Cinnamon bark essential oil, extracted from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree, is a powerful and aromatic oil known for its numerous health and wellness benefits. Its warm, spicy scent and potent therapeutic properties make it a valuable addition to daily routines. This article explores the versatile uses and benefits of cinnamon bark essential oil in everyday life.
IN ESSENCE…
- Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is the sweetly spicy and woody essence obtained from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree, which is native to Sri Lanka.
- Used in aromatherapy, Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil helps to relax, manage stressful feelings and enhance mood. It is also warming to the touch and has a purifying character that helps to clear airways and promote deep breathing.
- In perfumery, Cinnamon Bark Oil is a popular ingredient in spicy Oriental blends and can be used to give depth to fruity or floral fragrances.
- Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil benefits include moisturizing and astringent properties to help cleanse and tone the skin and hair, promoting smooth looking skin with an even complexion and thick looking hair with a vibrant energy.
- Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil should be well diluted before topical use to ensure it does not irritate the skin. It can be effectively added to carrier oils, lotions or creams, and hair care products to enhance their benefits.
A RE-CAP OF CINNAMON BARK ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS
Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree, also known as Cinnamomum verum, which is native to Sri Lanka. This oil has a versatile range of applications and is commonly used in food and beverages, perfumery, and pharmaceuticals as well as aromatherapy and many natural cosmetics. Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is known for its sweet and woody, spicy scent, which is reputed to be a mood enhancer. A warming oil with a rich in the composition of antioxidants, Cinnamon Bark is known to be a wonderful addition to soothing massages, to help promote feelings of relaxation and to enhance rejuvenating beauty formulations. This article highlights simple do-it-yourself recipes that leverage the properties of Cinnamon Bark Oil to promote natural health and beauty benefits.
USING CINNAMON BARK OIL IN A MASSAGE
Used in aromatherapy massage, Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is luxuriously warming and comforting, as it stimulates feelings of relaxation and invokes a sense of well-being with its rich, sensual scent. It also has a potent purifying touch, helping to clear airways and maintain healthy circulation, which makes it a great ingredient in a detoxifying blend and for managing symptoms of colds and flu. Due to its warming sensation, Cinnamon Bark Oil is also popularly used in blends for massaging stiff and sore muscles to help ease feelings of discomfort.
Blending is the key to leveraging Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil benefits in aromatherapy, as this oil has the potential to be irritating for the skin. It is best experienced in combination with oils that are known for their soothing touch, such as Sweet Orange, Lavender, Tea Tree, Patchouli, or Geranium. A gentle carrier oil is also recommended to bring out the best from Cinnamon Bark Oil.
You can make a warming muscle massage blend with 24 drops each of Cinnamon Bark, Cedarwood (Atlas), and Citronella essential oils, 20 drops each of Geranium (Bourbon), Lemon, and Spearmint essential oils, and 33 drops each of Celery Seed, Eucalyptus (Lemond), and Grapefruit essential oils. Dilute well with a carrier oil of your choice (we recommend Walnut or Sweet Almond) and massage a small amount of the blend into sore or stiff muscles and joints. For best results, do 8 massages spaced 7 days apart. Wait 7 weeks before repeating the cycle.
As an alternative soothing blend, combine 6 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil with 4 drops of Clove Bud essential oil, 3 drops each of Rosemary and Cedarwood essential oils, 2 drops of Neroli, and 1 drop each of Ylang-Ylang and Thyme essential oils. This blend can be massaged into stiff or sore muscles daily to help promote feelings of relaxation and comfort.
To help manage feelings of stress, try a massage blend composed of 24 drops each of Cinnamon Bark, Marjoram, and Petitgrain essential oils, 25 drops each of Cypress, Grapefruit, and Mandarin essential oils, 20 drops each of Aniseed, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Sage Dalmation, and Spearmint essential oils, and 22 drops each of Sweet Birch, Geranium (Bourbon), Juniper Berry, and Rosemary essential oils. Dilute well in a carrier oil of your choice and massage a small amount into the back, shoulders, neck, and temples. For best results, do 4 massages spaced 2 weeks apart. This series can be repeated once if needed. Wait 8 months before repeating again.
USING CINNAMON BARK OIL IN COSMETICS
Known for its rich concentration of antioxidants, Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil offers many benefits for the skin and hair. It is known to be soothing for the skin when applied topically in a cosmetic blend. Naturally astringent, it helps to cleanse and tone the skin for a taut and energized appearance. It also helps to improve the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and fine lines, balancing complexions to enhance a vibrantly youthful look.
You can make a cleansing natural face wash to tighten pores, balance oil production, and offer soothing hydration by combining 20 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil with 1 tablespoon of Organic Coconut Carrier Oil, 3 tablespoons of raw honey, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and 2 capsules of live probiotics. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly with a hand blender before transferring into a bottle or dispenser. Store this blend in a cool place when it is not being used. To further spice up your nightly beauty rituals, try adding 1 drop of Cinnamon Bark Oil to your usual face cream or to a couple of cups of carrier oil and massage a small amount into the skin before going to bed. This little variation can be a big help toward enhancing moisture and promoting a youthful look.
Applied in hair care, Cinnamon Bark Oil helps to cleanse the scalp and promote stronger, thicker looking hair. For a hair mask to help manage dandruff and enhance volume, blend together 5-6 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil with 5 tablespoons of Olive Carrier Oil and massage into the scalp. Leave in for 45 minutes before washing out with a gentle shampoo. This mask can be applied up to 3 times weekly to help maintain pure follicles and healthy growth. As a simple alternative, a drop of Cinnamon Bark Oil can be added to regular hair care products to help address impurities while enhancing volume and shine.
USING CINNAMON BARK OIL IN NATURAL PERFUMERY
Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is a versatile perfumery ingredient, often used as a middle note in Oriental fragrances and in fruity blends to impart a gourmand flair to apple or orange accords. It is known to blend beautifully with other spice oils such as Clove Bud or Nutmeg and can also provide depth to floral blends, particularly Ylang-Ylang. It further blends well with incense notes and vanilla bases for a deeply sensual signature with just the right touch of sweetness. To make your own solid Cinnamon infused perfume, try one of the following recipes:
Apple Pie Spice
Melt together 2 tablespoons beeswax with 1/2 cup of nutty carrier oil such as Walnut, Sweet Almond, or Macadamia. Once melted, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before adding 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil and a few drops each of Cinnamon Bark, Allspice, Nutmeg, Ginger, Lemon, and Vanilla essential oils. To give this blend a fun fruity flair, add a few drops of our Apple Green Fragrance Oil. Stir to blend and then pour the mixture into a container to cool before applying to the skin.
Fresh Floral Spice
Melt together 2 tablespoons beeswax with 1/2 cup of a lightly scented carrier oil of your choice. Once melted, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before adding 1/4 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil and a few drops each of Cinnamon Bark, Rose, Geranium, Lemon, and Ylang-Ylang essential oils. Stir to blend and then pour the mixture into a container to cool before applying to the skin.
CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR CINNAMON BARK ESSENTIAL OIL
Pregnant and nursing women are especially advised not to use Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil without the medical advice of a physician, as this oil may cause embryotoxicity. For those with a pre-existing health condition, those taking prescription drugs, or those undergoing major surgery, it is advised to consult with a medical practitioner prior to using this oil, as it may interact negatively with certain medications. It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight for up to 12 hours after using this oil. Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil should always be stored in an area that is inaccessible to children, particularly those under 7 years of age.
Potential side effects from the use of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil include dizziness, fatigue or nausea from inhalation, and itching, irritation, sensitization, or allergic reaction from topical use. To minimize the risk of an adverse reaction, it is recommended to perform a skin patch test prior to using this oil and not to exceed recommended concentrations for aromatherapeutic use.
To perform a skin test, mix 1 drop of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil with 4 drops of carrier oil and apply a dime-sized amount of the blend to a small area of skin that is not known to be sensitive. In the event of an adverse reaction, discontinue use of the product and see a medical healthcare professional for appropriate remedial action.
USING CINNAMON BARK OIL IN A DIFFUSER OR AIR FRESHENER
The spicy sweet scent of Cinnamon is delightful in a diffusion when blended with other essential oils known to have invigorating aromas. The scent of Cinnamon can be diffused to help stimulate mental energy and address feelings of fatigue or irritability. It can also help to open airways, promoting easier breathing and thus helping to relax when dealing with colds or flu.
For a purifying blend to help manage symptoms of colds and flu and to address feelings of stress when sick, diffuse 1 drop each of Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Clove, and Sweet Orange essential oils. Or, for an energizing diffusion to help perk up your mind and spirit, blend together a few drops of Cinnamon Bark with a few drops of Lemon or Tea Tree essential oils.
To freshen up a space, you can also make a spicy spray mist by combining 20 drops each of Cinnamon Bark, Anise, and Ginger essential oils with 35 drop Caraway, 15 drops Clove Bud and 10 drops Lime essential oil in 120 ml (4 fl oz) of pure water. You can use spritz to diffuse this blend all over a room throughout the day to keep a fresh and clean character in the air and to boost mood with its scintillating scent.
USING CINNAMON BARK OIL IN A BATH
Cinnamon Bark Oil adds a wonderfully warming essence with a soothingly sultry scent to a bath. As with massage, thorough dilution is the key to leveraging Cinnamon Essential Oil benefits in a bath while maintaining comfort for the skin. Cinnamon Oil should not be added directly to a bath, as it can bead and irritate the skin. Carrier oils and bath salts combine nicely with Cinnamon Bark Oil to reduce the potency of its touch and ensure an enjoyable experience.
You can make a simple spicy bath salt blend with 5-10 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil, 1 tablespoon of carrier oil, 3 ½ cups of Epsom salts, and 1-2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon. Blend the Cinnamon Oil and carrier oil together and then mix with the bath salts and ground cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss a handful of the blend together under running water to ensure the salts properly disperse and dissolve before entering the bath.
For a sweetly spicy, warming soak to help promote deep breathing and a blissfully clear state of mind, blend 10 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil with 5 drops each of Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lavender, and Peppermint essential oils. Combine this blend with 2 cups of bath salts, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil of your choice. Mix well and add to a warm bath for a steamy, dreamy home spa experience.
Cinnamon bark essential oil is a versatile and beneficial addition to daily life. From enhancing mood and supporting immune health to relieving pain and improving skin health, its applications are numerous. Incorporate cinnamon bark essential oil into your routine to experience its many benefits and enjoy a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.