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Sources: Indonesia, Caribbean Islands, Sri Lanka
Extraction: Steam distilled
Note: Base
Scent: Earthy, woody, musky
Key points:
- Insomnia
- Thick, not suitable for nebulizers
- Fixative, good in a blend
Properties: analgesic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative, stimulant
Uses: insomnia, anxiety, depression, stress, insect repellant
Cautions: Generally thought to be safe
Vetiver is an oil from the root of the Vetiveria zizanioides plant. The plant comes from tropical regions such as Haiti, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Brazil. The roots are chopped up and soaked before distillation, a process known as hydro-distillation.
Vetiver is reputed as a calming oil and can be useful in times of anxiety, uncertainty, and stress. It is also often described as grounding and centering. Vetiver’s calming properties can also come in handy with cases of insomnia.
Vetiver’s scent profile is earthy and woodsy. Some have described it as damp earth. On it’s own, it is not for everyone. Fortunately, it mixes is well and is a popular fixative in perfumery. It blends well with other relaxing oils such as lavender and clary sage.
The oil is very viscous, and you may even need to warm the bottle in your hands to get it out. This means it is contraindicated for use in a nebulizer. It should work just fine in most ultrasonics, (unless your model specifically warns against thick oils) especially when anchoring a blend of thinner oils.
Vetiver may be an acquired taste on it’s own, but it is an important base note in blends and perfumes.
