Cypress Essential Oil
Cupressus sempervirens
Description
Cypress Essential Oil is one of my favorite essential oils to blend with.
Aromatically, the woody aroma of Cypress Essential Oil blends well with a number of essential oils including other woody oils, mint oils, the citrus oils, especially grapefruit, and it is beautiful when blended in low dilution with florals.
Cypress Essential Oil is one of the first essential oils that I reach for when I'm tired or need help being able to concentrate.
Peter Holmes recommends Cypress Essential Oil to help improve self-confidence, willpower, perseverence and motivation. [Reference: Peter Holmes LAc, MH, Aromatica Volume 2: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Applications and Profiles (London and Philadelphia: Singing Dragon, 2019, 186-187.]
I admire Robbi Zeck's suggestion to use Cypress Essential Oil when we are challenged or need support. She says: "When change is imminent, Cypress brings structure, strength and a sense of protection... Cypress supports and holds the space for the soul to remain in balance." [Reference: Robbi Zeck, ND, The Blossoming Heart: Aromatherapy for Healing and Transformation (Victoria, Australia: Aroma Tours, 2008), 75.]
The cypress tree is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible: "I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it." - Isaiah 41:19-20 (NIV)
Cypress is a conifer. For more information about cypress and conifer oils, read AromaWeb's Guide to Coniferous Essential Oils.
Cypress Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Astringent
- Excessive Perspiration
- Hemorrhoids
- Menorrhagia
- Oily Skin
- Rheumatism
- Vericose Veins
Source: Julia Lawless, The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Updated Edition) (London: Harper Thorsons, 2014), 80-81.
Botanical Name
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Pale Yellow
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Middle
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium
Aromatic Description
Cypress Essential Oil smells fresh, herbaceous, woody and slightly coniferous in aroma.
Sustainability and Conservation Status
Least Concern
Source: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32518/2821211
To learn more about the conservation status of essential oil bearing plants and how to use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, please refer to AromaWeb's Guide to Essential Oils and Sustainability.
Major Constituents
- a-Pinene
- delta-3-Carene
- Cedrol
- a-Terpinyl acetate
- Terpinolene
- (+)-Limonene
See Essential Oil Safety for a more complete list of typical constituents.
Source: B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1976-1978 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1979), 18. B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1981-1987 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1989), 29-30. B.M. Lawrence, Progress in Essential Oils. (Perfumer & Flavorist 20 no. 4, 1995), 34. Sources cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 265.
Cypress Essential Oil Safety Information
Tisserand and Young do not indicate any known hazards for Cypress Oil. However, they precaution to avoid use of the oil topically if it has oxidized as skin sensitization is more likely. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 265.]
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for basic educational purposes only. The references to safety information, test results, constituents and percentages is generalized information. Essential oils can vary greatly in composition. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil composition and color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several CO2 Extracts and absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
