Most of us are used to popping a sprig or two of rosemary in our pork or lamb, but aside from the cooking connection, it actually happens to be a very versatile herb.1
Rosemary essential oil is made from the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) shrub, which is an evergreen and is characterised by its needle-like leaves and woody fragrance.2 While these shrubs may be native to the Mediterranean – Tunisia, Morocco and France3 – they can be found growing in the UK, Mexico, America and northern Africa.4
How is it made?
As with most essential oils, rosemary oil is extracted from the leaves and yellow flowers of rosemary shrubs, using a process widely known as steam distillation.5
How long have people been using rosemary essential oil for?
Rosemary essential oil has a long and rich history. In ancient times, it was believed to help improve memory, and in Ancient Greece, rosemary wreaths were worn by scholars to help encourage memory and aid thinking.
Meanwhile, the ancient Greeks would burn dried rosemary as an offering to the Gods, and Egyptians honoured their loved ones by placing sprigs of rosemary, as a symbol of remembrance, on their coffins.6
During the 16th century, rosemary was used as an incense or a balm to eliminate harmful bacteria. For thousands of years, it’s been used in folk medicine to help improve memory, aid digestion and relieve aches and pains.7
How can it be used?
There’s so much you can do with rosemary oil. You can:8
Massage it
Dilute 5 drops of rosemary oil with 10ml of Miaroma base oil and gently massage into skin.9
Bathe in it
Run a warm bath and add 4 to 6 drops of rosemary oil. Then relax in the bath for at least 10 minutes to allow the aroma to work.10
Diffuse it
Put 8 to 10 drops into a diffuser and breathe in the rich herby and earthy-slightly citrusy scent.
Inhale it
Breathe it in directly from the bottle or sprinkle a couple of drops of it on to a cloth or tissue and gently inhale it.
Apply it
Dilute it with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, and then apply it to the soles of your feet or other parts of your body. (Tip – use 1 drop of rosemary oil per 1 teaspoon of carrier oil for children and 3 to 6 drops of rosemary per 1 teaspoon of carrier oil for adults).11
Rosemary oil benefits
Rosemary oil has antioxidant and soothing properties. As a result, there are lots of benefits to using it, including these four:12
- Promotes hair growth – using rosemary oil for supporting hair growth is something that’s been widely researched. Studies have found that it can treat androgenetic alopecia, while also easing scalp itchiness.
- Supports concentration – rosemary oil is thought to help improve thinking, concentration and memory levels due to the fact that it helps prevent the breakdown of the brain chemical, acetylcholine.
- Supports healthy circulation – it’s thought that rosemary oil when massaged can create a warm feeling that can help to support healthy circulation.
- Improves mood – when 35 healthy people applied diluted rosemary oil on their skin during a research study, they felt more alert, energetic and cheerful 20 minutes afterwards.
How to use it safely
Always do a patch test to it make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin and always dilute it first with a carrier oil before putting it on your skin. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to use it.13
Some interesting facts about rosemary/rosemary oil
- Rosemary gets its name from the Latin phrase, ‘Dew of the Sea,’ because it’s native to the Mediterranean’s sea cliffs. The name is also representative of its drought-resistant properties14
- Rosemary oil is related to basil, lavender, sage and myrtle because the shrub it comes from is part of the mint family, which the other herbs are also a member of15
- Rosemary smells similar to mint, but with a woody and balsamic undertone16
- There are over 150 different types of rosemary. The variation of rosemary essential oil depends on its geographical location17
Last updated: 11 September 2020
Sources
1 https://www.healthline.com/health/rosemary-oil-for-hair
2 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rosemary-oil-benefits
3 https://www.decleor.co.uk/blogs/rosemary.html
4 https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-rosemary-oil.html#:~:text=Historically%2C%20Rosemary%20was%20considered%20sacred,was%20used%20for%20numerous%20purposes.&text=In%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Rosemary%20leaves,extracts%2C%20were%20used%20for%20incense.
5 https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-rosemary-oil.html#:~:text=Historically%2C%20Rosemary%20was%20considered%20sacred,was%20used%20for%20numerous%20purposes.&text=In%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Rosemary%20leaves,extracts%2C%20were%20used%20for%20incense.
6 https://www.decleor.co.uk/blogs/rosemary.html
7 https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-rosemary-oil.html#:~:text=Historically%2C%20Rosemary%20was%20considered%20sacred,was%20used%20for%20numerous%20purposes.&text=In%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Rosemary%20leaves,extracts%2C%20were%20used%20for%20incense.
8 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rosemary-oil-benefits#section10
9 https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/miaroma-rosemary-pure-essential-oil-60060124?skuid=060124
10 https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/miaroma-rosemary-pure-essential-oil-60060124?skuid=060124
11 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rosemary-oil-benefits#section10
12 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rosemary-oil-benefits#section2
13 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rosemary-oil-benefits#section10
14 https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-rosemary-oil.html#:~:text=Historically%2C%20Rosemary%20was%20considered%20sacred,was%20used%20for%20numerous%20purposes.&text=In%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Rosemary%20leaves,extracts%2C%20were%20used%20for%20incense.
15 https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-rosemary-oil.html#:~:text=Historically%2C%20Rosemary%20was%20considered%20sacred,was%20used%20for%20numerous%20purposes.&text=In%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Rosemary%20leaves,extracts%2C%20were%20used%20for%20incense.
16 https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-rosemary-oil.html#:~:text=Historically%2C%20Rosemary%20was%20considered%20sacred,was%20used%20for%20numerous%20purposes.&text=In%20the%20Mediterranean%2C%20Rosemary%20leaves,extracts%2C%20were%20used%20for%20incense.
17 https://www.decleor.co.uk/blogs/rosemary.html
