Oil Of The Week: Lemon Verbena

 

Brightly scented with a citrus herbal aroma,  lemon verbena is a favourite essential oil in the fragrance and beauty industries. The oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the  Aloysia triphylla  shrub, which is native to South America.

Well known in the fragrance and tea industries for it's invigorating scent, lemon verbena is also used as a flavouring in culinary dishes. The leaves were traditionally used to make a tea, but later the plant was brought over to Europe and cultivated for the oil, which was and still is, used in the perfume industry.

Although not part of the citrus family, lemon verbena does contain limonene and citral which gives it its lemony scent.

 

Medicinal

Lemon verbena has powerful antiseptic, antimicrobial and disinfectant properties. Diffuse it into the air to get rid of germs and to breathe in the healing vapours.

Lemon verbena can also help relieve coughing and pain from fevers and flu. Make a vapour rub with it to apply to back and chest or simply add a few drops to a burner.

 

In Body Products

Lemon verbena contains high amounts of antioxidant compounds, and combined with its powerful anti inflammatory abilities, this makes it an excellent addition to skin and body products, particularly those used to soothe sore muscles and fight any inflammation and puffiness.

Lemon verbena adds a refreshing scent to shampoos, soaps and cleansers and makes a great addition to sugar scrubs, toners and body mists.

Lemon verbena is a great deodorant too - try it in your DIY deo!

 

Aromatherapy

Its invigorating aroma makes lemon verbena a fabulous afternoon pick-me-up when energies and concentration are low. Add a few drops to a burner or diffuser to sharpen the mind.

Diffuse it to freshen and purify the air in the home or office, and to relieve stress and relax.

Lemon verbena is a powerful anti inflammatory, making it an ideal addition to massage therapy oil blends. It is great for relieving painful inflammation as well as relaxing muscles and any stress in the body.

 

Other

Lemon verbena is a natural insecticide and insect repellent. Blend it with citronella to make a potent repellent for warm summer evenings.

Lemon verbena’s refreshing scent makes it a wonderful room freshener. Add it to your  DIY air freshener to create an uplifting room fragrance.

Because of the chemical makeup of lemon verbena oil, it is an excellent cleaner, similar to the citrus oils. It is a handy addition to your homemade natural cleaners and smells great too!

Lemon verbena may be photosensitive so please avoid going into the sun after applying to skin.

Lemon verbena blends well with  neroli,  palmarosa and other citrusy scents,  peppermint,  spearmint and  elemi.

 

Recipes

Simple Disinfecting Soap

Great for disinfecting counters and surfaces!

¼ c  castile soap

¼ c  isopropyl alcohol

10 drops  lemon

10 drops  lemon verbena

10 drops  lavender

20 drops  orange

Combine everything together and add to a pump bottle. To use, pump out a small amount on a damp cloth and wipe down surfaces.

 

Lemon Verbena Insect Repellent 

½ c  witch hazel

10 drops  lemon verbena

10 drops  citronella

10 drops  geranium

10 drops  peppermint

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before spritzing around for mozzies, flies and other insects.

For more insect deterrent recipes, read  Natural Insect Repellents. 

 

Muscle Rub For Pain & Inflammation

3 drops  turmeric

3 drops  ginger

5 drops  lemon verbena

2 T  grapeseed oil or other carrier oil of choice

Combine all ingredients, mix well and then massage in.