Vanilla Oil

Vanilla Essential Oil

Vanilla extract comes from the pods of the Mexican flat-leaved vanilla plant (Vanilla planifolia) and is one of the most expensive spices worldwide, alongside saffron. Indeed, producing vanilla and vanilla essential oil is extremely labour-intensive because the flowers must be hand-pollinated and the bean pods require ripening, drying, and conditioning to create their characteristic flavour and aroma. 

Although native to Mexico, vanilla is grown in many other parts of the world, including China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar, the latter of which produces around 75% of the world’s vanilla. Vanilla is used extensively in baking, perfumery, pharmaceutical products, and aromatherapy as an essential oil. 

Vanilla owes much of its medicinal benefits to the presence of vanillin, a phenolic compound found in the vanilla bean, its extract, and its essential oil. Vanillin has been extensively studied and shown to possess impressive antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anti-neuroinflammatory, neuroprotective, and sedative effects. Vanilla extract typically only has 1 to 2% vanillin, whereas vanilla essential oil comes in at a robust 26% vanillin.

Benefits of Vanilla Essential Oil 

• Balances Hormones
• Lifts Mood 
• Natural Aphrodisiac
• Potent Antioxidant
• Reduces Inflammation

Therapeutic Properties of Vanilla Essential Oil

With an ORAC value of 122,400, vanilla beans are one of the most antioxidant substances and are ideal for bolstering the body's defences against free radicals. Vanilla oil is also excellent for calming and relaxing the body and mind, soothing symptoms of stress, PMS, and anxiety, and lifting mood. It is also effective at boosting libido and treating impotence. As an anti-inflammatory, vanilla oil can be diluted in a carrier oil and massaged into the skin to help relieve aches and pains associated with just about any inflammatory health condition. Moreover, because of its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, vanilla oil is fantastic for soothing burns and treating acne and other skin conditions. Other applications for vanilla oil include helping curb sugar intake, lowering blood pressure, and fighting infections.

Using Aromatherapy Oils

Vanilla oil has a sultry, sweet, rich, warm, and powdery fragrance that is overwhelmingly alluring. It pairs exceedingly well with citrus oils in general, as well as mint, wood, floral, and spice essential oils.

Despite its culinary use as an extract, vanilla essential oil is not appropriate for consumption. It can be diffused, added to a spray bottle of water, and spritzed into the air, on fabrics, couches, and curtains to freshen a room, as well as diluted in a carrier oil and used in massage or as part of one’s skincare routine.