose a baby, etc.). Experiments have been carried out in maternity hospitals for parents whose baby has died and have shown its effectiveness.” informs Dr. Couic-Marinier. Neroli essential oil is a harmonizer that can help children during divorce of their parents or to strengthen parent-child bonds. Put 1 to 2 drops of neroli EO on the inside of the wrists and breathe. You can put 10 drops of neroli EO in a roll-on in 10ml of apricot kernel vegetable oil for example and apply to the inside of the wrists several times a day.
Neroli oil can be used during pregnancy as it is one of the the mildest essential oils. This is also the case for mandarin and grapefruit essential oils, but it is recommended to use the minimum quantities recommended. “Neroli essential oil is very gentle and can even be used for babies as young as 3 months old” informs Dr. Couic-Marinier. This essential oil has no contraindications apart from allergy to nerolidol, an allergen. It is necessary to test its tolerance as for all essential oils before use by applying a drop of essential oil in the crook of the elbow and see if there is no reaction. Be careful, however, of its smell!If it doesn’t smell good, it can burn the skin because it has reacted with the oxygen in the air (peroxidation)” says Dr. Couic-Marinier. Neroli EO has the advantage of not being photosensitizing. You can therefore apply it to the skin before exposing yourself to the sun.
Thanks to Dr. Françoise Couic-Marinier, Doctor of Pharmacy, specialist in aromatherapy and phytotherapy and author of the books Le guide terre vivante des huiles essentielles, 2020 and Aromathérapsy, mieux vivre ses émotions avec les huiles essentielles, l’hypnose et la méditation, Editions Terre vivante, 2021.