Aromatherapy’s answer to Rescue Remedy
If there is an essential oil comparative to the famous Rescue Remedy it would be Neroli essential oil. And it happens to be one of my favourite essential oils.
Neroli is also known as orange blossom or Citrus aurantium var. amara. It is extracted from the white blossoms of the bitter orange trees.
If you have ever been in a garden with orange blossoms you know the light, uplifting yet intense fragrance. It can be quite intoxicating.
When you smell the essential oil it instantly calms down anxiety and nervousness. And it’s joyful!
Benefits of orange blossom essential oil in science
There are many aromatic benefits to orange blossom essential oil.
I recently found a study suggesting that neroli essential oil “may be a safe and efficient intervention and can be considered an easy and applicable method to reduce anxiety in patients with acute coronary syndrome”. But there is no reason why it shouldn’t reduce anxiety for any other people regardless of our heart health.
Another study “confirmed aromatherapy with C. aurantium blossom oil [neroli] as a simple, inexpensive, noninvasive, and effective intervention to reduce anxiety during labor.” And it’s also shown to “improve[d] the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome“.
It is fair to say that even modern Western science confirms the benefits of neroli essential oil when it comes to anxiety.
Neroli in aromatherapy
In aromatherapy, we often use orange blossom as an antidepressant, sedative and anti-anxiety. It is included in blends for stress and insomnia too.
It’s great for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) because it acts on both the anxiety and the digestion including relieving muscle spasm of the smooth muscles of the small intestines.
The beauty of neroli
Using essential oils in skin care has so many benefits: It works through the olfactory system and on our mood and emotions. But when creating blends for the skin (or hair) the essential oils are chosen for their very specific physical benefits.
Neroli is widely used in skincare. I absolutely love Neal’s Yard Remedy’s Orange Blossom (neroli) range which is created specifically for dry skin. The face oil smells divine. So you get the emotional benefits just inhaling the product. But neroli is excellent for cellular activity on the skin, suitable for very sensitive and inflamed skin too.
Here is the whole Orange Blossom range from Neal’s Yard Remedies (via my webpage). All the products are natural, cruelty-free, vegetarian (and most are vegan), and where possible soil association organic approved. Of course, you can use the pure essential neroli oil too.
Be aware of diluted essential oils
Although neroli, or the actual orange blossom flowers, have a very strong fragrance it is difficult to extract. It is, therefore, a more expensive product than some other essential oils. So always have a look at the label. Does it contain other ingredients? What is the Latin name on the label? Is it too cheap? I trust Neal’s Yard Remedies as I worked for them and am now an independent consultant. Here is the link to their Neroli essential oil which is harvested in Morocco.
If you love essential oils you might be interested in my Essential Oils online course where you:
- get a brief introduction to what essential oils actually are
- how to use them safely and understand contraindications
- the art of blending and mixing oils
- explore the most common essential oils and their benefits
- a module on Essential Oils for… different conditions and topics
- how to create with essential oils
- get my recommendations for further reading and other essential resources
Alternatively, you might also be interested in becoming a Neal’s Yard Remedies Consultant yourself. You can learn more about why I joined and what the benefits are here.
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