Juniper essential oil: an invigorating scent and massage oil

Along a trail in the Jura or the Alps, you often come across these prickly shrubs covered in small blue-black berries: juniper is part of our landscape. Its woody, fresh and slightly resinous scent is captured in the essential oil, which is lovely diffused for an invigorating atmosphere or added, diluted, to a massage oil.

What is juniper?

Common juniper, Juniperus communis, is a conifer of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, from heathland to mountain pastures. Its "berries" are actually small fleshy cones that take more than a year to ripen. They are also known for flavouring gin.

According to the product sheet, our juniper essential oil is obtained by distilling the fruits and twigs and comes in a 10 ml bottle; the sheet states that its use requires the advice of a specialist. Several references are available: juniper essential oil, "with a woody, fresh scent"; organic juniper berry essential oil, 10 ml, distilled from the berries alone; and organic juniper berry and twig essential oil, 10 ml, described as invigorating. To see where these oils sit among the main aromatic families, have a look at our sheet on essential oil families.

How to use it

In a diffuser, for an invigorating atmosphere

• Add a few drops to your diffuser and diffuse for 15 to 20 minutes, for example early in the morning.
• Pair juniper with lemon for a lively blend, or with Atlas cedar for a more enveloping note.
• Remember to air the room between sessions.

For a feel-good massage

• Mix the essential oil with a vegetable oil (sweet almond, sunflower); we will tell you the right dilution in store.
• Do a patch test in the crook of your elbow 24 hours beforehand.
• Massage the neck, shoulders or back with slow, firm strokes – a real moment of well-being after a long day.

What about the hydrosol?

We also offer a juniper hydrosol in a 200 ml bottle, gentler than an essential oil. Its sheet suggests, for external use, soaking a cotton pad and sweeping it over the face morning and evening, or spraying it as a fine mist.

Precautions

A few simple rules. Juniper essential oil is not to be swallowed and never applied neat. Avoid the eyes and mucous membranes. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, for a child, if you are on medication or have a health condition, ask for advice before any use. Keep diffusion sessions short. Store the bottle tightly closed, away from heat and out of the reach of children.

Our products

• Juniper (Juniperus communis), 10 ml – distilled fruits and twigs.
• Juniper essential oil – woody, fresh scent.
• Organic juniper berry essential oil, 10 ml – woody, fresh aroma.
• Organic juniper berry and twig essential oil, 10 ml – invigorating organic version.

A scent from close to home

Juniper has something familiar about it that recalls mountain hikes. Berries only or berries and twigs, organic or not: to find out which oil suits your needs, talk it over with the team at Droguerie Perusset – we will be happy to advise you.