Natures Table - essential oil part 8 by Annalies Schmaltz

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

 

Today I'm going to explain the oil of Tranquillity....Vetivert

The smell generally makes people feel stabilized or grounded and

thus it is called the oil of tranqulility in India and Sri Lanka.

Vetivert (vetiveria zizanoides) is a grass, two metres high, with

odourless leaves and a complex lace-work of richly aromatic roots.

These roots venture deep into the soil thus making it an ideal grass

against soil erosion. Harvesting the roots is not easy, and literally tonnes

of earth must be turned over to collect just a few kilos of precious material.

The plant is part of the aromatic grasses like, lemon-grass, citronella

and palmarosa. It originates from Sri Lanka and India, but now grown in Comoros Islands, Philipines, Java, Haiti, West Africa and South America

for the production of the essential oil.

However the finest quality essential oil comes from Reunion and island in

the Indian Ocean and is Bourbon Vetivert.

The process is very labour intensive. After the slow process of digging up

the roots the material is dried in the sun, chopped and soaked in water for several days and only then is it capable of yielding a commercially viable essential oil. Steam distillation produces a dark reddish-brown earthy fragrance but can vary according to the source. Angola on the west coast of Africa produces a pale amber oil with a dry-woody aroma.

The aroma of vetivert is very personal and even for people that aren't drawn to

the aroma will from time to time be attracted especially if that person is under

an prolonged period of stress.

 

 

 

History and India:

The Essence of the vetivert was a fashionable handkerchief perfume in

Georgian and early Victorian times. Wives of Indian merchants were especially known for this scent. It was made by steeping the dried powdered roots in spirits of wine. The essential oil,was the basis of another 19th century perfume."Mousseline des Indes" Its name was derived from the Indian muslin

that was scented with vetivert which was used to protect from moths and other insects.

In India vetivert roots are woven into mats, fans and sunscreens and awnings called tatties, which are hung over doors, verandahs and windows

These are sprinkled with water in the morning and as they dry in the afternoon heat, the vapour cools the room and vetivert fragrance is wafted through the house. The roots of vetivert or khas-khas are also used to flavour sherbets and sweetmeats and khas-syrup or water can be found occassionally in Indian food stores.

Vetivert is used in oriental perfumes, and like sandalwood and patchouli, the oil is used as a base note. The oil van be used for general skin care, including oily skin and acne. Like its cousin palmarosa, vetivert may also help hudrate parched or crepey skin. Its beneficial in massage and baths for insomnia, PMS and nervous exhaustion. It can also be used for massaging into the solar plexus region using gentle circulare strokes.

Pampering:

Blending:

Use sparingly as it will overpower blends. One drop will perfume up to 25ml of carrier oil.

Cooling blend: Woods after rain

5 ml diluted vetivert oil

10 ml sweet almond oil

2 drops pure clary sage essential oil

2 drops pure petitgrain essential oil

Sweet and heady blend: Harvest Moon

5 ml diluted vetivert oil

10ml sweet almond oil

1 drop pure ylangylang essential oil

1 drop pure neroli essential oil

2 drops pure bergamot essential oil

 

 

Take a warm milk bath before applying one of these luxurious body packs:

Milk Bath:

add to a nearly full bath

4 tbsp dried milk powder ( or 300ml fresh milk, preferably goats milk)

1 drop pure vetivert essential oil

2 drops pure geranium essential oil

2 drops pure sandalwood essential oil

Yoghurt Body Pack:

4 ml diluted vetivert oil

4 tsp clear honey

5 tbsp live, full fat yoghurt.

Mix together and apply to body and face (avoid the eyes at all times)

Leave on for 15 minutes. Shower or rinse off with warm water.

or:

Aromatic Earth Pack:

100 g green clay or fuller's earth

200 ml bottled water

1 tbsp clear honey

1 drop pure vetivert essential oil

1 drop pure frankincense essential oil

3 drops pure lavender essential oil

Mix the clay or Fuller's earth with the water into a smooth paste. Stir in the

honey and oils. Apply over affected areas but avoid neck and eye area. Leave on for 10 min. Shower off with warm water.

Clay draws out impurities and helps spotty skin to heal. Fuller's earth works the same way but tends to be more drying. If you have a sensitive skin rather use the yoghurt Pack.

or:

Papaya Body Pack:

Papaya is a great source of AHA's, which act by exfoliating the skin and making it more able to retain water, so the skin has a soft, translucent appearance. If you have sensitive skin, do a 24 hour patch test first. Only to be used on the body.

1 large papaya, peeled

1 drop pure vetivert essential oil

2 drops pure mandarin essential oil

Mash the papaya flesh and sieve it into a bowl, stir in the essential oils.Smooth mixture over the body. Leave for 15 min, shower and rinse off with warm water.

Healing with vetivert:

Muscular pains, rheumatism, poor circulation, sprains and stiffness.

PMS, anxiety, insomnia and stress related states.

Tranquility bath:

1 drop pure vetivert essential oil

2 drops pure clary sage essential oil

1 drop pure neroli or petitgrain essential oil

2 drops pure cedarwood essential oil

Cold and Flu Fighter:

1 drop pure vetivert essential oil

1 drop pure ginger essential oil

2 drops pure coriander essential oil

2 drops pure orange essential oil

PMS tension:

1 drop pure vetivert essential oil

1 drop pure ylangylang essential oil

4 drops pure geranium essential oil

Massage blends:

Rocky blend: (muscular)

10 ml diluted vetivert oil

10 ml sweet almond oil

2 drops pure juniper berry essential oil

1 drop pure frankincense essential oil

Frosty blend::(for the winter)

10 ml diluted vetivert oil

10 ml sweet almond oil

1 drop pure lemongrass essential oil

3 drops pure coriander essential oil

Nightynight blend:

5 ml diluted vetivert

5 ml sweet almond oil

2 drops pure lavender essential oil