Magnolia Essential Oil Uses, Benefits & Recipes - EO Spotlight
Magnolia essential oil is known for its emotional benefits and its heavenly aroma. This elusive oil can become a shining star in your oil collection, read more to find out why.
Magnolia flowers have been used in Chinese traditional health practices for hundreds of years, where it has been cherished for its therapeutic benefits and steeped into a fragrant tea.
The sweetly floral aroma of magnolia essential oil is sedative and relaxing, yet has uplifting actions.
Magnolia Essential Oil Facts
This desirable essential oil is steam distilled from the petals of the magnolia tree. Magnolia essential oil is costly due to the difficulty growing and harvesting the flower blossoms.
Like lavender and bergamot essential oil, magnolia primarily contains linalool. Linalool rich oils have powerful soothing and relaxing benefits to the emotions and skin.
Main Constituents: Linalool. See Essential Oil Safety for a complete list of constituents.
Botanical Name |
Michelia Alba, Magnolia Alba |
Botanical Family | Magnoliaceae |
AKA |
White Champaca, White Jade Orchid |
Note | Middle |
Aroma | Sweet, floral, fresh, champagne-like |
Extraction Method | Steam distilled |
Plant Part Used | Flowers |
Shelf Life | 2-3 years |
Kid Safe? | No |
Safety Concerns | Avoid old or oxidized oils, they may cause skin sensitization. Store oil in dark, airtight container. Not phototoxic. Do not ingest. |
Magnolia Essential Oil Blends Well With
Magnolia oil blends well with other floral aromas, as well as citrus oils. It can add a lovely, sweet scent to essential oil blends without being overpowering.
- Bergamot
- Cedarwood
- Coriander seed
- Frankincense
- Lemon
- Tangerine
- Grapefruit
- Lavender
- Orange
- Ylang ylang
- Jasmine
- Geranium
- Mandarin
- Sweet marjoram
- Helichrysum
- Melissa
- Petitgrain
- Rose
- Neroli
Therapeutic Uses:
Scars, wounds, muscular aches, abdominal cramp, intestinal spasm, fear-induced anxiety, insomnia, inability to communicate, stress-related tension, depression (from The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Wormwood, page 601).
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Magnolia Essential Oil Benefits
Magnolia has been described as "heaven in a bottle". Besides its wonderful aroma, check out these benefits you can enjoy when using topically or aromatically:
- Relaxes the mind and body
- Soothes and moisturizes the skin
- Acts as a natural sedative (great for bedtime!)
- Creates a calm and serene atmosphere
- Stimulates the generation of new cells, beneficial for skin
- Soothes aches and pains (analgesic properties)
- Uplifts when feeling down and grounding when anxious
- Promotes circulation and relieves congestion
- Eases discomfort from abdominal or menstrual cramps (antispasmodic properties)
Magnolia Essential Oil Uses
Now that you can see the benefits of magnolia oil, here are some ways you can enjoy this floral essential oil:
- Make an all natural perfume roll on (see recipe below)
- Diffuse to brighten the atmosphere & uplift spirits
- Place one drop on a diffuser necklace for emotional support
- Add 2 drops to hair brush for amazingly scented hair
- Add 1-2 drops to unscented lotion or body oil
- Place 1-2 drops on the shower floor just before you get in
- Place one drop in the palm of hand, rub hands together then deeply inhale the aroma
Magnolia Essential Oil Recipes
Check out these recipes with magnolia essential oil and magnolia diffuser blends.
Beauty Sleep Diffuser Blend |
Try this sweet blend of sedative and relaxing oils
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. Read more about diffusing essential oils. |
Heavenly Sugar Scrub |
Renew and refresh skin with this exfoliating scrub, the aroma is heavenly!
Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and place into jar. To use, scoop out a small amount and rub onto desired areas for exfoliating action. |
Field of Flowers Diffuser Blend |
Dispel negativity and inspire feelings of love and comfort
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. |
Magnolia Bliss Room Spray |
Emotionally supportive blend to create a relaxed environment
Directions: Add essential oils to bottle and swirl to blend, fill rest of bottle with distilled water, shake well . To use, shake and spritz into air, enjoy the calming aroma. |
Heavenly Perfume Roller Blend |
Magnolia is a highly desirable scent for perfume blends
Directions: Add oils into 10 ml Rollerball bottle and fill rest of bottle with jojoba oil (or favorite carrier oil). To use, roll on pulse points (wrists, neck, inner elbow). 3% dilution. |
Magnolia Bloom Diffuser Blend |
Beautiful blend of sweet and fruity aromas to brighten your space
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. |
Antispasmodic Roller Blend |
Abdominal or menstrual cramps got you bent over in agony? Try this blend of antispasmodic & analgesic oils
Directions: Add oils into 10 ml Rollerball bottle and fill rest of bottle with jojoba oil (or favorite carrier oil). To use, roll on neck and shoulders to relieve muscle discomfort. 3% dilution. |
Renewal Diffuser Blend |
This lovely blend will help to ease tension in both mind and body
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. |
Aloe Skin Nourishing Gel |
Hydrate skin with this nourishing oil blend in a base of aloe vera gel
Directions: Add ingredients to bottle and shake to blend. To use, apply gel to desired area. |
Sweet Slumber Bath Salt Blend |
Perfect recipe to use during night time for great relaxation before going to sleep. If making recipe ahead of time or giving as a gift, store in a 2 oz glass jar.
Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Fill tub with warm water. Before getting in, add bath salt to water and swirl with hand to blend in. Use full recipe for bath soak. To use recipe for a foot soak, use 1 tablespoon in a foot bath. |
Serene Inhaler |
Creates feelings of calm and relaxation.
Directions: Add essential oils to cotton wick and insert into inhaler. Read more about using aromatherapy inhalers. |
Magnolia Dreams Diffuser Blend |
Use this recipe to help promote peaceful sleep.
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. |
Tropical Breeze Diffuser Blend |
Uplift the mood and create a sense of balance.
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. |
Where to Buy Magnolia Essential Oil
Here are two brand we like:
General Essential Oil Precautions
Never use essential oils undiluted, in eyes or mucous membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified practitioner. Keep out of reach from children.
Use essential oils with extreme caution on children, be sure you have researched the oil and that it is safe for use on kids. Plant Therapy clearly labels their oils "KidSafe" on the bottle if the oil can be used for children ages 2–10.
If applying an essential oil topically (on your skin), you may perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body, use 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil like jojoba oil, read more here.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues here.
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