Need some minty freshness in your life? Give Spearmint Oil a try for a breath of fresh air. It is beneficial for digestive issues, mental clarity, and emotional support. Learn about Spearmint Essential Oil Recipes, Uses and Benefits.
Being in the Mint family, this essential oil is energizing yet balancing and calming for stress and tension. Inhaling the refreshing, minty aroma stimulates the senses and clears the mind. Not only that, but spearmint is a kid-friendly essential oil.
It is important to note that spearmint essential oil can be extremely helpful in aiding digestion because it has been shown to work as an antispasmodic agent by relaxing the muscles of the digestive system.
Spearmint is also an anti-inflammatory agent, which means that it can be used to relieve joint inflammation and muscle pain.
Spearmint Essential Oil Facts
Spearmint essential oil (Mentha spicata) is steam distilled from leaves of the spearmint plant, a perennial herb with flowering tops, also known as common mint or garden mint. The leaves are bright green with a sweet mint aroma and bears pink-lilac flowers.
Carvone is the main chemical component of spearmint essential oil, giving it that minty aroma. Oil of spearmint is commonly used as a flavoring for toothpaste and confectionery and can even be found in shampoos and soaps.
Need a Spearmint Essential Oil Substitution
Try Peppermint oil, as they have similar therapeutic uses, so you can substitute one for the other. Read more about essential oil substituting.
Peppermint essential oil can be too strong for young children due to high menthol content. Spearmint essential oil is a gentler mint. It is more subtle for kids because it has only a small amount of menthol in it so you can confidently use it with younger children. Read more about peppermint vs spearmint essential oil.
Botanical Name | Mentha spicata |
Botanical Family | Lamiaceae |
Aka | N/A |
Note | Middle-Top |
Aroma | Minty, sweet, herbaceous |
Extraction Method | Steam distilled |
Plant Part Used | Leaves |
Shelf Life | 2-3 years |
Adult Max Dilution |
1.75% dilution in carrier oil for topical use |
Safety Precautions | Considered okay for kids, pregnancy and nursing (consult physician first). Non-toxic, non-sensitizing, non-irritant. Keep out of reach of pets and kids. |
Spearmint Essential Oil Blends Well With
There are many oils that Spearmint blends well with:
- Bergamot
- Black Pepper
- Cardamom
- Chamomile (Roman)
- Cypress
- Eucalyptus
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Marjoram (Sweet)
- Nutmeg
- Orange
- Ravintsara
- Rosemary
- Tangerine
- Tea Tree
- Thyme
- Ylang Ylang
Therapeutic Uses:
Colic, dyspepsia, nausea, flatulence, digestive upset, stomachache, neuralgia, lumbago, muscular ache, nervous migraine, nervous fatigue
Therapeutic Properties:
Antiseptic, calmative, decongestant, digestive, nervine, restorative, spasmolytic, stimulant, stomachic
Spearmint Essential Oil Uses and Benefits
Spearmint oil is uplifting and perfect to use when feeling sad or fatigued. It can reduce mental strain and calm tension. It's a great essential oil to use in stress relief blends, like our Lavender Spearmint Room Spray Recipe.
Considered a digestive essential oil, spearmint oil can be inhaled to stimulate appetite or reduce nausea as noted in this study.
When using essential oils topically, it is best practice to dilute them in a carrier oil first before applying to the skin. Jojoba and fractionated coconut oil are popular carrier oils for essential oils.
Check out some of the benefits of spearmint essential oil:
- Supports a healthy digestive system
- Helps boost the immune system
- Eases congestion relating to a cold or the flu
- Refreshes and awakens the mind and body
- Helps release emotional blocks
- Supports a positive outlook on life
- Assists to relieve headaches and stress
Spearmint Essential Oil Recipes
Looking for some ways to include this uplifting oil into your DIY blends? Use Spearmint oil topically or aromatically to receive the mood-boosting benefits. Here are 5 simple yet effective spearmint essential oil blend recipes.
1. Spearmint Inhaler Blend - Focus Plus |
This is a wonderful blend of focusing essential oils. The freshness of the lemon and spearmint help to increase alertness, the sharp scent of rosemary helps to improve concentration, while the earthy smell of vetiver oil is very grounding.
Directions: Add wick to a small bowl, drop essential oils onto the wick, using tweezers to pick up the wick, then get any oil residual left in the bowl onto the wick. Place the wick in blank inhaler and put on end cap (base). To use, place under nose and inhaler the aroma. |
2. Spearmint Roller Recipe - Muscle Massage |
Spearmint has anti-inflammatory properties allowing it to reduce swelling and inflammation, especially great when combined with other muscle soothing essential oils like this easy roller blend massage oil.
Directions: Add all recipe ingredients to the roll-on bottle. Shake to blend together, roll over muscle areas that need soothing support. 5% dilution. |
3. Spearmint Diffuser Blend - Minty Rise and Shine |
The citrus oils and hint of minty aroma in this blend elevates your mind and mood, give it a try!
Directions: Add essential oil drops to your aromatherapy diffuser with recommended water for the tank. Turn diffuser machine on and enjoy. We have more spearmint diffuser blends to enjoy! |
4. Spearmint Bath Blend - Restorative Recipe |
Ancient Greeks used spearmint to restore the body and add fragrance to their bathwater. Here is a lovely way to add it to your bathing ritual.
Directions: Blend castile soap and essential oils together. Run bath water to a suitable temperature for your skin. Add the bath blend to bathwater once filled, swirl water with hand to blend. Carefully get into the bath (don't wait, the warm water will cause the essential oils to start evaporating). You may want to close the door to keep the aroma in your bathroom for your aromatic pleasure. |
5. Spearmint Digestive Blend Recipe |
Upset stomach, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and other digestive issues can be halted with this powerful blend of digestive essential oils and the convenience of a dropper bottle makes application to belly really simple.
Directions: Add essential oils to the dropper bottle, then fill with a carrier oil and shake well to mix. Apply several drops to the abdomen and massage. 2% dilution. |
Where to Buy Spearmint Essential Oil?
This essential oil is common enough that most essential oil brands carry it. If you need a bottle and are looking for a high-quality brand, here are some favorite brands:
Barefut Essential Oils
Barefut Oil has been in business since December 2010 and is ran by Certified Aromatherapists. I can ALWAYS get great deals and specials on their website plus they offer high-quality essential oils. Here is how Barefut describes their Spearmint oil:
Although it is not as popular as its cousin Peppermint. Spearmint is still a highly sought after minty herb. The Spearmint Essential Oil is perfect for that sweet, minty aroma, and the beneficial properties of Spearmint are many. Spearmint Essential Oil is often used to diffuse during cold season or to dilute properly and rub on the abdomen to ease digestive discomfort. Buy Here
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? Read More: Essential Oils for Beginners
Frequently Asked Questions About Spearmint Oil Recipes and Uses
Here are some common questions about spearmint essential oil.
What is Spearmint essential oil good for?
Spearmint oil not only has a refreshing minty scent, but it also offers numerous benefits. When diffused, it can help with respiratory issues, relieve coughs, alleviate headaches, boost mood, and reduce stress. Additionally, it has energizing properties and helps combat fatigue.
When diluted and applied topically, Spearmint oil can provide relief for sore muscles, reduce inflammation, and ease joint discomfort. It is suitable for both adults and children.
Is spearmint essential oil good for skin?
Spearmint essential oil has properties that can be beneficial for the skin. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may help with various skin conditions. Additionally, spearmint oil has a cooling effect, which can provide relief for itchy or irritated skin.
Some individuals also find that using spearmint oil helps in reducing excess oil production and helps in promoting a clearer complexion. However, it is essential to dilute spearmint oil properly before using it on the skin, as it can be quite strong and may cause skin irritation or sensitivities for some people.
Where does spearmint essential oil come from?
Spearmint essential oil is derived from the botanical source, Mentha spicata, which belongs to the mint family and is considered as an herbaceous perennial plant.
Does spearmint essential oil repel bugs and insects?
Yes! Spearmint oil possesses a scent that humans find delightful, yet insects detest. By diffusing Spearmint oil or mixing it with a carrier oil, you can create a potent insect repellent to fend off bothersome bugs like mosquitoes, flies, moths, fleas, and more. Additionally, placing a few drops of Spearmint oil on your doorways and windowsills establishes a natural barrier to prevent insects from entering your living space.