Rhododendron Essential Oil
Rhododendron anthopogon
Description
Rhododendron Essential Oil is sometimes known as Anthopogon Essential Oil.
Rhododendron Essential Oil is still a lesser known essential oil, but it is increasing in availability with more suppliers offering it for sale. It is well worth learning more about.
When I first experienced the oil several years ago, I immediately fell in love with its intriguing aroma. Although I perceive Rhododendron Oil as a floral oil, it's not intensely floral. It has an underlying sweet, green character to it. Aromatically, it blends well very well many other essential oils including Bergamot, Clary Sage, Lavender, Rose, Virginian Cedarwood, and oils within the citrus, herbaceous, floral and wood families.
I am finding that I primarily use Rhododendron Essential Oil within spiritual applications and to help minimize the feelings of anxiety and stress. I find that it helps me to feel more peaceful and at ease during incredibly stressful times and periods of loss.
Emotionally and energetically, Joy Musacchio and Cynthia Brownley indicates that Rhododendron Essential Oil is helpful in working with the heart chakra and in potentially combating anxiety. Included within their detailed Rhododendron Monograph published within the International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, Musacchio and Brownley includes a small case study that includes Rhododendron Essential Oil and describes its effect on anxiety and CPTSD. [Reference: Joy Musacchio and Cynthia Brownley, Rhododendron - Healing the Body and Soul, 2016. (The International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, Volume 5, Issue 2), 5-11.]
Rhododendron Essential Oil is comprised of approximately 60-65% monoterpenes including a-Pinene, B-Pinene and Limonene and 25-30% sesquiterpenes including Delta-Cadinene. Refer to the Uses section below for the potential benefits of Rhododendron Oil.
Rhododendron Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Sore Muscles
- Coughs
- Congestion
- Lungs
- Inflammation
- Emotional Discomfort
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Heart Chakra
References: Jennifer Peace Rhind, Aromatherapeutic Blending: Essential Oils in Synergy (London and Philadelphia: Singing Dragon, 2016, 135, 190. Joy Musacchio and Cynthia Brownley, Rhododendron - Healing the Body and Soul, 2016. (The International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, Volume 5, Issue 2), 5-11.
Botanical Name
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Steam Distilled
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Clear to Pale Yellow
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Middle
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium - Strong
Aromatic Description
Rhododendron Essential Oil smells sweet, green and floral with underlying woody characteristics.
Major Constituents
- a-Pinene
- B-Pinene
- Limonene
- Delta-Cadinene
- (3Z)-B-Ocimene
- a-Amorphene
- a-Muurolene
- p-Cymene
Reference: G. Innocenti, S. Dall'Acqua, G. Scialino, et. al., Chemical Compositino and Biological Properties of Rhododendron anthopogon Essential Oil. (Molecules 15, 2010), 2326-2338. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 403-404.
Rhododendron Essential Oil Safety Information
Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Rhododendron Oil. However, they precaution to avoid use of the oil if it has oxidized. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Reference: Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 404.]
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.
