Vetiver is a very sticky oil that comes from a grass and just as grasses are grounded and rooted, Vetiver also helps us feel grounded and rooted in our lives. Being of the earth, this oil has calming, cooling, and centering actions that work equally on the body and the mind.
Calm down instantly with vetiver essential oil. Vetiver oil is very thick and has a strong, earthy scent. It is used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and calmness.
This lovely oil is rich in sesquiterpenes, which contain grounding properties. When experiencing anxiety, nervousness, or stress...use vetiver topically or aromatically. It inspires a harmonious state while promoting deep concentration.
Vetiver Essential Oil Facts
Vetiver is a thick amber oil that comes from a tropical grass well known for preventing soil erosion. It is native to Asia, grows about 4 to 8 feet in height, and produces large clusters of underground roots that are aromatic. The oil is extracted from the roots of the plant and has a deep, woody aroma.
Frequently used in natural perfumery, vetiver's unique aroma has an alluring effect. Only a little is needed to smell that amazing scent. It can enhance sensual and romantic emotions as well
Botanical Name | Vetiveria zizanoides |
Botanical Family | Poaceae |
Aka | Vetivert |
Aroma | Woody, smoky, and earthy |
Extraction Method | Steam distilled |
Plant Part Used | Root |
Shelf Life | 4-8 years |
Kid Safe? | Yes, max dilution 1% |
Safety Concerns | Non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing |
Note: Max dilution for adults is 15% according to Tisserand.
Vetiver Essential Oil Blends Well With
Vetiver essential oil has a warm, woody aroma that is both grounding and refreshing. It issteam distilled from the roots of the Vetiveria zizanioides plant, also known as khus grass. Vetiver oil is an excellent choice for use in blends intended to promote relaxation and stress relief.
There are many oils that vetiver blends well with, this is not an exhaustive list, just some suggestions:
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
- Lavender
- Geranium
- Rose
- Jasmine
- Ylang Ylang
- Clary Sage
- Angelica
- Tumeric
- Black Pepper
- Bergamot
- Frankincense
- Cypress
- Helichrysum
- Myrrh
- Nutmeg
Vetiver Essential Oil Benefits
Vetiver Essential Oil is popular in perfumery and aromatherapy for its grounding and stabilizing properties. It is said to be helpful for balancing emotions, promoting concentration, and easing anxiety and stress.
Vetiver Essential Oil is also used in skincare for its ability to soothe dry, irritated skin and promote healing.
Check out more benefits of vetiver oil:
- Promotes emotional equilibrium
- Stabilizes the nervous system
- Assists with deep, revitalizing sleep
- Enhances focus and concentration
- Supports a healthy immune system
- Cools and nourishes the skin
- Enhance sensual and romantic emotions
- Promotes comfort and assists the joints
- Connects one with the earth and earth energies
- Reduces inflammation (anti-inflammatory properties)
- Offers skin healing properties for all types of skin
Vetiver Essential Oil Roller Blend
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Frankincense, Vetiver, and Helichrysum essential oil blend is a combination of three powerful essential oils that can bring many benefits to your health and wellbeing. This blend can help reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, improve skin health, and help improve sleep.
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Vetiver Essential Oil Uses and Benefits
Vetiver oil can also be used topically, but it should be diluted with a carrier oil before applying it to the skin. Some people also add vetiver oil to their bathwater or use it in a diffuser to enjoy its calming benefits.
1. Focus and Concentration
Do you or your children struggle with concentration? It seems like it's becoming more and more common in our world. One of the best essential oils for lack of concentration or an all-over scattered feeling is Vetiver oil.
Everything is always on. You can drive up and get fast food in the middle of the night. Many gas stations are open 24 hours. Walmart is open 24 hours. Turn on your TV anytime you want and it'll be on. The internet is on 24/7. Our world is massively coming at us at all times. It's a wonder people have trouble concentrating. There are just so many distractions out there.
While we can turn off the TV or turn off our computers when we want, there ARE many distractions we can't turn off. Sometimes those distractions are inside of us. Sometimes they come in the form of a chemical imbalance.
Diffusing Vetiver: Use an essential oil diffuser to get the benefits for the entire home, office or classroom. Check out the recipes section for vetiver diffuser blends to try.
2. Restful Sleep
Sleep is vital for a healthy mind and body. When lack of sleep occurs, body functions begin to slow down. Vetiver is a fabulous oil for sleep. It can give your body the rest it needs.
Vetiver Lavender Bedtime Roller: Place 4 drops of vetiver oil & 6 drops lavender oil into a roller bottle, fill rest of bottle with carrier oil like jojoba oil. To use, roll on chest or wrists before bedtime, deeply inhale the aroma.
3. Emotions
Vetiver oil balances emotions by affecting the Amygdala gland, so it is best to for the person suffering with emotional issues to not only put the oil on, but to smell it as well. Find out more about essential oils and emotions.
The Amygdala gland in your brain is ONLY accessed by scent. It is the part of our body that holds emotional grief.
It works somewhat like this. You smell fresh baked cookies and you automatically find yourself thinking of your grandma who used to make you cookies all the time as a child. Or when you smell that fresh Christmas tree, it jogs your memory of that one amazing Christmas you'll never forget.
Vetiver Inhaler: Simply place 10 drops of vetiver (5 drops for a child) on cotton wick and place into inhaler. To use, hold open inhaler under nose and take a deep breathe in. Allow the aroma to soothe and calm you.
4. Deep Relaxation
Vetiver's earthy scent provides aromatic benefits that calm and relax the mind and body. By smelling this oil, it can help you or your loved one feel deeply relaxed. It deals with stress at the core level of your being.
It is a great oil to rub on your brow bone. Keeping it near your face and put onto your head will affect your brain and help you to keep smelling that wonderful and healing scent all through out your day.
Vetiver Oil Bath: Add 5 drops of oil to 1 tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil, mix together. Fill bath tub with warm water once desired level, add bath oil blend. Add 1/2 cup Epsom salt. Swirl with hand for an ideal bath that will be deeply relaxing.
5. Ease Restless Thoughts
If you often lay awake at night from endless mind chatter or restless thoughts, give vetiver oil a try.
Diffuse before bedtime, the powerful grounding aroma can help with relaxation, as well as ease your mind from stressful thoughts or dreams. Its thick, sticky consistency can cause clogging in some diffusers. To avoid this you can premixed with thinner oils and then diffuse.
6. Perfume Base
Use vetiver essential oil in a DIY perfume blend. It is frequently used as a base note in perfumes (perfume fixative). Base notes hold lighter top notes to the skin. It provides balance and depth to the blends aromatic profile.
Vetiver Essential Oil Recipes
Vetiver essential oil has a deep, woodsy aroma that can be used to promote relaxation and ease stress. Vetiver oil is also said to be helpful for improving sleep quality and reducing inflammation. If you're looking for ways to incorporate vetiver oil into your life, try one of our vetiver oil recipes.
Here are several of vetiver essential oil blends you can try at home. Enjoy the aromatherapy benefits that you will gain.
Oil of Tranquility Bath Blend |
Grounding, cooling and nourishing blend
Directions: Mix essential oils into Castile soap, add to warm bath. |
Woodland Dreams Diffuser Blend |
Earthy and woody with a hint of floral, let this blend help you sleep
Directions: Add essential oils recipes below to diffuser with recommended water for your diffuser tank. I like to use a 100-200 ml water tank diffuser but you can use whatever size you prefer. |
Read More: Diffusing Essential Oils
Relax Body, Mind & Spirit Massage Oil |
Use as a self massage blend, inhale the aroma as applying
Add essential oils to a dropper bottle or lotion pump bottle, fill rest of bottle with grapeseed oil. Shake to blend, label bottle. |
Read More: Aromatherapy Massage Oil Recipes
Negativity Be Gone Diffuser Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils recipes below to diffuser with recommended water for your diffuser tank. |
Let It Go Roller Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils to roller bottle and top off with jojoba oil. Roll onto wrists, chest and shoulders, deeply inhale the aroma. 5% dilution. |
Free to Focus Diffuser Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils recipes below to diffuser with recommended water for your diffuser tank. |
Calm and Collected Roller Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils to roller bottle and top off with jojoba oil. Roll onto wrists, chest and shoulders, deeply inhale the aroma. 5% dilution. |
Peace Diffuser Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils recipes below to diffuser with recommended water for your diffuser tank. |
Immunity Inhaler Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils to cotton wick and insert into inhaler. |
Read More: How to Use Essential Oil Inhalers
Relax and Recharge Diffuser Blend |
Directions: Add essential oils recipes below to diffuser with recommended water for your diffuser tank. |
Rest & Rejuvenation Body Gel |
Directions: Blend essential oils into aloe vera gel and rub onto body. Let the body gel soak into skin for a healing and rejuvenating experience. I love aloe vera gel, it leaves the skin SO SOFT!! Make sure you get the gel and not jelly, it is a watery substance (not really "gel" like you may think but it is amazing, I buy mine through Aromatics. |
Vetiver Essential Oil Combinations
Here are essential oil combinations for vetiver essential oil:
Lavender and Vetiver
This classic calm-inducing oil is a perfect complement to vetiver. Try adding a few drops of lavender and vetiver to your diffuser for a relaxing aromatherapy experience.
Orange and Vetiver
Vetiver and orange make a refreshing and uplifting combination. Add a few drops of each oil to your diffuser or add them to your favorite lotion or massage oil.
Bergamot and Vetiver
Vetiver and bergamot are both oils with grounding properties. This pairing can be helpful when you are feeling scattered or stressed. You can add a few drops of each oil to your diffuser or create a relaxing massage blend by adding them to a carrier oil.
Conclusion of Vetiver Essential Oil Spotlight
Vetiver oil is extracted from the Vetiveria zizanioides grass, which is native to India. The roots of the Vetiver plant are used to produce this oil. Vetiver oil has a woody, earthy, and musky aroma. It is amber or dark brown in color and has a thick consistency. Vetiver oil blends well with other essential oils such as Lavender, Bergamot, Orange, etc.
Add a few drops of vetiver oil to your favorite lotion or carrier oil and massage it into your skin before bedtime. This will help you relax and drift off to sleep more easily. You can also add a few drops of vetiver oil to your diffuser along with some lavender oil to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere in your home.
General Essential Oil Precautions
Never use essential oils undiluted, in eyes or mucous membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified practitioner. Keep out of reach from children.
Use essential oils with extreme caution on children, be sure you have researched the oil and that it is safe for use on kids. Plant Therapy clearly labels their oils "KidSafe" on the bottle if the oil can be used for children ages 2–10.
If applying an essential oil topically (on your skin), you may perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body, use 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil like jojoba oil, read more here.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues here.
Newbie to Oils? Get our guide below or read more here: Essential Oils for Beginners