Arborvitae Essential Oil Uses, Benefits and Recipes Spotlight – Loving Essential Oils

Arborvitae oil has powerful cleansing and purifying action. This woodsy oil has many benefits and is ideal for using aromatically or topically for natural health and wellness. Learn more about arborvitae essential oil uses and benefits, plus DIY Recipes!

Arborvitae oil has a refreshing, woodsy scent that can create a calm and peaceful atmosphere for your sacred space. Feel rooted and strong like the tree that produces this aromatic oil. Let it help calm and uplift your spirits. Diffuse this oil to combat environmental and seasonal threats. 

Arborvitae Essential Oil Facts

Arborvitae means “tree of life”, the arborvitae tree can reach up to 100-200 feet in height, the largest tree in the cypress family. It is native to Canada.

It has an emotionally grounding and calming aroma… perfect to use when overwhelmed, stresses, or struggling with life. It can also enhance spiritual awareness. People use it to enhance their meditation and prayer practices, connect with their higher self, and find guidance from the divine.

• Botanical Name: Thuja plicata
• Botanical Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
• Aka: Western Red Cedar
• Blending Note: Top
• Aroma: Woody, warm, earthy
• Extraction Method: Steam distilled
• Plant Part Used: Wood
• Shelf Life: 3-4 years
• Kid Safe: No
• Pregnancy Safe: No
• Safety Concerns: Keep out of reach of children. If pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult physician. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not use internally unless instructed by a licensed health practitioner or physician. Not to be confused with thujone-rich Arborvitae distilled from the leaves. See Essential Oil Safety for more information.

Arborvitae Essential Oil Blends Well With

Arborvitae essential oil is a great essential oil to have on hand. It has a woodsy, earthy scent that is refreshing and calming. Arborvitae essential oil blends well with many other oils, making it a versatile oil to use.

Here are some oils that arborvitae blends well with:

• Birch
• Cedarwood
• Eucalyptus
• Cassia
• Jasmine
• Neroli
• Orange
• Lavender
• Ylang Ylang
• Frankincense
• Manuka
• Myrrh
• Nootka Tree
• Patchouli
• Sandalwood

Arborvitae Essential Oil Substitute

What can I use instead of arborvitae oil? Need a substitute for arborvitae oil? You could replace it with cedarwood essential oil. Most tree oils make good alternatives for arborvitae oil. Read more about essential oil substitutions.

Arborvitae Oil Benefits

This powerful essential oil has a variety of benefits, which is why it’s become so popular in recent years. Keep reading to learn more about what arborvitae essential oil can do for your health!

Here are some reasons to love this amazing essential oil:

• Works as a natural preservative and can help protect wood from rotting
• Inspires feelings of peace and calm
• Acts as a powerful cleansing agent
• Purifies and cleanses the air
• Provides a calm and serene environment
• Helps promote healthy skin, hair, and nails
• Protects against seasonal and environmental threats
• Soothes the body and emotions
• Acts as a natural bug repellent

Arborvitae Essential Oil Spiritual Benefits

Arborvitae essential oil is a popular oil for its spiritual benefits. Many people use arborvitae oil to open their minds and increase their understanding of spiritual matters. It can also be helpful in reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.

It is known to be a powerful purifier and aid in protection from negative energy. When used in meditation, arborvitae can help connect you with your spiritual guides and provide guidance.

In addition, arborvitae is thought to promote growth of the soul and increase intuition. If you are looking to enhance your spiritual practice, consider adding arborvitae essential oil to your routine.

8 Arborvitae Oil Uses

Arborvitae essential oil has a woodsy, earthy scent that can be invigorating or calming, depending on your needs. It has a variety of therapeutic uses and is a great addition to your wellness routine. Learn more about how to use arborvitae oil below.

1. Mix with jojoba oil and citronella oil (or lemongrass oil) to use as a natural insect repellent. Apply to exposed skin before hiking.

2. Use during meditation for a sense of peace. Check out our Mediation inhaler recipe below.

3. Mix in mulch while gardening for a natural bug repellent.

4. Use to heighten your yoga practice by helping you relax.

5. Add a drop to a diffuser necklace to keep calm at work.

6. Diffuse to purify air of unwanted odors and repel insects in the home. Diffusing arborvitae can also boost immune system and assist with cold and flu symptoms.

7. Place one drop in the palm of your hand, rub hands together, then deeply inhale the aroma to relieve stress.

8. Create DIY recipes for sinus pressure, muscle pain, inflammation

Arborvitae Diffuser Blends

This oil has a unique woodsy scent that can be enjoyed alone or blended with other oils. Here are oil blends to add the powerful benefits of Arborvitae essential oil into your aromatherapy routine with these arborvitae diffuser blends.

Forest Dawn Diffuser Blend

Great morning essential oil blend of uplifting and energizing oils to invigorate your senses.

• 3 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
• 1 drop Arborvitae (Thuja plicata)
• 1 drop Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
• 1 drop Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. Read more about diffusing essential oils.

Coastal Breeze Diffuser Blend

Scent and purify the air with this delightful recipe from our blog post on Essential Oil Blends for a Great Smelling Home, it combines trees and citrus oils. This diffuser blend can be used for multiple purposes and health benefits as well.

• 3 drops Cypress
• 3 drops Tangerine
• 2 drops Arborvitae

Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with the recommended water.

Lumberjack Diffuser Blend

Great blend to bring the outdoor woody aroma inside, bringing peace and balance to your space.

• 2 drops Arborvitae (Thuja plicata)
• 2 drops Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
• 2 drops Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water.

Fresh Energy Diffuser Blend

You will love the woodsy freshness of this blend of tree oils with a twist of lime, very energizing.

• 3 drops Arborvitae (Thuja plicata)
• 2 drops Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• 2 drops Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. You could also make a room spray with this blend, just add it to a spray bottle with water.

Arborvitae Essential Oil Recipes

Here are more arborvitae essential oil blend recipes to make at home:

Where to Buy Arborvitae Essential Oil?

If you are looking for a new essential oil to add to your collection, arborvitae is worth considering. This oil is not offered by very many EO brands, here are a few brands I use that do have it:

General Essential Oil Precautions

Use essential oils with extreme caution on children, be sure you have researched the oil and that it is safe for use on kids. Always keep essential oils out of reach from children and pets. 

Never use essential oils undiluted, in eyes or mucous membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified practitioner.

If applying an essential oil topically (on your skin), you may perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body, use 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil like jojoba oil, read more about patch test for essential oils.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues here.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Newbie to Oils? Get our guide or read more here: Essential Oils for Beginners

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