Oils & Fun Facts

SINGLE OIL NAME	FUN FACT
ARBORVITAE	doTERRA is the only company in the aromatherapy industry that offers Arborvitae essential oil. 2)The oldest arborvitae tree discovered was around 1,653 years old when it died. 3)Because of the preservative properties of the Arborvitae oil, even trees that have fallen hundreds of years ago still look as if they had fallen only yesterday.
BASIL	Basil once was used for the preparation of holy water in Orthodox churches.
BERGAMOT	Bergamot can dissipate anxious feelings while simultaneously providing cleansing and purifying benefits.
BLACK PEPPER	In ancient Greece and Rome, black pepper was extremely popular and was even used as a medium of exchange.
BLUE TANSY	Blue Tansy is often times mistakenly referred to as Moroccan Chamomile, though Moroccan Chamomile is actually an entirely different species.
CARDAMOM	Native to Southeast Asia, Cardamom is added to traditional Indian sweets and teas for its cool, minty aroma and flavor.
CASSIA	Cassia bark is commonly used for flavoring liquors and chocolate.
CEDARWOOD	Cedarwood is native to cold climates, thriving in high altitudes and growing up to 100 feet.
CILANTRO	Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley and Coriander. Coriander seeds have been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, as an aphrodisiac. Seeds were even found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Also see Coriander.
CINNAMON BARK	What spice could be more valuable than Gold? You guessed it. Cinnamon was once consider to be more valuable than Gold. In Egypt, Cinnamon was desired for certain practices such as embalming and even witchcraft.
CLARY SAGE	In the Middle Ages, the Clary Sage plant was frequently used to soothe skin.
CLOVE	The name clove derives from the Latin word clavus which means “nail.” Cloves no doubt earned the name because the buds resemble small nails or tacks. In the third century BC, a Chinese leader in the Han Dynasty required those who addressed him to chew cloves to freshen their breath.
COPAIBA	Eucalyptus trees are tall, evergreen trees that grow up to 50 feet in height and are sometimes referred to as Gum Trees.
CORIANDER	Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also known as cilantro, is a plant that is completely edible. Although the leaves and seeds are the parts most used. The Romans and Greeks used it to flavor thier wines and it has been used in cooking for centuries. Also see Cilantro.
CYPRESS	Due to its erect and evergreen features, the cypress tree is commonly used for cemetery landscaping.
DOUGLAS FIR	This tall, evergreen fir tree is frequently used in the Christmas tree industry and has a lemonscented note that’s sweet and refreshing.
EUCALYPTUS	Eucalyptus trees are tall, evergreen trees that grow up to 50 feet in height and are sometimes referred to as Gum Trees.
FENNEL SWEET	According to Strabo, a Greek geographer, the town of Marathon, located in Greece, literally means “a place full of fennels.” It is believed that the town was named so due to its abundance of fennel plants in the area.
FRANKINCENSE	In addition to its notoriety in the New Testament, the Babylonians and Assyrians would burn Frankincense in religious ceremonies and the ancient Egyptians used Frankincense resin for everything from perfume to salves for soothing skin.
GERANIUM	In the Victorian era, fresh geranium leaves were placed at formal dining tables as decorative pieces and to be consumed as a fresh sprig if desired; in fact, the edible leaves and flowers of the plant are often used in desserts, cakes, jellies, and teas.
GINGER	Internal use of Ginger is best known as a digestive aid and for helping to ease occasional indigestion and nausea.
GRAPEFRUIT	Grapefruits (Citrus X paradisi) were given the name because of the way they grew in cluster’s similar to grapes.
HELICHRYSUM	Helichrysum gets its name from the Greek word helios, which means sun, and chrysos, which means gold. This description refers to the beautiful golden color of the flowers.
JUNIPER BERRY	Juniper Berry acts as a natural cleansing and detoxifying agent, and supports healthy kidney and urinary tract function.
LAVENDER	In ancient times, the Egyptians and Romans used Lavender for bathing, relaxation, cooking, and as a perfume.
LEMON	Lemon is a powerful cleansing agent that purifies the air and surfaces, and can be used as a non-toxic cleaner throughout the home. Lemon provides cleansing and digestive benefits and supports healthy respiratory function.
LEMONGRASS	A tall, perennial plant, Lemongrass has a subtle citrus flavor and is used in Asian cuisine in soups, teas, and curries as well as with fish, poultry, beef, and seafood.
LIME	Due to its high limonene content, Lime provides internal cleansing benefits* and can be diffused to help purify the air. It’s also an effective and natural surface cleaner.
MARJORAM	Marjoram was once known as a symbol of joy and happiness in ancient cultures.
MELALEUCA (TEA TREE)	The leaves of the Melaleuca tree were used by the Aborigines of Australia for centuries. They would crush the leaves and inhale the oil to promote feelings of clear breathing and apply the leaves directly to the skin for a cooling effect.
MELISSA	Melissa officinalis, also known as lemon balm, received the name “Melissa” because of its sweet, fresh, citrus-like fragrance, which was known to attract bees (Melissa is Greek for “honey bee”).
MYRRH	Myrrh has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense, and health aid. It was also employed in embalming and religious ceremonies. Powerful cleansing properties, especially for the mouth and throat
OREGANO	Hipprocrates, the father of medicine,used Oregano as a cleansing agent as well as for digestive & repriatory support.
PATCHOULI	Easily recognized for its rich, musky-sweet fragrance, Patchouli is regularly used in the perfume industry as well as in scented products such as laundry detergents and air fresheners.
PEPPERMINT	Frequently used in toothpaste and chewing gum for oral hygiene, Peppermint also helps alleviate occasional stomach upset and promotes healthy respiratory function when taken internally.
PETITGRAIN	There are three essential oils derived from the bitter orange tree. Petitgrain is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the tree, Neroli essential oil is distilled from the blossoms, and Bitter Orange oil is produced by cold pressing the rinds of the fruits.
ROMAN CHAMOMILE	The plant has been nicknamed the “plant’s physician” because it has positive effects on plants growing nearby. Ancient Romans used the oil for courage during war.
ROSEMARY	Long revered by experts, Rosemary was considered sacred by the ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Hebrew cultures.
SANDALWOOD, Hawiian	With thousands of years of documented use, this oil has a high value to many users.
SANDALWOOD, Indian	Sandalwood is a name given to a class of fragrant woods that, unlike other aromatic woods, can retain their fragrance for decades.
SIBERIAN FIR	Siberian Fir essential oil has a refreshing, woody scent that is known for its calming and relaxing properties.
SPEARMINT	Spearmint is a perennial plant that grows 11-40 inches tall and flourishes in temperate climates. Spearmint is very different from Peppermint, making it a milder option to use on children and those with sensitive skin.
SPIKENARD	Use of this oil was considered a luxury in biblical times. It is the oil mentioned in the Gospel of Mark that the woman so lavishly used to annoint Jesus’ head at the house of Simon the leper. Pope Francis has a picture of the spikenard plant on his coat of arms.
TANGERINE	Tangerine has a long history of use in Chinese culture and herbal health practices. The essential oil supports healthy digestion and metabolism.
THYME	Thought to impart courage to its bearer, Thyme was given to knights and warriors before they went into battle by ladies of the Middle Ages. During this same period, Thyme was often placed beneath pillows to help promote a peaceful sleep and to ward off nightmares.
VETIVER	Unlike other grasses, the root system of Vetiver grows down, making it ideal for helping to prevent erosion and providing soil stabilization.
WILD ORANGE	Wild Orange possesses stimulating and purifying qualities, making it ideal to support healthy immune system function. It can be taken daily to cleanse the body* or used on surfaces as a natural cleaner.
WINTERGREEN	Wintergreen and Birch are the only plants in the world that contain methyl salicylate naturally.
YLANG YLANG	Ylang Ylang essential oil is used extensively in making perfumes and in aromatherapy. Similar to Jasmine, Ylang Ylang has been used for centuries in religious and wedding ceremonies.