Rosemary Essential Oil: The Complete Profile

Let us take you down the memory lane to explain the historical background of rosemary essential oil:

Rosemary essential oil is extracted from an aromatic herb named Rosmarinus Officinalis native to the Mediterranean regions. Interestingly, ros (dew) and Marinus (sea) are Latin words, meaning the sea; that is how the rosemary plant received its nickname. For centuries, the rosemary plant has been used by diverse cultures across the world for various purposes. It had held a sacred spiritual value in ancient Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and Hebrew cultures. They would use rosemary plants in their religious ceremonies and festivities. It was believed that the rosemary plant's purifying properties would ward off evil spirits and prevent its keeper from plague and diseases. With this belief, people would place rosemary plants at their doorways and spread its branches across floors.

Besidesrosemary plant's spiritual value, many civilizations throughout history used it for beautifying and therapeutic purposes. Its purifying, detoxifying, hydrating, and soothing properties have made it famous in the personal care industry. Today, it is one of the most widely used essential oil worldwide, with many benefits for aromatherapy, skincare, and hair care. You might be wondering how rosemary essential oil is extracted and whether it carries r an essence. Let me explain its extraction and benefits to you in the following sections.

How Is Rosemary Oil Extracted?

The most common method used to extract rosemary essential oil is steam distillation. The rosemary plant’s leaves and flowering tops are taken and placed in a large container called still in this process. The plant material goes through the steaming process in the still, which results in releasing the plant's aromatic molecules and turns them into vapors. The plant's vaporous compounds then travel to the condensation flask where two pipes separate hot water and cold water, cooling the vapors into liquid form. The aromatic liquid extracted through condensation enters the separator where the oil and water are separated to siphon off rosemary essential oil.

Does Rosemary Essential Oil Carry Rosemary Plant's True Essence?

Yes, it does. The oil extracted from the rosemary plant contains the aroma (essence) and flavor (properties) of the rosemary plant. The main constituents of rosemary essential oil are pinene, camphor, 1-8 cineol, camphene, limonene, and linalool. These naturally occurring compounds are present in the rosemary plant's composition and offer the following benefits: skincare, haircare, and aromatherapy practices.

What Are Benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil for Skincare?

In recent decades, the skincare industry has shown a massive rise of interest in creating plant-based and nature-inspired products. Mainly, essential oils are actively used as an ingredient in many lotions, moisturizers, serums, and creams. Since many essential oils have soothing and therapeutic properties, they are known to promote the skin's health in many ways.  Rosemary essential oil has astringent, antioxidant, calmative, and detoxifying properties that make it healthy for the skin. It offers the following benefits to the skin:

• Soothes dryness
• Calms acne-prone skin
• Cleanses off dirt and impurities from the skin
• Comforts itchy and irritated skin
• Promotes skin's firmness
• Tones skin
• Helps fade the appearance of scars and blemishes

What Are the Benefits of Rosemary Oil for Hair Care?

Healthy hair is a symbol of beauty. However, maintaining hair and scalp health is another story. It is a task that requires efforts, time, and routine. One of the most common scalp issues people frequently experience is a buildup of dirt, impurities, and dead skin cells that settle on the scalp. It leads to increased hair loss and hinders the natural hair growth cycle.  Another most frequent scalp issue is dryness, which people of all ages experience at some point in their lives. Dryness not only causes irritations on the scalp but also makes your hair look dull, rough, and unhealthy.  Moreover, many people also complain about irritations and itchiness on the scalp that affects their hair's health and causes redness and inflammation. Irritations also make you want to scratch your scalp.  When you scratch your scalp, the oil glands and hair roots get damaged and cause you to lose hair. Rosemary essential oil is soothing for all scalp issues mentioned above. Here I am enlisting some of its benefits for hair care:

• Hydrates the scalp
• Promotes shiny and healthy hair
• Calms dryness, itchiness, and irritations
• Draws out impurities and dirt buildup
• Strengthens hair's health

What Are the Benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil in Aromatherapy Practices?

Rosemary essential oil is an excellent oil to use in aromatherapy practices. It exudes a fresh, energizing, and vibrant scent. Its aroma promotes easier breathing, soothes nasal congestion, and improves alertness, leaving you feeling active and rejuvenated. Besides, its scent helps eliminate bad odors from your surroundings and creates a clean and refreshing ambiance.  Its soothing and calming properties are known to comfort sore muscles, release muscular stiffness, and encourage vitality and agility.

How to Use Rosemary Essential Oil?

Essential oils are liquid compounds with a definite chemical concentration. Before any topical application, dilute essential oils with carrier oils to avoid sensitivity and allergic reactions. It is also preferable to do a patch test on the skin to check allergic reactions or sensitivity. It is recommended to start slow with dilution. Dilute 1 drop of essential oil with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil for long term use. So how do we use rosemary essential oil on skin, hair, and aromatherapy practices? Here I have covered some of its major uses with details:

To Soothe Acne-Prone Skin:

• In a small glass container
• Add 2 tablespoon of aloe vera gel extract
• Add 6 drops of rosemary essential oil
• Mix the ingredients well
• Spread the mixture onto your entire face using your fingertips (make sure to clean your hands first)
• Leave it on for 5-10 minutes
• Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean cloth
• Repeat this procedure twice weekly

For Healthily Glowing Skin:

• In a dark, airtight glass container
• Add 10-15 drops of rosemary essential oil
• Add ½ cup of honey
• Mix the ingredients thoroughly
• Apply the mixture onto your entire face with your fingertips (make sure to clean your hands first)
• Leave it to dry for 15-20 minutes
• Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean cloth
• Repeat this procedure once weekly

To Hydrate the Scalp:

• In a small glass container
• Add 6 drops of lavender essential oil
• Add 6 drops rosemary essential oil
• Add 2 tablespoon of coconut oil
• Add 2 tablespoon of jojoba oil
• Mix the ingredients well
• Gently massage your scalp
• Leave it on for 40-45 minutes
• Rinse off with shampoo afterward
• Repeat this procedure twice weekly

To Promote Hair's Health:

• In a small glass container
• Add 15 drops of rosemary essential oil
• Add 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• Add turmeric powder 1 tablespoon
• 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
• Mix the ingredients thoroughly
• Gently apply the mixture onto your scalp
• Leave it on for 40-45 minutes
• Rinse off with shampoo afterward
• Repeat this procedure twice a month

To Deodorize the Atmosphere:

• To a diffuser
• Add 5 drops of orange essential oil.
• Add 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
• Add 2 drops of rosemary essential oil.
• Diffuse this mixture for 15-20 minutes twice a day

To Soothe Bodily Aches and Muscular Soreness:

• In a small glass container
• Add 5 drops of rosemary essential oil.
• Add 5 drops of frankincense essential oil.
• Add 5 drops of lavender essential oil.
• Add 4 tablespoons of your favorite carrier oil.
• Mix the oils thoroughly.
• Massage the mixture onto desired areas of your skin
• Leave it to dry