Cypress essential oil: a woody scent for a fresh atmosphere

Slender silhouettes lining a Tuscan lane or standing beside a Provençal farmhouse: the cypress is one of the most recognisable trees of the Mediterranean landscape. Rub one of its sprigs between your fingers and a fresh, resinous smell is released. That atmosphere, halfway between the forest and the open air, is what cypress essential oil brings into your home.

What is cypress?

The Mediterranean cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, belongs to the cypress family (Cupressaceae), like juniper and thuja. Its Latin name sempervirens means "evergreen": its scale-like foliage stays on the tree all year round. Native to the eastern Mediterranean, it has been planted since antiquity in gardens, avenues and cemeteries, where it often symbolises permanence.

According to the product sheet, our cypress essential oil is characterised by a "woody, resinous scent". Its organic version in a 10 ml bottle is described on its sheet as having a "fresh, woody" aroma, "suited to aromatic uses". To see where cypress sits among the main essential oil families, read our sheet on essential oil families.

How to use it

Our druggist uses it in two ways: in a diffuser or in a diluted massage.

Diffusion: an invigorating atmosphere

• Put 4 to 5 drops in your diffuser, in the morning or in a study.
• Diffuse for 15 to 20 minutes, then air the room.
• Cypress goes very well with citrus oils (lemon, orange) and other conifers (pine, black spruce) to evoke a walk in the woods.

Massage: always diluted

• Mix about 3 drops of essential oil into 10 ml of a neutral vegetable oil such as sweet almond.
• Test the blend in the crook of your elbow and wait 24 hours.
• Massage the back and shoulders with broad strokes: the woody scent accompanies a relaxing moment with a pleasant feeling of freshness.

Precautions

A few simple rules. Never apply cypress essential oil neat to the skin and never swallow it. Keep it away from the eyes and mucous membranes, and wash your hands after use. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, or if you are on medication, ask for advice before any use. Close the bottle tightly and store it away from light, out of the reach of children.

Our products

• Cypress essential oil – woody, resinous scent.
• Organic cypress essential oil, 10 ml – fresh, woody aroma for aromatic uses.

Our advice

Cypress is the ideal oil if you like woody scents without heaviness: a few drops are enough to freshen the air in a room. Torn between the classic and the organic version, or keen to create a "forest" blend? Come and talk it over with our team at Droguerie Perusset in Yverdon-les-Bains.