Bay Laurel.

Long ago, the leaves of the bay laurel were woven into crowns for the victor. The tree has never quite lost that air of ceremony, and this oil, distilled from the same leaves that go into a simmering pot, carries it in a wonderfully spicy aroma.

It is steam-distilled from wildcrafted Laurus nobilis leaves in Croatia and is sometimes called laurel leaf oil. Emotionally it is both uplifting and grounding. It is an interesting addition to hair care blends, and it has a gift for softening the more medicinal-smelling oils, such as tea tree, manuka and saro. With Atlas cedarwood it makes a lovely, simple soap blend. In folk magic, laurel is said to bring money.

Details

• Botanical name: Laurus nobilis
• Origin: Croatia; wildcrafted
• Method: steam-distilled leaves
• Shelf life: about 3 to 4 years after opening
• Blends with: benzoin, citrus oils, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove bud, coriander, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, juniper, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, ylang-ylang

How to use

Use it as a minor part of a blend, where it is most effective. Used unwisely it irritates and sensitizes the skin: the maximum dermal use level is 0.5% (IFRA advises 0.01%). Avoid it in pregnancy and if you take blood thinners. It contains methyleugenol, considered potentially carcinogenic, and oils high in 1,8-cineole can cause breathing and nervous system problems in young children, so keep it well away from them. It is an essential oil, not for internal use. Store it dark and refrigerated.