Who can resist the heady, intoxicating fragrance of jasmine, a superstar in the fragrance industry! While jasmine oil is reputed to be an aphrodisiac, did you know it can work wonders for your overall health too? It contains compounds like benzyl acetate, farnesene, benzoate, indole, linalool, and methyl anthranilate which can have beneficial effects on your body.1
[pullquote]Did you know that it takes around 8 million jasmine flowers to make about 1 kilogram of jasmine oil? This is what makes jasmine oil so special and, yes, expensive.[/pullquote]
Jasmine oil is obtained from jasmine flowers through the process of enfleurage. This is a time-consuming process where the flowers are left on a bed of fat so that it is infused with the volatile oils of jasmine.2 Here’s a look at the benefits of jasmine oil.
1. Relieves Sore Muscles
Aching, sore muscles can be a real downer. But the fragrant jasmine may be able to help you out. Linalool, a terpene alcohol chemical present in jasmine flowers, is thought to have a beneficial role here. Research shows that linalool essential oil isolated from jasmine has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.3
How to use: Add a couple of drops of jasmine oil to 1 ml of olive oil. Use this oil blend to gently massage your aching muscles. You can also add a couple of drops of jasmine oil to warm bath water and soak in it. Or apply a warm compress with a couple of drops of jasmine oil to the affected area to relieve inflammation and pain.
2. Improves Your Mood
Jasmine oil is widely used in aromatherapy for its uplifting and energizing effects. Research conducted into the effects of jasmine oil has found that it stimulates the nervous system and increases the brain’s beta wave power. This is involved in the brain’s ability to actively engage in mental tasks. Participants of one study even found that jasmine oil increased feelings of well-being, alertness, and romance!4
How to use: Add essential jasmine oil to a diffuser and inhale its uplifting fragrance. An ideal quantity would be 1 drop for each square meter of the room that it’s used in or the space available for it to spread.5
3. Lowers Anxiety
Do you have a bad case of the nerves? The smell of jasmine may be able to calm you. Lab studies have found that a scented chemical known as vertacetal-coeur present in jasmine can enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. This is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps control overexcitement in the brain but low levels of it are associated with anxiety. So a whiff of jasmine oil could do wonders for your anxiety levels.6
How to use: Add jasmine essential oil to a diffuser and inhale.
4. Relieves Menopause Symptoms
Menopause can be a difficult time for many women with symptoms like mood swings, depression, hot flushes, and night sweats. If you’re looking for a natural remedy to help you through this period, jasmine oil might be just the thing. As one study found, when jasmine essential oil was used alongside essential oils of lavender, rose geranium, and rose once a week for 8 weeks for an aromatherapy massage, it relieved symptoms like pain, hot flushes, and depression.7
How to use: Add 6 to 8 drops of jasmine oil to your bath water and settle in for a long and relaxing soak. You could also combine jasmine oil with other essential oils to make a fragrant massage oil that will help will menopausal symptoms. Try this recipe, for instance: Mix the essential oils of rose geranium, lavender, jasmine and rose in a 2:4:1:1 ratio with diluted almond (90%) and evening primrose oil (10%) and massage your back, arms, and abdomen with this oil.
5. Helps With Labor Pain
Pain during labor can be a significant worry for women who are about to give birth. If you’re looking for a natural way to ease this, try a jasmine oil massage. One study conducted among 40 women found a jasmine oil massage to be effective at reducing first stage labor pain.
It’s also worth noting that a massage by itself has been found to be beneficial for women in labor. It can lower anxiety and ease pain by stimulating the release of endorphins, hormones that work as natural painkillers. Experts feel jasmine oil is especially suited for use during labor as it can reduce spasms and pain.8
How to use: Massage the lower back with diluted jasmine oil during the first stage of labor.
6. Nourishes Your Skin
Jasmine oil is considered to have soothing, moisturizing, and healing properties. This makes it especially beneficial for dry and sensitive skin. According to some experts, it can also benefit people with dermatitis, a skin disorder characterized by inflammation.
How to use: Add 2 to 3 drops of jasmine oil to your lotion or face wash and use every day. You can also mix a couple of drops of jasmine oil with coconut oil, apply, and leave on for a while. Rinse off with a gentle face wash.
7. Smooths Frizzy Hair
Jasmine oil can lock in moisture, hydrate dry hair, and tame frizz. It can soothe your scalp too. Some experts also claim that it’s beneficial for hair growth though this doesn’t seem to be validated scientifically yet.9 10
How to use: You can add jasmine oil to a hot oil treatment, massage it into your scalp, or even use it in a rinse.
Not Recommended For Expecting And Breastfeeding Moms
Though jasmine oil has many exciting benefits, it may impact uterine contractions and suppress lactation. Therefore, it’s best avoided during pregnancy or if you’re breastfeeding.11
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