With its wonderful delicate aroma, it hints at both soft floral and citrus notes. Palmarosa has become a firm favourite in the Tisserand Aromatherapy team for its aroma alone. This clever essential oil holds an abundance of properties for the mind and body. But what is Palmarosa Essential Oil used for?
While predominantly sweet, Palmarosa has a dry ‘grassy’ note to its aroma, making it both soothing and slightly sharp. This is ideal for calming the mood but also wonderful for helping you to feel motivated! While great for mood enhancement, it is also a wonderful anti-microbial oil. Much like Lemon Tea Tree, Palmarosa does not have the ‘typical’ aroma of the classic anti-microbial oils like Tea Tree, meaning it can be a lot more palatable with a sweeter aroma while doing a great job of cleansing and purifying. Palmarosa can be blended with other anti-microbial oils to bring a softness to the often ‘medicinal’ aroma associated with that therapeutic property – for a truly supercharged anti-microbial blend!
Where does it come from?
Native to the Indian sub-continent, Palmarosa essential oil has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for 1000’s of years to help relieve muscle and joint pain, help reduce the discomfort of fevers, and help ease digestive upset (when applied topically – please never ingest essential oils). While considered anti-inflammatory on an emotional level – helping to ease feelings of anxiety, stress, anger, irritability and frustration – physically, it also has the ability to cool the skin. This can be helpful for inflamed skin conditions like heat rash, sun and windburn, and helps to cool and soothe acne.
Palmarosa essential oil belongs to the same family as Lemongrass and Citronella, the Poaceae family. All of them are the grasses, the most abundant plant on our planet. There are over 10,000 types of grass on the earth, Bamboo being the strongest and tallest. Some we eat, some are ornamental, and some are used for herbal medicine. Palmarosa is a tall, slender grass growing up to 3 meters high, Its flowers change from pale blue to dark red as they mature. Unusually, the essential oil is extracted by steam distillation of the whole plant – leaves, flowers and stalks! It is harvested for distillation in April and May and then again between September to December.
Palmarosa blends well with other grasses, florals, spices, citrus and woods, meaning it’s a great essential oil to have in your kit. It is very versatile and adds a subtle sweetness to any blend. Take a look at some of my recommended blends below to experience its versatility:
Soothing Massage blend for the skin after too much sunshine – this is a 1% blend so can be used on the face and body
Add the following essential oils to 20ml of blending oil like Jojoba or Sweet Almond Oil:
2 drops of Palmarosa – Cymbopogen martini
1 drop of Chamomile Roman – Anthemis nobilis
1 drop of Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Apply gently to areas of the skin that needs soothing. Never apply essential oils neat to the skin.
Diffuser blend to dispel feelings of anxiety, worry or frustration
Add the following essential oils to the water in your Aroma Spa Diffuser:
2 drops of Palmarosa – Cymbopogen martini
1 drop of Geranium – Pelargonium graveolens
5 drops of Lemon – Citrus limonum
Sit back and enjoy this sweet and floral blend with an uplifting burst of Lemon.
About Jo Kellett
Our essential oil expert, Jo Kellett TIDHA MIFPA CIMI, graduated from the Tisserand Institute of Holistic Aromatherapy in 1996. She returned to the college in 1999 as Essential Oil Therapeutics Tutor, where she taught until the college closed. Jo runs a successful private Aromatherapy practice in Brighton, specialising in Women’s health. Jo is also an internationally published author and has lectured on the subject of Aromatherapy both in the UK and abroad.
For more information on Jo Kellett, check out her website or Instagram.
