Essential Oils Preferred by Men
Patchouli, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Bay, Cypress, Ginger, Black Pepper, Vanilla, Vetiver, and the citrus oils are oils that tend to be preferred by men.
Below is an expanded list of essential oils that are generally considered favorites amongst men. This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list, and we each, regardless of gender, have our own unique preferences.
This list does not include any of the floral essential oils, but many men do enjoy the aroma and therapeutic benefits of some of the florals, particularly lavender, neroli and jasmine. When blended with other essential oils, floral essential oils can be toned down and can be a wonderful addition to a blend.
This list was prepared in response to inquiries I've had from those new to working with essential oils. They wanted such a list to use as a starting point. By including this list on AromaWeb, I'm not trying to be stereotypical, and I'm certainly not trying to say that only men and/or those identifying as male or having masculine energy should be the only ones to use the essential oils listed here. Not at all!
Essential Oils Typically Preferred by Men
Earthy / Spicy / Sporty/Woody / Masculine Essential Oils and Absolutes
- Allspice
- Ambrette Seed
- Angelica Root
- Amyris
- Anise
- Balsam, Peru
- Basil
- Bay
- Bay Laurel
- Beeswax
- Benzoin
- Bergamot
- Blue Cypress
- Cajeput
- Cananga
- Caraway Seed
- Cardamom
- Carrot Seed
- Cedarwood, Atlas
- Cedarwood, Virginian
- Cinnamon
- Clary Sage
- Coriander
- Cypress
- Davana
- Fennel
- Fir Needle
- Frankincense
- Ginger
- Grapefruit
- Gurjum Balsam
- Helichrysum
- Holy Basil
- Hyssop
- Immortelle
- Juniper Berry
- Kanuka
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Manuka
- Marjoram
- May Chang
- Melissa
- Myrrh
- Myrtle
- Myrtle, Lemon
- Neroli
- Nutmeg
- Oakmoss
- Orange, Bitter
- Orange, Sweet
- Oregano
- Palo Santo
- Parsley
- Patchouli
- Pepper, Black
- Petitgrain
- Pine, Scotch
- Sage, Spanish
- Sandalwood, Australian
- Sandalwood, East Indian
- Spruce
- Star Anise
- Tagetes
- Tangerine
- Thyme
- Tobacco
- Vanilla
- Vetiver
Further Reading About Aromatherapy for Men
Aromatherapy for Men
Introductory aromatherapy and essential information for men.
Aromatherapy Practices for Men
Read about the aromatherapy practices that men tend to use and enjoy most.
Aromatherapy Tips for Formulating Masculine/Earthy Blends
Borrowed from AromaWeb's Aromatherapy Blending Guide, this article offers a quick introduction to creating masculine aromatherapy and essential oils blends. Includes suggestions for oil substitutions.
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.
