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Benefits and uses of eucalyptus oil and how to make it work for you

The Essential Facts

  • Scientific name: Eucalyptus globulus
  • Anti-inflammatory – relieves inflammation, giving comfort to the user
  • Antiseptic  – kills harmful microorganisms
  • Antibacterial- kills harmful bacteria
  • Decongestant – helps clear airways of mucus
  • Deodorant – neutralizes odours

My love for eucalyptus oil goes back to decades ago, when we would drive through the scenic Nilgiri hills in South India every summer… beautiful landscape, gorgeous weather, and this unmissable invigorating fragrance from tall eucalyptus trees all around.

The entire valley carried this scent that was delicate, fresh, evocative… For me, this bottle is more than just another offering from Mama Earth’s bounty. It is a personal childhood memory in a bottle, and it is an honour to share it with you!

Eucalyptus is an oil that invigorates the senses due to its fresh and clean scent, lifts you away with its citrusy camphor-y notes, yet grounds you with its woody nuances. It also cleans and disinfects surfaces as well as clears your sinuses! Read on to find out what it can do for you!

What is eucalyptus oil?

Eucalyptus oil is extracted from the Eucalyptus globulus tree. Like most eucalyptus species, it is native to Australia but can be grown in different parts of the world both wild and in plantations. It is now extensively cultivated in the Nilgiri Blue Mountain range of Southern India, where I bring this oil from, to you!

Alright, some science here. Eucalyptus oil produced from the eucalyptus globulus tree is intense and camphorous compared to the milder, fruitier fragrances of oil produced from other varieties of eucalyptus trees. This is because of the higher levels of 1,8-cineole or eucalyptol which is present in this sub-species of trees. Eucalyptol is what gives eucalyptus oil its strong insect repellent, antimicrobial, and nasal decongestant properties.

Eucalyptol is an active ingredient that works as an expectorant. This means that it will bond with your mucus helping your body to make it easier to expel the nasty stuff.

It is the eucalyptol that is found in eucalyptus essential oil that will help ease your cough and aid in removal of secretions. It also has antioxidants that can boost your immune system, and has antimicrobial effects on some of the types of bacteria that causes respiratory illnesses. Say goodbye to bad respiratory stuff! Especially relevant in COVID-19 times!

Did you know?

This fresh and intense-smelling oil is a popular ingredient in mouthwashes, diffuser blends, vapour rubs, insect repellents, and as a middle note in fragrances!

How is my eucalyptus oil produced?

I, Ollie, strive to share with you the finest oils that I have sourced so that you can get the best out of your essential oils journey. One of my priorities at Ollie is sustainability.

I source my Nilgiri eucalyptus oil from estates that grow and harvest their eucalyptus trees in an environmentally-friendly process, that does not use inorganic pesticides or fertilizers, and which don’t pose a threat to local wildlife. I also perform quality checks on each batch of oil so that my Ollie tribe gets the best, purest oils!

I promise that these are the purest oils that have personally been sourced by me and abide by my ethical standards so that I can give you the best quality at the most affordable prices!

To extract eucalyptus oil, leaves are first dried and crushed. Then it is through the process of steam distillation, and the hard ethical work of the distillers that we get the eucalyptus oil. I use steam distillation to produce my oil because that gives the most concentrated form of the oil. Nothing but the best for my Ollie Tribe!

It takes several kilograms of dried eucalyptus leaves to produce a few grams of oil. The oil is then bottled in tinted glass bottles to prevent oxidation from light.

It should always be stored in a cool, dark place away from direct heat or light. We’ve already bottled it in the best way so we just need you to keep it in a cool place that is not affected by the heat and humidity of Singapore!

The top 5 benefits of Nilgiri eucalyptus oil

I want you to experience the benefits of this oil like I know you can the night I envisioned bringing this oil to you!

1) Nasal decongestant and phlegm-clearing properties

Eucalyptus oil’s most important and popular property is its ability to clear even the most congested chest and nose completely within a few hours. Did you know that many vapour rubs use eucalyptus oil as one of the main ingredients?

The oil helps loosen even deeply lodged phlegm when applied on the chest or inhaled making it easier for you to breathe. Why not get the benefits of this oil direct from the source and control what goes into your own product? See my recipe below for a homemade DIY vapour rub that is free from any nasty chemicals!

2)  Eases joint and muscle pain

Rubbing a few drops of eucalyptus oil on sore and aching joints relieves pain like nothing else. Massage a few drops of this oil onto aching joints or add it to a diffuser blend to help you deal with painful joints and muscles.

People with arthritis and musculoskeletal inflammation would especially appreciate its fast acting relief. Its analgesic properties are especially popular with athletes who often use a little bit of oil on their muscles during warm up. Use it on your joints on days when you might need that extra relief.

3)  Natural insect repellent

Mosquitoes, cockroaches, mites, and houseflies especially hate eucalyptus oil. Its anti-inflammatory properties also relieve itching from insect bites. Add a few drops in a spray bottle of water and spray it around window sills and doors to keep away insects.

You can also spray this on your kitchen counter and dining table to keep away ants, fruit flies, and houseflies. The smell of eucalyptus repels insects while making your house smell fresher. A win-win situation for you!

4) Stimulate your immune system

Eucalyptus oil has well-researched immune system boosting properties. With COVID-19 striking fear into everybody’s heart, eucalyptus oil will be a great addition to your medicine cabinet. This oil encourages phagocytosis, which is the term for immune cells killing pathogens.

Eucalyptus oil has also been shown to improve symptoms of cold sores, flu, ulcers faster than usual and also promote healing of wounds and burns. Long day at the beach got you sunburned? Use eucalyptus oil for almost instantaneous relief.

5) Relieves symptoms of stress

Eucalyptus oil has a wonderful menthol-like aroma which is great for relieving stress and easing tension headaches. Add a few drops in a diffuser or rub a drop or two on your temples to rejuvenate your mind after a long and stressful day at work. I use a few drops of my Nilgiri eucalyptus oil in a diffuser blend every morning while doing yoga and it is so deeply refreshing, I am able to go through the entire day without experiencing exhaustion!

A great way to help you relax and to even get you to sleep so that your body can begin its healing process is to use lavender oil in a diffuser blend or even use a couple of drops on your pillow.

What do you know… my blog on lavender oil has a few tips and tricks that will help you do just that. After reading it, why not buy a bottle for yourself?

How to use eucalyptus oil?

I include this section in all my articles on essential oils because many people use essential oils improperly and miss out on the exciting benefits they offer. Let me teach you how to use them!

Ollie Caution!

A few dos and don’ts of using Ollie’s Nilgiri Eucalyptus Oil:

  • Do not ingest eucalyptus oil as it is toxic.
  • It is not suitable for direct use on skin, particularly those of infants and young children. Especially do not use it on their faces as it may cause eye and nose irritation.
  • Always use a carrier oil (like almond oil)! Do not use it directly as it may cause skin irritation.
  • Store your bottle of Nilgiri eucalyptus oil in a cool, dry place. Always store it in tinted bottles to avoid oxidation (the oil becomes rancid when it oxidizes).
  • Do not use eucalyptus oil as a replacement for respiratory prescription medicines.

Easy DIY eucalyptus oil recipes

Alright, now for the fun part! But before I share with you my carefully curated list of Nilgiri eucalyptus oil recipes, buy your bottle here now!

Eucalyptus oil for sinus relief (melting cube recipe)

This recipe is creative and a great relief for clogged sinuses. It’s easy to follow and work in a jiffy. Keep it in a shallow dish in one corner of your bathroom and take a shower. The heat of the shower will melt this cube and release the vapours from the oils to give you an aromatic and sinus clearing shower.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Mix together the cornstarch and 7 drops of my Nilgiri eucalyptus oil until the mixture becomes crumbly.
  2. Add in the food colouring (entirely optional, so feel free to skip this step if you don’t want any colour but do it for that extra FUN element!)
  3. Add 1 tablespoon of water first to form clumps (and disperse the food colouring).
  4. Keep adding water slowly to the paste. Remember not to dump all the water in the cornstarch mixture at once because it will immediately harden.
  5. Mix until you get a thick paste. Add more water if it is too thick. The consistency should be slightly thicker than toothpaste.
  6. Transfer the paste to ice cube trays and freeze until the mixture sets.
  7. Use one cube at a time as and when desired.

Eucalyptus oil aromatherapy blend

Pamper yourself with this relaxing and rejuvenating bath blend. Use it to soak sore muscles and a tired body at the end of a long day. The eucalyptus oil in this blend also promotes healthier skin and heals any cuts or scrapes you might have.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Mix all the essential oils together in the dark glass bottle.
  2. Put a few drops into your diffuser and relax away
  3. Pour a few drops of this blend into your bath water.
  4. Use a dark glass or PET bottle to prevent oxidation of the oil. Store the blend in a cool, dark place away from humidity.

DIY hair conditioner to reduce dandruff and itchiness

One of the best benefits of eucalyptus oil is its ability to soothe itchiness and inflammation. Some causes of dandruff are fungal infections and skin inflammation. Eucalyptus oil has antifungal properties which are great for clearing up fungal infections.

It is also a great anti-inflammatory agent which can soothe inflamed skin. Use this homemade DIY hair conditioner after shampooing your hair to reduce dandruff and itchiness.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Dilute the apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water.
  2. Add in 7 drops of Ollie’s Nilgiri eucalyptus oil to the diluted apple cider vinegar.
  3. Massage this blend into your hair and scalp and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
  4. Rinse your hair with cool water. If you have long hair, I suggest leaving the vinegar rinse on, as it will prevent hair from becoming tangled.
  5. Don’t worry about having a vinegary odour to your hair because the scent will fade once your hair dries!

Know what else works for a problematic scalp? Peppermint oil! Adding peppermint oil to your shampoo also helps alleviate itchy scalp and dandruff. Read about it in our blog then get a bottle of it to try it out for yourself!

All-natural shaving cream with eucalyptus oil

I came up with this great recipe for a shaving cream because I wanted a product that not only was good for my skin, did the job, but was also free from synthetic chemicals. Check out this super easy all-natural shaving cream recipe!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, mix the coconut oil, carrier oil, and all the essential oils together.
  2. Add in the baking soda and mix thoroughly.
  3. Finally mix this with the Shea Butter and spoon it into a glass container.
  4. Use while shaving.

This shaving cream is luxurious and smooth. The various essential oils reduce chances of razor burns while the oils and shea butter leave your skin soft and glowing.

The takeaway

My Nilgiri eucalyptus oil is a fragrant, multipurpose oil that should definitely be in your medicine cabinet. Use it as a balm, an air freshener, an insect repellent, or as a nasal decongestant. No need to limit yourself there… experiment and see what else you can do!

I love using eucalyptus oil in many of my other recipes. Check out my other articles of essential oils that pair well with my Nilgiri eucalyptus oil and have fun experimenting with different oils!

Check out my other blogs on how you can use other oils that I stock so that you can get your wellness on!

Share your experience with me on social media! Tag me @ollie_oils on Instagram and @itsollie.oils on Facebook. Let’s stay safe and healthy during these uncertain times!

We have other oils that you can use in so many ways! Why not try out the rest of amazing oils we have? Shop now!

Have an Ollie good day!

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