Larch Needle Essential Oil

Larix laricina Ecocert, Canada, Needles, Steam distilled

Several years ago I met a charming woman who distills Certified Organic and ethically wildcrafted Canadian oils, and I experienced Larch oil for the first time. It was love at first sniff....obviously a conifer, but lighter and a tad sweeter than most of the evergreen oils...my mental image of the tree this oil is distilled from was light, feathery needles. And come to find out, the Larch tree, the only conifer which is NOT evergreen, but sheds its needles each fall does have light, feathery needles that grow in whorls and turn golden each autumn before dropping.

This is far and away the sweetest and gentlest of the conifers. The aroma is light, with an almost fruity touch. Used in the lamp or diffuser it is reputed to create a more creative ambience and to stimulate the right side of the brain, to enhance intuition. It is a lovely relaxing oil.

Physically, like the other conifers, it would be anti-infectious and useful for bronchial/respiratory problems. Because it is a relatively new and untested oil I prefer to restrict its use to the lamp or diffuser and would avoid using it with children or during pregnancy. 

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