Pine Needle Essential Oil

Pine oil is classified as a middle note essential oil and sought after for its fresh fragrance and cleansing properties. It is a desired ingredient in the soaping industry and is also used in skin care products, bath products, massage oils, detergents and disinfectants, or enjoyed in diffusers

FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY!

Origin: Austria

Pine oil is an essential oil sourced from Austria, that is steam distilled from the needles of Pinus sylvestris. Pine is a coniferous evergreen tree that can reach heights of up to 40 meters with long blue-green needles. It is a popular Christmas tree type in the United States. Pinus sylvestris is also known as forest pine, Norway pine and Scotch pine. Our pine oil is 100% pure with a crisp forest like scent.

Oil properties

Pine oil has a fresh forest smell, is pale yellow in color and watery in viscosity.

Origin

This evergreen tree can grow up to 40 meters (130 feet) and has a flat crown and has a reddish-brown, deeply fissured bark, needle-like gray-green leaves that grow in pairs, orange-yellow flowers and pointed brown cones.

It is extensively cultivated for its wood, tar, pitch, turpentine and essential oil and was used by the Native Americans to prevent scurvy. Mattresses where stuffed with the needles to repel lice and fleas and the ancient Egyptians used pine kernels in their cooking.

Extraction

Our product is extracted by steam distillation of the twigs and buds and yields about 0.1 -.05 %, although another type of oil can also be extracted by steam distilling the needles.

Chemical composition

The main chemical properties of pine oil are borneol, bornyl acetate, a and b-phallandrene, a and b-pinene and 3-carene.

Precautions

Although pine and pine needle oil is considered non-toxic and non-irritant in low dosage it should still be used with care on the skin, since it can cause irritation in high dosage and may sensitize the skin as well. The oil from the dwarf pine (Pinus mugo. var. pumilio) is a dermal irritant and a sensitizing agent. Should you be prone to allergic skin reactions or are pregnant – rather give this oil a miss.

Uses

Pine needle oil is most useful to relieve mental, physical and sexual fatigue, while having a cleansing and invigorating effect on an area and is great for vapor therapy in a sick room as it promotes healing.

It can be used for cuts and sores, scabies and lice and for excessive perspiration, while its warming properties help with rheumatism, arthritis, gout, muscular aches and pains and it can stimulate circulation. Furthermore it can help in cases of bronchitis, asthma, catarrh, coughs, laryngitis, colds and flu. It eases breathlessness and sinusitis.
 

Care should however be taken if you are prone to allergic reactions, and this oil may also irritate the mucus membranes.

Although most essential oils blend well with one another pine oil blends particularly well with cedar wood, eucalyptus, lavender, neroli, rosemary and sage.